Painting Bliss

Beer Bread Recipe

 

 

 

 

Take out after 45 minutes of baking, slit the top and pour 1/4 cup of melted butter into the slits and atop the bread. Bake for additional 15 minutes. At this point I like to sprinkle salt on top. The course ground kind.

Oh! Oh! And don't try and go all healthy on this and use Whole Wheat Flour! It makes the bread a bad texture and it just doesn't taste right. So please, don't go there!

 

 

It's a tradition in the Blake family to have beer bread Christmas morning with warm melted butter on top. It's a super simple recipe that I don't make enough, but really should! It has minimal ingredients and if you have beer in the house, well then your good to go!

This is a biggie, and make sure your reading this... USE CRAP BEER! a.k.a. light beer. Really light beer. Yellow beer. We only keep good beer in our house, which means NOT budweiser, Michelob, or any icky stuff made with corn instead of hops and barley! In fact most beers in our house don't have names you would even recognize ;) But for this you want the cheap can of God knows what from your local gas station. The stuff that you wouldn't even give your dog!

 

 

 

I have tried this recipe with good beers such as Founders pale ale and Sam Adams winter lager thinking that good beer can only make better tasting bread. NOT SO! The better the beer the more bitter the bread. If you try that, and you like that, then go for it! Me? I like the subtle flavor a crap beer gives my beer bread. I used to think, well why does my mom in laws bread come out better? The answer was low grade brew.

I hope you like it, I LOVE it. In fact leave the loaf out and I will make due of it little by little. I love how very crispy the outside of the bread becomes and how very soft the inside remains. A little hint? When you

 

 

 

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My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 11/11-11/18

 

These weeks are FLYING! I can't even believe this week is Thanksgiving!! I'm excited, I love the holidays and I am so eager to watch all my favorite Christmas movies and go as a family to pick out and cut down this years beautiful tree.

My week was filled to the brim with girl time. I was lucky enough to have dinner with some really special people in my life and it just re-charged my soul in so many ways.

 

 

 

This week I had so much pride for my oldest son. I had his first parent/teacher conference of the year and all I can say is he makes it so easy academically. The large photo of his thankful writing above just melted my heart!!!

 

Peanut Butter Nom Nom Noms and Impending Snow

 

 

The first snow is starting to fall as I tip tap across the computer keys, it is soft but I know will pick up as time passes and the days light receeds. What magic it brings and excitement as well! Pair that with homemade cookies and you have a recipe for not only a yummy a treat but that soft cozy feeling as well!

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. They really come out great! Pairing a crispy exterior with a soft interior, they scream NOM NOM NOM!

 

 

Are you nom nom noming yet?? I am... crunch then soft yummy goodness... mmmmm!

Go! Get in the kitchen and make some nom noms!

Just Words and Thought Spread Upon the Page

 

I have no pictures to offer you today for what I feel, so if you would like to take the time to read what I have to say then thank you, and if not... that's ok too. Yesterday I was a follower... and I'm a little ashamed of it. I tend to panic as it is and with the north east being what it is right now I couldn't help but listen to the rumors, turn on my mama bear instinct, and feel the need to protect my family.

It sucks to be a grown up when it comes to emergency matters. Growing up your taken care of, someone else makes all the decisions and you are completely comforted in that. It's when you become the mom and dad making the decisions and making the choices that reality sinks in. Growing up is hard!

When your watching a movie or show on the the television it's easy to just watch and say that won't ever happen, or something like that could not even resemble what's happening or will ever happen in my life... but when it does, then well it's personal now isn't it? Even as I write this I don't know quite how I feel or how to put it into words but I know by the end of this post and getting it out that I will have figured it out. My words and my thoughts will get me there.  I don't know if my panic and restless uneasiness is warranted, over reacting, or soon will be warranted... and I don't think I can be the only one feeling this way. I just know I'm not alone.

What I do know is this... people are freaking out and that is never the first ingredient of a good recipe. Add power outages, limited grocery stores, and dwindling gas supplies and you can bet the recipe is going to get hotter than a ghost pepper hanging off Satan's red tongue. And you know why? because each and every one of those things are essentials. That's why I understand right now why people are mean... and why the gas stations are lined out into the streets.

Because we are spoiled, including myself.

It's time to not be greedy... not the time to waste, or throw out the remains of your dinner because you have a problem eating left overs. It's time to only pour half a glass of milk when you know in reality you won't finish the entire glass had you poured it to the top. Now is time to lend a hand to your neighbor, offer your shower to a friend who's still without power. Now is the time to put out to others, because putting out will bring back the good stuff. Karma... living right... being human.

