Not My Mother's Potato Salad...

And my Mother's potato salad is AWESOME.

Maybe I'll get the recipe and post it in the future. It's one of the things that makes summer, summer.

This potato salad recipe was basically stolen from NY1

But this is what I did:

3 medium potatoes
1 Hard boiled Egg
1 small can (no salt added) baby peas
Artichoke hearts, baby artichokes...it's your call
1 small red onion


I cubed and cooked the potatoes (two russet, 1 red), brought them to a boil and then simmered for about 10 minutes.

Next, I steamed the artichokes and chopped up the hearts (if I hadn't been so lucky and gotten artichokes with my Urban Organic order, I would have used frozen or canned).

I quickly browned the onion and garlic and let everything cool...then mixed it all together (don't forget the baby peas and chopped hard-boiled egg! I almost did, LOL).

Dressing:
1 clove minced garlic
Lemon & Pepper blend (salt free)
Celtic Sea Salt
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice

Whisk together olive oil (2-3 tbs) with the garlic, lemon juice (1/2 a lemon), a pinch of salt and generous sprinkle of the lemon & pepper blend.

Drizzle over potatoes and mix well.

YUMMY.

It's a family joke that I hated eggs in potato salad as a kid and forced everyone to eat it egg-less for years...obviously I've gotten over that ;)

P.S. I've started a fan page for this blog on Facebook!

Letting Go...

I have been slowly coming to the conclusion that I should disable my art site, "LionArt Creations," for now. I am hoping to re-incarnate it in another form...perhaps a flicker page for my photography and an Etsy page for any hand crafted stuff I've made or might make in the future.

I'm in the process of making a PDF of the site...to record it for posterity... ;)

It's sort of sad...as I look at the galleries of Scotland, Wales, England, Italy, CT...etc....I keep reminding myself that letting them go isn't letting go of the time I spent there (or will spend) and it's all part of the process we call "Moving Forward." I almost don't want to look at it too closely because then I might keep it up. It's like cleaning out my closet...if I haven't used it in over a year...

I spend much more time cooking and enjoying writing this blog at the moment...and with the economy the way it is...paying for a website that is only serving as an online portfolio isn't the most cost conscious thing right now. I can accomplish that in other, free ways.

So...I am saying goodbye, for now, to a website...not LionArt Creations.

If anyone has suggestions for it's rebirth, I'm open! I'm open to a lot of things these days.

XO

Good Friday

I finally made it down to the Union Square Farmer's Market on Friday...and bought my Rosemary plant! I also bought a little, but hearty, Lemon Balm plant...bliss.

I met up with my friend Krissy during this errand and we had a lovely lunch, Al Fresco, at The Coffee Shop. This happens to be the restaurant/bar where my Sister and her Husband met about 17 years and two beautiful sons ago. :)

I enjoyed beef and chipotle tamales, and a black cherry mojito. Sigh.



You can see my lovely new friend, Rosie, peaking out from the side there...LOL


Later, that same day...

I purchased a plane ticket for Scotland! Yes. It's officially official...I'm returning in October...

Then, after work, I went to St. Andrew's for an impromptu celebratory Beer...and Pizza, Scotch Eggs, Mini Butterscotch Ice Cream Sandwiches (on shortbread!), Cajun Fries....and then more Beer...with my friend, Sara.



It turned into one of those magical friend nights that starts out as a quick lark...and then before you know it you've been laughing and swapping ideas, laughs...and alcohol induced personal stories for hours. I got home at around 2:30am.

I love nights like that...

The Blurriness of the above photo is in direct correlation to how I was seeing at the moment...LOL... YAY WEE HEAVY! (Bellhaven, "Wee Heavy" Ale).

XO

Re-Connecting With The Earth

I had very high hopes of coming into the city early today and visiting the Union Square Farmer's Market so I could buy a Rosemary plant, but that was not to be (I overslept). No touch of nature today, other than my walk through the neighborhood to get to the subway. Tomorrow is another day, or rather Friday (which is the next time the Farmer's market will be on).

This past Easter weekend, however, I returned to my hometown in CT and took the opportunity to spend some time in nature.

Flowers were poking their way through the soil, birds chirping...it was lovely.


Good Friday, I sat in the living room and knit with a beautiful view of the woods (it was a bit too chilly and wet to go outside).

*Scottish Rowan Tweed*

Sunday we had an egg hunt for my nephews. They ran around the yard in search of the colorful, treasure-filled eggs, practically knocking each other down in their excitement :)



Monday, I spread out a blanket and bundled up a bit...took my book outside and lay down to read. I dosed a bit while the Spring air caressed my face and the birds sang...all the while the earth's heart beating in time with my own.




It was marvelous.
X

Sunday in the Kitchen with My iPod...

One of my favorite things to do is cook and sing along with my iPod.

I used to go home from school and sing at the top of my lungs until my parents came home from work. Back then it was mostly show tunes (I went through a Broadway phase at 15) and The Beatles. The Beatles are always in my heart.

