Feeling Stuffed

Twice baked potatoes are delicious and quite comforting.  Think of all the fun ingredients you can mix in. One of my favorite variations comes from Dr. Weil.

Stuffed Potatoes:
3 large baking potatoes
3 stalks broccoli
1/2 teaspoon salt
butter
soy milk or chicken broth
cheese


1. Scrub the potatoes and make shallow cuts around their middles to make it easier to cut them in half after baking. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees until soft, usually 1 hour, depending on size of potatoes.
2. Meanwhile, cut the ends from the stalks of broccoli and peel some of the outer skin off to make the stems more edible. Steam the broccoli until crunchy-tender and bright green. Drain and chop fine.
3. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Add the salt, butter and just enough soy milk to allow you to mash the potatoes into a smooth paste. Add cheese and the chopped broccoli and mix well.
4. Pile the mixture back into the potato shells. Sprinkle additional cheese on top if so desired. Arrange on a baking dish and heat them to desired temperature.

Soup!

The weather is getting colder, and nothing warms you up like a cup of soup. Plus, it is the season for all things autumnal, like squash. I make several different types of squash soup - all start with the same base. I cut up squash into cubes, put them in a pot, and cover with either water, vegetable stock, chicken stock or coconut milk.  I bring it all to a boil and then let simmer for approximately 40 minutes. I puree the ingredients with either a blender or a hand mixer. Then I add the flavors, which could include ginger, garlic, coconut oil, curry powder, butter and/or miso. If you need a good chicken soup recipe, I recommend this one called Brasco's Chicken Soup.

Mapping the Imaginary

I recently took on a graphic design project for Ragged Wing Ensemble a theater company based in the East Bay. This fall they are putting on a series of free performances at a local park. The Play is called Innana's Decent and it follows various mythological characters as they explore the underworld. Different scenes take place throughout the park. I really enjoy the concept because it combines my interest in expression, story telling, and spacial relationships.  Plus, I had the opportunity to draw a map that charts out the activities.  Below you'll see the front and back of the program for the play.

PARK(ing) Day - Making Parking Spaces into Vibrant Places

On September 16, I organized PARK(ing) Day in Santa Rosa. Greenbelt Alliance teamed up with the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and the Share Exchange to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for people. The Press Democrat wrote a great article summarizing the event.  The San Francisco based artist group Rebar started PARK(ing) Day in 2005 as a way to bring attention to our car-centered culture and the alternative ways we could choose to use space. Check out this video my colleagues made to celebrate grassroots placemaking.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Nothing says fall like pumpkin! Add chocolate chips and cookie dough, and you have one great seasonal treat. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin (cooked or canned)
1 teasp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teasp baking powder
1 teasp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teasp nutmeg1 teasp cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla
Mix and sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon,
Add to creamed mixture
Mix well.
Add chocolate chips and mix thoroughly.

Drop by teaspoons onto well greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
Remove from sheets while still warm.

Eat Real

Last night I attended Eat Real Oakland, in Jack London Square. This three day festival celebrates all things tasty, fresh, and handmade with a focus on street food, local wines, handcrafted beers, and traditional food craft – all featuring sustainable, local ingredients. And no dish or drink costs more than $5.  I do love food, so you know I was sampling a variety of plates from sliders at Brass and Knuckle, to pickled vegetables from Forage SF, (both pictured below) to home made popsicles from Cranky Boots. This is pop up community at its best. If you go to one of the Eat Real events near you, be ready to deal with long lines and a crowd. I'm glad local street food is getting support!

Coasting

For my final ceramics project I made a set of four coasters.  Though, I must admit, I expected the glaze to come out brighter. There is always an element of surprise and mystery when it comes to firing a piece; sometimes the end product comes out differently than one expects.  I also tried wax resist for the first time. You dip the fired clay into hot wax (or alternately you can paint it on). It then burns off when the piece goes back into the kiln. The glaze doesn't stick to the wax, thus the wax can be used as another method to create texture, straight lines, specific designs and negative space.

So Magnetic

Continuing with my theme of gift giving and craft making, I created a series of ceramic magnets. I made a pair of bicycle magnets, a series of different colored flowers, and you may recognize the panda logo from this site!  Magnetic tape, which you can get at almost any art store, including Michaels (a store I love and hate), is inexpensive, easy to use, and can make magnets out of almost anything.

Salad Days Continued...

Today I learned how to make mayonnaise from scratch. It is a surprisingly simple recipe consisting of olive oil, one whisked egg, and a small amount of mustard. I made my special tuna salad and deviled eggs to celebrate.