Yesterday I stocked my fridge and freezer, it brought me comfort and it brought me just a little bit of piece in this chaotic period of thinning ice. I watched other shoppers rudely stand in the middle of isles, not moving over for those behind them. I took note of folks buying non necessities like magazines, candy bars, and panty hose. Please people, if you don't need it... if you don't need to get out, please don't. Those of us who truly need supplies to stock our homes and feed our families don't need the hassle or attitude you bring with you to the stores and parking lots.

It is now peering from the outside in that I see just how utterly careless we all are... again I too am guilty.

But yesterday I bought only what I needed and I bought it the gigundous size. When I tell you that I now have a container of ketchup to last the year (or 2 weeks knowing my boys), well I sure do! I bought large packages of meat and frozen vegetables which I then brought home and organized into ziploc bags, respectively portioned for each meal I will need to make. Waste not, want not. Stocking up meant saving gas and preventing unnecessary trips back out. It keeps me and my children away from the panicking crowds. They don't need to see that right now, and frankly I don't either. This kind of craziness panics me, drives my anxiety around like a bumper car at the local fair. I become irrational and mean just like the masses out there probably punching each other in the face for gas.

IF you don't need the gas, IF you have the gas... don't go top off. Let the people who commute to the city get their gas, get the nurses taking care of the elderly fill their tank... for gods sake let the doctors, EMS, fire squad, and Orange and Rockland workers fill up. Get the gas you need for the week but good God if you don't need to go out on the weekend, don't. Save it. 

All I'm saying here is be sparing. If people could get by years and years ago with little, we can do it again. Make your dinners at home - don't go out. Buy a FULL load of groceries instead of a few nights supplies. It's the little things that will matter in the end right now.

The world goes in cycles and this is part of the cycle. My mom in law said to me last night "We did this in the 70's dad and I. It's no big deal... we waited for gas and we got it, it will pass". At first, in my head I was skeptical saying to myself that yeah yeah that was then this is NOW... but she's right, It's no big deal if you don't make it one. So pull yourself away from the panic... I know I have to, and I will. I will trust what my husband tells me and keep my kids away from the hype. I will put on my carnival ears to the rumors... you know, where I put my fingers in my ears and la la la to the sound of a carnival tune? yeah, that one!

Around our dinner table last night we talked about what it is to waste, what it is to want, and what it is to now the difference. Of course it's going to take a couple discussions and reminders to teach this... as my middle son and oldest fought over the last meatball (homemade by the way). If we don't step back NOW and take a big wide unselfish look at the world it's gonna be a dog eat dog kinda place.

Carving Halloween and Baked Seeds

 

 

I love carving pumpkins, never do I hesitate getting my hands into the squishy and often cold middle of the gourd we dub "guts". Early October we all start conversing over what kind of pumpkin we want to carve, tossing ideas across the lunch table.

Pumpkins are usually chosen straight from the patch, but this year they were purchased at one of our favorite and local farm stands called Soon's. We attempted our usual patch, but (insert huge sad face here)... it was swamped by folks from New York City. Over the years it has become more and more taken over by tourists, and this year was more than I could take. Visiting this orchard since I was a little girl, it's pretty disappointing to wait 15 minutes in a line of cars to get into a swamped parking area only to be snooted by some overly dressed snob. Needless to say, when we finally got in we drove directly back out.

So yes, pumpkins didn't come straight off the vine... but at least they were purchased locally and from a place we really adore with super friendly people who always welcome us into their barn like doors.

This year my husband and oldest went for cyclops faces... 

 

My middle son carved a creepy little drooling fellow... he says it's blood and that it's creepy!

 

 

And myself looked at the pumpkin, waited for the shape to show me what it wanted and sketched in red sharpie a maniacal grin.

 

 

I'm a super proud artist mommy that this year my 5 and 7 year carved almost their entire pumpkin faces on their own! With little safe carving saw toothed knives of course, nothing crazy sharp or scary I promise. I think it's a pretty big feat for a little person to carve a pumpkin, especially when they have hard enough time spreading peanut butter on bread... so well done boys, well done!

Pumpkin carving is always followed by the baking of seeds and the crunching of their nutty flavor between our teeth. We like them best like this...

 

1. To each bowl full of cleaned and rinsed seeds add 2 tablespoons melted butter

2. Toss throughout the bowl coating all seeds thoroughly

3. Pour onto a cookie sheet

4. Using a sea salt grinder, generously cover your seeds. The more the better really.

5. Bake until you hear the seeds pop and they become golden brown (350 degrees)

6. Turn seeds over, go for another 5 minutes then remove and put into a bowl. Optional, more salt or season salt to get back onto the seed what was left on the pan.