I've noticed that a lot of things I became interested in at 15 are permanent parts of me to this day. At 30...a lot of things have come full circle...and Sunday I found myself singing along in my kitchen to Les Miserables, The Beatles, Paul McCartney...among some newer musical loves (The Waterboys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nikka Costa, Rasputina, Leonard Cohen, The White Stripes, Depeche Mode, Dave Matthews Band, NoCrows, Josh Groban, Maroon 5 [yes, Maroon 5], various Celtic folk songs, etc). These all accumulated from friends and random stages I've gone through...every musical revelation coming at exactly the right time and adding to the woman I am now. I have no doubt that music will shape me throughout my lifetime.

In the morning I was mellow and bleary-eyed in the kitchen, humming along while making eggs, home fries and pan-cooked apples with butter, cinnamon and ginger...and Cappuccino!

Homefries: potatoes, garlic, fennel seeds, cumin, chile powder, salt and pepper


I'm totally in love with my Mukka cappuccino maker, by Bialetti...


In the evening, after knitting and a nap, I bopped around and sang along while making almond butter balls (mmm), washed numerous dishes and lettuce for a salad, made some cumin and chile-powdered zucchini with butter, peeled and chopped veggies, pruned my basil plant, made a Stinging Nettle infusion...drank some beer :)

Almond butter balls: 4T almond butter, 4T butter, 1 cup crushed cereal (I used honey rice puffins), a drizzle of agave nectar (no corn syrup!!), and about a half cup confectioners sugar. Mix all ingredients, form into 1 inch balls and chill. YUMMY!


Zucchini: Steamed and then tossed with a little butter, chile powder, cumin and celtic sea salt.


Carrot and Potato "Stew:" Cut up all the veggies (potatoes, carrot, onion and celery) and throw it in a pot with olive oil, 1 clove minced garlic, Worcestershire pepper, and Celtic sea salt. Toss it a bit and then add half a carton of organic chicken stock, about 1/4 cup soy sauce, a sprinkle of chives and ground ginger and onion powder. Cover and simmer until potatoes are cooked through but not mushy. Serve with a veggie burger patty!



All of this is so much more fun with the music on...I decided it was a sign to close up shop at around midnight when my PM Chakra meditation music came on... :) And as I was preparing to close down, Krissy started e-mailing me more music to listen to in the kitchen (Conspiracy of Beards, from the day before...see previous blog :) Krissy is responsible for exposing me to a lot of the bands I mentioned above.

I find that I'm in a better mood throughout the day when I sing a bit in the mornings too...I'm not sure why I don't make more of a point to work this into my morning routine...have to slow down more in the morning, I guess. I certainly could have used the singing today!

Yesterday, I made a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked (Scottish) salmon with spiced apples and a little salad.


After that I had the lovely soundtrack of a new find, Freddie Stevenson, going while I got ready for work and then on the subway. Today I waited until the walk to the train to put on some Waterboys...but it was a bit late by then! I'm currently blogging to re-gain my center. It seems to be doing the trick...although it's making me want to run home for one of those almond butter balls!

I could have used a morning in the kitchen with my iPod! Maybe tomorrow. X

Lunch with the Ladies...and Gentlemen...

I just got back from a wonderful day out with my friends Krissy and Sara. We went to the Highline Ballroom to see a wonderfully quirky group called "Conspiracy of Beards." They are a 30 Man a cappella choir that sings Leonard Cohen songs. There was a huge Bromance happening on that stage and I loved it! I've had "Chelsea Hotel" stuck in my head all day.

It was a wonderful afternoon. I got supremely silly while drinking a wee glass of Guinness (Sara and I declared that we aren't going to use the word "small" anymore). I was completely obsessed with the fact that my glass was, in reality, plastic and shorter than the Guinness can. It just seemed wrong. In fact, all the glasses were plastic except for the martini style...why do you suppose that is? And why am even wondering? No, I'm not drunk right now...just cheerfully spent after a wonderful day out with the girls.


I ate mini kobe burgers with potato straws and the house ketchup...delicious!


Everyone should have a silly day out now and then...and Spring is the perfect time to indulge a bit. There were new buds on the trees and lots of cute little dogs being walked...then we went clothes shopping. Spring has sprung.


XOXO

P.S. Krissy has blogged about the Beards...Here.

Like a Good New England Girl...

I made seafood soup :)

I bought 1/2 lb cubed fish from Fresh Direct...which consisted of salmon, tuna, swordfish and sea bass.


I'm finding out how super easy soup can be...when you don't make your own stock, anyway...



I chopped up some red onion (about medium size) and browned them with about one clove minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Then I added some diced russet potatoes (about 2-3 medium size), the fish, and liberally sprinkled it all with cajun seasoning, pepper, and some onion
powder.


Next came a carton of organic chicken stock...then I covered the whole thing and let it simmer until the potatoes were cooked through.



As an after thought, the following day I added some fresh kale. mmmmmm....