REGARDING MAYA

You've not doubt heard through some channel that the ancient Aztec calendar predicts the end of the world to occur on December 21, 2012 at 11:11 PM as it marks the end of a 5,126-year era and possibly the end of another long cycle of birth and destruction on our planet. I've done research on this subject and found credible testament to the improbability of this destruction theory as well as conclusions that something cosmically significant will take place. No real matter to me, I'm merely a tad fascinated with the art, culture, foods of Meso Americans and had to look into the 2012 chatter in order to maintain my informed status of the buzz.

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Being an artsy-fartsy-foodie type, I looked into the really important to me things and share the interesting among them here for you:

• Food: Quinoa recipes, Spicy Aztec Brownies
• Movies: Yes, 2
• Craft: Embossed polymer clay tin, Earrings
• Video: Appetizer Chorizo Empanada w. cream cheese (plan on jogging)

Chorizo and Potato Empanadas

After your work out, run a mile more, then make this is great tailgate/entertaining appetizer. You can find the nearly 10 minute video here with it's recipe. Click on the double arrows found on bottom right of the video, you will find the recipe:

Keen-wah

Keen-wah is the way to pronounce Quinoa, the ancient Inca's held this grain to be sacred, and the plant itself is common like a tumbleweed with seeds holding it treasured part. Quinoa has a chewy texture comparable to any cooked seed sized grain but it's value in my never to be humble opinion is that it is a considered a full protein. Because of that you get an extra shot of protein when served with a meat, all great for muscles and void of the downside of having a carb like rice or pasta as a side dish. Comes in two varieties red and regular, I cook this according to package instructions in about 15 minutes, then stir in lemon juice and zest, olive oil and stir in fresh spinach leaves (which wilt immediately) because gosh, otherwise it is bland, bland, bland, stubbornly bland and a little dull, too. Ol' what's her name has a great recipe idea, I gleamed it from her site to share with you because, she does that and apparently so do I. Hers is a warm quinoa salad also with wilted fresh spinach, but includes shiitake mushrooms. She prepares her dish without meat but I heartily recommend having this with a grilled salmon or chicken breast. Recipe is for Warm Quinoa, Spinach and Shiitake Salad from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.

SPICY AZTEC BROWNIES

You do not need to know this, I think dessert is greatly unnecessary but Spicy Aztec Brownies , <~~(recipe) so adult, are made with instant espresso or instant coffee granules, I love adding coffee granules in any recipe for the punch of flavor and in deserts, to counter the sluggishness I always feel after a carb load such as brownies. The spicy here comes from the addition of cayenne pepper and cinnamon. This recipe is also a bit of a cheater in that it calls for prepackaged brownie mix but you make your own simple cinnamon glaze and no one is the wiser after you include the extra ingredients and small chunks of bitter sweet chocolate.

CINEMA

In 2006, Mel Gibson (the producer/director/turd/actor) made a film about Mayan civilization, "Apocalypto". I've no idea as to the success or lack there of of this film but I can tell you that I found it rather authentic, intense at times with it's action, realistic violence, tender scenes, and visually credible indigenous appearing actors. The language spoken throughout the movie required translation at the bottom of course, I don't speak ancient Mayan and if you say you do, well, you lie like a rug. The sub text in no way compromised the viewing of this movie and I'd highly recommend it when you want to see something wonderful, cultural and void of the usual suspects. Did you see The Road to El Dorado? Yes, I realize it is animated, so what? It's good stuff which stays away from "cute": set in Spain, two swindlers get their hands on a map and set about searching for legendary El Dorado gold. It stars the voice talents of Kevin Kline as Tulio, Kenneth Branaugh as Miguel and the riveting Rosie Perez does a wonderful job as the scintillating Chel. Good, evil, attempt at ruthless conquest and boy meets girl.