7. Eat and Enjoy!

 

What kind of pumpkins are you carving? Are you carving? Go for it!

 

 

The Power of Good and Ripe Red Apples

 

 

I believe in the power of the goodness within people. Some of the time it leads to disapointment and some of the time I am rewarded and surprised all at the same time. This past friday brought lots and lots of rain, and by the end of the day it started to subside. I was upstairs with a cup of coffee in hand looking for something warm to put on when I saw a red pick up truck parked in front of my driveway with a whole trailer packed full of apple bags - my farm stand friend Tony.

I have written about Tony before and his farm stand. He's the same kind of people I am, open hearted with the kindness of an over stuffed Teddy bear althoug he gives off a different more rugged appearance standing at well over 6 foot and as wide as an oak tree. He still works on the honor system, which people often take for granted; but it never stops him from running his business that way. I admire that.

When I stop at Tony's and he's there I let the boys chase/catch chickens while Tony and I chat for awhile. It often revolves around him complimenting me in dirty old man kind of ways, but he's still my friend and as much as he tells me I would look better showing up in a bikini... he knows it would never happen. Ha!

 

 

Anyways, back to the power of goodness! There was Tony, walking up my walkway with a huge onion bag full of apples in his hands like they were a bad of marshmallows. The last time we chatted I mentioned I had been canning and that if he had any apples he didn't want I would gladly make them into applesauce... well guess who remembered? Tony!

And that made my day. An act of kindness that had nothing to do with the apples (although it was incredible), but more so with the proof that there are still good people that do good things because it feels good to do them. That's how I function and I love meeting others that do as well.

Now I will spend the day peeling probably over 100 apples. This bag is so big the kids could sit on it like a horse. Tony said he didn't need sauce in return, but well I just don't roll that way... he will at least get a pie!

 

My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 9/23-9/29

 

This past week was a nice one! How was yours?

 

Monday found us on an apple picking field trip where there was apple bags full of autumnal splendor. Red barns, sunshine, valley views, and a day of making and jarring homemade applesauce.

 

 

I was able to get in a lot of studio time, and get some things completed for the craft fair coming up.

 

 

Walks to the bus stop, falling leaves, and bouquets of bright colors...

 

 

There was some rain but a lot of sunshine. Fairy drawings by my middle son, kitty cat rubs, and slippered feet on cold wood floors.

 

 

 

Fall succulent daisy's went from buds to blooms as well as purple blooms holding on to the last bits of the season full of water drops.

 

 

 

End of the week, weekend artwork and some diva goddess cooking...

 

Did your week fly, or did it drag? Was it what you hoped or did the acts of fate step in and surprise you? whatever it was I have said it before and I'll say it again I hope you made good of it. Be kinder than necessary. It's survival of the fittest and the kinder people will survive ;)

If you like my week through the eyes of instagram and would like to follow me you can follow me at

@paintingbliss

Thank you!

 

Autumnal Days and Feeling Fall's Change

 

Some days are so beautiful I can barely take it. I'm wherever I should be, but my eyes are not. They wander and go every which way taking in every bit of beauty that I can possibly spy in this amazing and spectacular world. It's no doubt that New York reigns supreme in the season of fall, though maybe I'm a bit biased. The sky becomes so blue, the clouds so full and fluffy, the apples so ripe, and the pumpkins so bright. Around every corner is an exploding bit of color and life, while at the same time everything is getting ready for it's long winters nap. A balance for sure of both sides.

 

 

Yesterday's visit to the apple orchard proved to be one of those days. Those days where I just want to gobble everything up or put it in a jar for later. If only I could can and preserve fall... for those cold and colorless winter days when I have had enough for the icicles and resting garden amongst inches of snow.

I would slowly open the jar with my eyes closed so that at first I could smell the aroma that autumn exudes. The browning of the leaves and their dryness, the apples sweet on the tree, last cuts of lawn and a cool but not freezing breeze.

 

 

 

This time of year I start to not dread, but fear winter. I like winter I do, I like it's snowfalls and the smell just before the first flake drops. I like Christmas and the twinkle of white lights. But winter and I have don't have a good standing relationship so each fall right about now I worry that the long dark days will have take their toll on me. Last winter was my best winter to date, I'm hoping for an even better one this year. It's not that I get depressed this time of year... just weary, guard up for what may come.

