Love of Food

Food is my hobby. The back story.

I always envied those who had hobbies because I didn't think I had one. When I had free time, I sketched and watched movies. I considered my art to be my hobby, so that is what I always said when asked.

I was a late bloomer in the cooking. My mom is an awesome cook, always very good at making due with what was in the fridge and being creative. My sister is an awesome baker! But in college something started to change.

Not having any money to buy a lot of food, I had to start getting creative. It started with mixing mashed potatoes and candied carrots in a bowl as a meal. Then noodles with salad dressing. (keep in mind folks, we're talking less than $10 a week on food here!). I had to be creative.

Now, 10 years later, I find a lot of joy in cooking and making the plate look purdy. I think presentation is key to the appetite, at least for me. And if it isn't full of color, then it isn't healthy nor appealing to eat! I treat my cooking like my paintings. Just ask Brian, if I don't get it right, oh man, I am NOT a happy camper...even if it tastes okay. Bless his heart, he eats everything I make and says "mmm good".

Hamburger Salad

adapted from pampered chef's recipe

1 lbs lean ground turkey
1 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 c. ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 c. chopped tomatoes 
1 tbsp dry minced onion
1 tbsp flour
cut romaine lettuce 
shaved colby jack cheese  
1 large carrot, sliced
Chow Mien noodles
-items in bold mean you determine the amount. you generally want just a bit more lettuce than meat on each plate.

Ground turkey meat. Once browned add first six ingredients. Stir in well. Lightly add flour little by little to thicken up meat mixture. Next lay lettuce and carrots, mixed, onto center of plate(s). Add meat, dividing among the plates evenly. Lastly sprinkle cheese and then chow mien noodles on top. Voila! Yum yum yum!

Now to mix the two.

Some day I would love to make a cook book with my artwork in it. That's a dream. But for now I am following the path of a friend and bringing my art and cooking together as "in between" artworks.

This means, when I'm uninspired or transitioning from one painting to another, I will create a wee painting using my scrap watercolor paper. These fairies will be sitting on mushrooms (mostly) and other foods.

The goal is to keep them under 3-4 hours, small, and simple.


The friend I'm following? Natalie over at Meadow to Grove. She's painting veggies called "Roots of Perseverance".

I don't have a cool name for mine, but I think she's on to something special. :) Let me know if you choose to do something similar. Maybe we can all follow Natalie's lead in persevering when we're blocked artistically.