Earrings

I've never mentioned that I go beading at my local bead store (The Bead Gallery of Colorado Springs) and with good reason: I make the same pair of earrings over and over again. The details change only slightly but it's the same earring really. Be quiet, it makes me happy. Here are those earrings done with Aztec inspiration:

Embossed Tin

I saw this little treasure and I'll be honest with you and say I do not know whatever the heck it is but, BUT! it gave me an idea. You see, I am ever and eternally searching for something to occupy my young men that requires the turning off of the television and as they are ever and eternally wanting me to buy mints, gums and candy, you can likely see how this idea came about. Here goes, and don't sit around waiting for me to do this and then show you how because you know I have the attention span of a gnat and the experience of a seasoned creative person so that I can tell you how and I will write this first: Read first Using polymer clay, and please do condition it first by warming and rolling it between your hands in order that you don't find yourself frustrated that you can't do this. Apply a layer of clay to your tin container about 1/4 " thick, carefully trimming clay away in key places so as to render the lid of your tin functional. Using images, I recommend you google Mayan glyphs/writing systems and print out some of theMayan black and white clip art after you've re-sized it to work for your project. Place glyph image over the clay and using a pin or pointy object, prick shallow holes through paper as you trace the main outline of the glyph onto the clay. Next, using an embossing stylus, knitting needle or other rounded tool, retrace your glyph, adding detail and smoothing your carving and embossing as you go. Repeat with other glyphs until you are happy and please consider using art of your own choosing if these glyphs do not appeal to you. Bake container according to instructions on your particular clay package and allow to cool completely. Very important that you allow this to cool completely before antiquing. You can use any method of antiquing that you like, I recommend wax - shoe wax - and an old cloth. Insert finger into cloth, wrap around finger and rub small amount of wax onto cloth and then rub this wax onto your embossed tin. Remove excess wax and allow your clay to absorb the wax for 24 hours before expecting the wax not to rub off.

Well, what did you think? See anything you'll try? I'd love to hear from you =) Comment by clicking on the pencil.

Fall Trees

Trees change so much in the fall and I love the tree metamorphosis so trees are the current topic here at O.R...I know this picture is not really one of a fall tree but then again... =) [photo magnificence by Alexie One]

I love it when visitors become followers of my blog. I welcome comments, just leave one at the end of the article.

So, trees...how does one get from trees to creativity? By telling you how delish is this pumpkin log recipe and a

how a favorite tree of mine is the apple tree so of course an Apple recipe? Then there are tree products to drool over such as turned wood knitting needles, double ended wooden crochet hooks, and the fun little project of this leaf flower centerpiece.

This flower leaf bouquet or boutonniere thingy is something unique to do with fall leaves when you simply can't just walk on by because they are so colorful and beautiful. The crafter here uses them as a centerpiece and I happen to think they'd look great on my desk, or yours, too, for that matter... but mostly mine cause I just don't get to see yours all that often. Just saying...

About the whole tree, wood thing: There are those among us who are aching to knit/crochet something this time of year. Whatever it is you choose for your project, these turned wood knitting needles and wooden crochet hooks will certainly make it all the more pleasantful. I know that is not a real word, but this is my blog, so...

Canned pumpkin distributed by Libby's. had a recipe on it for pumpkin log that was, in a word gorgeous and I really buy in to the whole "you eat with your eyes" thing. I earnestly strive to prepare dishes that are good looking, smell great and taste so good that you either want the recipe or I can't get you to leave at the end of the evening... in which case, you get to do the dishes. I had to adjust this recipe because it was nice and "basic". What I did was add a pinch more of each Cinnamon and cloves, used a neufchatel cheese for it's flavor and low fat and then

went with the 1 c. coarsely chopped walnuts. Need I tell you the

crowd went wild? Oh, I see, ok, the crowd went wild, heheh. I try to keep a loaf of this in my freezer for those times when I have unexpected guests and unfortunately, if you put this in your freezer thinking frozen will deter you from eating this: wrong-o. This is delish even frozen, don't ask, just trust me.

You'll want to know about this Strawberry Swiss Roll it is pretty and delicious also, substitute banana for the strawberry which isn't nearly as lovely to behold but since you'll be eating it more than beholding, who cares? Scroll down just past 3/4 mark at the site.

Seriously, you can not live on dessert alone, eat something reasonably healthy whydoncha? Like this sliced apple and crumbled cheese salad with balsamic vin dressing. Slice a red or apple of your choice and arrange atop romaine and scatter cheese, such as goat, feta, what have you and hit it with the balsamic vinegar or vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Papilio - Butterfly

This time of the year, I paddle my canoe in DeNial, pretending to not notice signs of summer coming to a close. One such sign I'm not noticing is of the butterflies, I'd tell you more but it's easier for me if I stop at the word butterfly and stay with that, leaving out any knowledge of what they are doing to signal summers end. You want to know the signals*? Good luck with that, heheh. 