 

 

I have decided that my next canning batch will be a winter's worth of applesauce. My kids eat a ton and I am growing weary of feeding them food that comes from God knows where by who knows hands. I had a chat with my mom in law the other day, she works in a kitchen at a small school and one of the parents children are allergic to eggs. This child being allergic, my mom in law had to check everything for eggs... do you know the stuff that should have eggs like waffles and pancakes had NO EGGS? That has been pressing on my mind and there is no reason once a week I can't make a week or two's worth of waffles to freeze instead of leggo my eggoing for my kids. I'm also going to buy organic milk... I can't go crazy, but I can do small things to improve the future health of my children. Wonder why 10 year old girls have boobs or your boys growing leg hair way before they should? Thank the hormones injected into the cows from the milk you drink. And I'm guilty of it too, we go through 4-5 gallons of milk a week ... It's just some times this stuff really gets to me, like when I visit the farm stand and can touch and feel everything fresh.

 

 

Next will be the pumpkin patch where we will dream up the faces of our jack-o-lanterns to be! We have already begun watching our Halloween movies and decorate. My apple scented candles warm the house and dare I say we ran the heat the other evening!

 

This is the season of change, and I feel it's minor adjustements. Hey where's my cardigan? I'm cold!

 

 

Kitchen Creativity and Heirloom Tomatoes

 

 

I have always agreed that the kitchen is a creative place. It's a place where ingredients meet other ingredients and become magic. It's a test of trying, executing, failing, and learning to fix it. I have been pretty lucky and blessed in that I never had a stumbling block when it came to cooking. I did a lot of watching growing up and watching for me is my very best teacher. It seems whatever I see I can duplicate... as my memory is very good. Most things I see, I can bring to my own fruition given my own place and time. Then once I do it, I'm set forever.

 

 

The Apple Jam I made last week came out perfect, so perfect that I over estimated my jarring abilities. So excited by the results I decided that my beautiful just ripening pineapple tomatoes, full of big yellow and red striped fruits, just had to be jarred. The thought of something I grew being turned into something beautiful and preserved for enjoyment and gifting was something I really became passionate about very quickly. With each cut of each tomato that I have nurtured for a summer's length, with each slide of the knife through the pulpy rainbow-like flesh, I knew that this was just plain, well... COOL! yup I said it, canning - jarring - whatever you want to call it, it's cool!

And I'll take a t-shirt size medium and wear it proudly!

 

(Aren't they beautiful!? They are very sweet and mild)

 

It seemed a little too easy the second time, I felt like maybe I was missing something or that perhaps this batch wasn't going to set. But then again I'm a get a feeling kind of girl... listen to your butterflies, remember? Waking the next morning the jam which is supposed to be thick and beautiful was sloshy in their pretty clear jars. Damn! Mr. Google offered his advice and brought me to an AMAZING jarring blog called Food in Jars, that I won't live without now. It saved my jam and offered the exact steps I needed to take to re-process and take my jam from slop to a thick pudding like consistency. With the first batch I had 12 jars filled which should of told me something... reprocessing and more cooking it reduced to seven.

 

For one I didn't let it cook long enough, I didn't know it had to reach a temperature of 220 and I didn't know about the plate test (absolute genius). So now, as I type out this post for you and share all my pretty jarring pictures my Jam is sitting for the 2nd time in it's hot tub of water, enjoying a good soak and pressurization.

Good luck little jars! You can do it, we can work together and make this right.

Capturing Fall in a Jar!

 

 

I rustled up some apples, placed them in my hands and looked at them so closely that I swear I could see the autumn leaves that are about to turn... the crisp chill in the air, and mornings with slippered feet. I took those magical apples home and cut them into tiny pieces where there upon I cooked them down with sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. My kitchen smelled like fall... it was aromatic. The very second the sugars and spices hit the simmering apples within my pot it wafted into my face where I thought for a moment it must be October... or perhaps I was sitting around the Thanksgiving table eating pie, but no... I was canning in my own kitchen for the very first time.

 

 

I have always had an interest in canning and preserving. It looks so interesting and so colorful... a natural conclusion from a year spent in the garden and farm markets. There's something quite ethereal about knowing I took the freshest autumn apples and preserved them. Knowing that from now until next fall I can taste September anytime I want. Or even give these happy autumnal jars to friends for Christmas so they too can feel the cozy sensation of a warm apple pie at a time when the apple trees have long frozen over.

 

 

I made an apple butter jam which I can already envision on warm toast aside a cup of tea, slathered on pancakes or perhaps spread across an oven fresh muffin. Only the impending seasons know.

 

Now onto the next batch of something tasty! I wonder what it will be, hmmm...