Deviled Eggs
hard-boiled eggs
mayonnaise
mustard
horseraddish or wasabi
salt, pepper, and paprika

Curry Tuna Salad
Tuna
Mayonnaise mixed with garlic, curry powder, and mustard
Chopped apples (or grapes work too)
Chopped kale (cooked in coconut oil)
Cilantro
Mayonnaise mixed with garlic, curry powder, and mustard
Chopped apples (or grapes work too)
Chopped kale (cooked in coconut oil)
Cilantro

Hair and Feathers

I recently admired a hair accessory I saw at a local store, Gorin Bros. made out of finch feathers. So, you can imagine my delight, when I found a variety of feathers including peacock, at the fabric shop, Britex, in San Francisco. I quickly set about to make my own version of the clip at 1/3 the price. I used a hot glue gun to attach a basic sectioning clip to the back of the feather. Ta da! Now you can easily make a simple ponytail look sophisticated. Maybe it's time for me to set up an Etsy page?

Cards and Correspondence

In our digital world where we can communicate instantly with loved ones, it still feels special to receive hand made objects in the mail. I like spending time thinking about my friends and family and corresponding through letters and art. I have started to collect notes about what I make so I can keep track of the different sayings, graphic design layouts and creative elements that emerge as a result of this process. For me, it is playful and fun and I am usually surprised by what comes out.

Noodling

It's not really traditional pasta, it's zucchini that I cut with a peeler to create thin slices that look similar to fettuccine. And it's wonderful! A simple and quick recipe; you leave the squash raw and poor warm tomato sauce on top, which softens the "noodles." Three zucchini make enough pasta for two people. The sauce is a combination of olive oil, fresh tomato puree, garlic, and fresh basil.

Salad Days

The salad days are good when you have local fresh produce. This week I made several salad dishes including an Insalata Caprese using yellow cherry tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette.  I also made a batch of my favorite homemade Goddess Dressing.

Goddess Dressing
garlic
tahini
lemon juice
soy sauce or brags
apple cider vinegar
                                     zatar

Community and the Public Realm

“The street is the river of life of the city, the place where we come together, the pathway to the center.”
-William H. Whyte, the founder of the Project for Public Spaces

I spend a lot of my time walking around cities, observing other people, and thinking about the public realm. The summer, in particular, is a wonderful time to see how the built environment can encourage a sense of community and place. From music in the park to street closures that allow for night movies and farmer's markets, cities near and far are showcasing a host of creative ideas. This blog entry is part of a larger series about reclaiming the urban landscape . . . and having fun in the process.

Tonight I went to Temescal Street Cinema and saw the documentary Trust about an amazing arts organization called the Albany Park Theater Project.

Art and Spirituality

Creativity is one way I connect with myself and others. For this reason, I enjoy when art is formally combined with spirituality. Tonight I went to the Summer Solstice Concert at the Chapel of Chimes; a building designed by famous Arts and Crafts era architect, Julia Morgan. The concert is put on each year by New Music Bay Area. Thirty nine performers played throughout the chapel and adjoining mausoleum. I love weaving through the hidden passageways, exploring the architectural details and beautiful spaces, to find intimate gatherings and a variety of sounds. Other chapels that integrate art and architecture well are Wayfarers Chapel by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Rothko Chapel.

Ceramics

I try to go to a nearby ceramics studio a couple of times a month. Here are a few of the projects I recently made.

First, I designed a vase for my sister, Sabrina. I used slab construction and stamps for the texture. I painted the piece with a pink under-glaze and a white finish.

Next, I made a bowl using hand building techniques. I also used under-glaze followed by a two tone clear/blue finish. I am definitely still learning, but it is fun to try different approaches.

Feeling Saucy

A sauce can make a dish. It can change basic ingredients into a specific type of cuisine - Indian, Thai, Japanese, etc.

Peanut Sauce 
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste*
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons soy sauce or Braggs
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup water

A sauce defines the flavors and brings the different elements together. I have been trying to perfect a peanut sauce for quite some time.  Tonight I served the sauce with grilled tofu.

* I personally like the Harissa du Cap Bon brand "El Manara d Djerba"

Will You Be Mine?

I love Valentine's Day. Whether single or in a couple, I think that we all need love, affection and friendship in our lives. For this reason, every year I make and hand out Valentine's Day cards. Everyone seems to appreciate the sentiment. Here are a few of my designs for 2011.  Both cards have space for either a personal note or a place to attach a small piece of chocolate or candy (a proven favorite with co-workers).