These butterfly silhouettes were placed in the House of Dior by artist Andrea Mastrovito and I thought them inspiring for a portion of wall in my home. After doing some research I found a butterfly craft punch and colored papers along with low tack products could yield an interesting wall display. 

< Technological butterfly: 

this clever papilio is The Butterfly Knife MP3/CD Player Concept  playsMP3s and CD's in a most portable manner by squeezing the CD in the butterfly-knife body while the "player spins the CD in the nude, feeding your naked CD fetish". What?! The device also rips CDs is compatible with Bluetooth headphones.   

If we were grilling a butterflied chicken would we be distracted about the season coming to an end? Let's see... and for the record, it's summer until September in my book and I don't care about it coming to an end until it is gone. About that chicken: When you

 butterfly a chicken you cut the backbone out to create a flat surface that makes for easier grilling. When grilling a butterflied chicken it helps to bank all the coals on one side of the grill and place the chicken opposite of heat source because it renders the fat under the chicken's skin slowly without causing flare-ups and the gentle heat results in a moister bird. Cooking skin side down reduces cooking time and a final sear directly over dying coals at the end of cooking crisps and browns skin nicely with out the flare-ups. I also place a cast-iron skillet on my bird to increase the flatness. I enjoy an intense lemon flavor so I cut lemons on half and grill alongside of chicken to caramelize and I squeeze the cooled lemon halves over the chicken immediately before eating. You could marinate your chicken after piercing it several times to encourage it to absorb flavor but I found a flavor injector in the cooking store and I use it to penetrate the bird and have flavor through out. For one chicken I use 2T lemon zest, 1/3 c lemon juice, 2 cloves of garlic and puree together before inserting into flavor injector. Inject throughout the bird and on top the bird after preparing the outside with 2-3 T softened butter 2T thyme, 1T rosemary, salt and pepper. I'm a spicy girl and I would sprinkle my bird with red pepper flakes and or cayenne pepper but of course this is not necessary if you are mild mannered, just do the paprika thing for increased coloring. (Yes, I called you a pansy.)

Hmm, we need to have some friends over to enjoy our grilled papilio chicken... if they come in the evening these lovely luminaries would be in order. Use the butterfly punches and decorative bags weighted down with sand or pebbles and containing tea light candles (1 or 2). Scatter these around and create a wonderful ambiance. Using patterned papers you can punch out butterflies and attach them to lanterns, plant leaves and even straws after you cut 2 notches in them to accommodate the straw like what's her name does here.

I lost a butterfly bush this season and so am in the market for a new one. These remarkable bushes are magnets for butterflies. I had a dark knight succumb to the gourmet wishes of a vole. You know that all purple flowers attract butterflies, as does red and in my garden I plant monarda and scabiosa as butterfly lure. (here ya go*)I still have not told you how butterflies let me know about the end of the season. I live in the Rockies, Monarchs visit the milkweed plants for a bit of end season vavavoom (is that 1 word or 3?) and the females lay eggs on the underside of the plants. So, when I see the milkweed all ripe and ready and the butterflies scampering saying suggestive things like "Wanna see my proboscis" - I know the end of summer is near. Felted butterfly sachets never fly away except when you give them as scented gifts, hint, hint. You do know that you can receive updates to this site by subscribing to the RSS, right? Here it has the RSS symbol and the word Posts. If you try anything presented here I'd love to here about it. Feel free to leave a comment on this article =)

Mushroom, toad stools and fungi... oh my

I was going to tell you that there was a troll in my garden ... because that is my originally imagined explanation for the mysterious holes in my garden but actually there were little burrowing critters in my garden and you should know that I tried really, very humanely to encourage them to move along.  They couldn’t or wouldn’t read the writing on the wall and I lost my sense of humor when several of my treasured plants began to disappear.  To make a long story longer than it needs to be, I’ll tell you that my champion said “I’ll take care of this for you” and I was so weary that I didn’t ask questions.  Low and oh, my...his solution was to throw what looked like dynamite gas down the holes and kill the critters where they live.  Oh, sure, that ended my critter problem but do you really think that I am going to dig there and come across the creepy remains of some hairy, scare-y dead critter carcass?  “Not I ” said the girly-girl.  On to plan “B”.  I needed a garden element alternative to plants to serve as a place holder and mushrooms came to mind.  I seem to always have a bag of concrete mix lying around my garage because I over purchase so I that don’t run out in the middle of a project.  Of course I have lots of plastic plant pots because I kept replacing the specimens those darn critters were eating.  I also have sand and if you don’t you can pick some up at the local hardware store or do as I do and take some from the local park.  We also need a gargantuan nail stake from the hardware store.  They may call them something else there but don't you get all technical on me, ok?  The point is to get a large thick nail, bolt, or section of re bar to serve as a sturdy stem base.  After gathering your supplies but before you begin, I highly recommend that you read the instructions first.  You'll need to work in an area where you can leave your project undisturbed while drying.  This project can be made with hypertufa.  Find Tufa recipe found at this site under Mud Wrestling (June10, 2009).

1. Sand cast mold: Using plastic 4” plant container, tape drainage holes to seal, then fill half way with sand and moisten sand with water until damp enough to pack sand against walls of container.  Shape into a cone for mushroom.  
2. Stylize ideas
1. using an index card make stripe indents
2. take a knife and trace a jagged spiral pattern into sand 
3. pencil eraser to texture indents on the surface adding very tiny pebbles, leaves or other organic matter to make an impression in the cement.
4. Press a simple cone shape or round shape into the sand and carve and sculpt after cement has set up some.
5. Make a round toad stool, you can also dig a hole in the ground and follow same instructions.
3. Mix a small batch of cement and pour into your sand mold cement, add a large and long nail to center that will become a sturdy stem later
4. when cement mushroom base has set up some, add a semi-dry cement around nail to form stem.  No need to make it stick straight either, try an undulating or hourglass molded shape here.
5. Allow to dry undisturbed 24 hours or as needed. Unearth and gently brush sand or soil away with an old toothbrush or paint brush and viola. 

Finishing touches:  One idea is to create a cluster of cement mushrooms and "plant" atop of a mound of almost dry cement and allow to set like the ones below on the left.  Plan ahead and create an indention into the cap by adding packed sand into an area that later use will accommodate succulents to grow atop the mushrooms such as in middle photo. Scrape the mushrooms or add more concrete to the unearthed pot mushrooms to get a product similar to the mushroom on the right.  Consider adhering moss or using a sponge to dab on color/s with patio paint. If you prefer more color mushroom, then by all means paint. =)  

             

Hungry?  This hard work calls for food.  This little wonderful mushroom, rice, lentil timbale (kitchen geek term) is prepared in little ramekins to be eaten with a fork or used as an appetizer spread along side your favorite crackers.  I adapt a previously adapted recipe for these Mushroom Timbales  for a simple and delicious vegan dish that is both hearty and elegant.  Don't go getting squeamish on me because this dish includes tofu which is a source of protein and calcium.  Tofu is a staple in Asian cuisine that you will find in the produce section of your regular grocery store.  Tofu is made from soybeans which have been indicated as a Japanese longevity secret. 

Ingredients

1 large finely chopped onion, I like red onion

2 large slices bread (may be gluten-free) I use a whole multi grain type

2 cups mushrooms, quartered (about 10 large), button mushrooms are fine choice

1/2 cup silken tofu (light, firm or extra-firm Mori-Nu, preferred)

3 cloves garlic, quartered

1 tablespoon sherry

2 tablespoons water

1 cup lentils, cooked or favorite cooked bean such as white beans or black beans

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary (dry will substitute)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

3 tablespoons cornstarch, or arrowroot

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cooked wild rice or brown rice

salt and freshly ground black pepper

sliced mushrooms for garnish (optional) use a very eye pleasing mushroom such as a spread of Enoki*, or a plump straw mushroom. *I find enoki in Asian markets.

Make ahead: 1 cup cooked lentils (from about 1/2 cup dried) and 1 cup rice (about 1/2 cup before cooking)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 6 ramekins with cooking spray and have ready a large baking pan that will hold them (9x13-inch should work). Place one nice-looking mushroom slice in the bottom of each ramekin.
   
2. Saute the onion in a non-stick pan until it softens. Set aside.
   
3. Place bread in food processor and pulse until you have crumbs. Add mushrooms, tofu, garlic, sherry, and water blending until fairly smooth. Add lentils and process again until smooth. Add the tomato paste, herbs, cornstarch, and salt - processing until well-blended. Add the onions to the processor and pulse to incorporate taking care not to over-process in order to retain some texture.
   
4. Scrape contents from food processor into a bowl and stir in the cooked rice. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
   
5. Divide the mixture among the oiled ramekins and smooth the tops with a spoon. Set the ramekins in the large baking dish and add hot water to the dish, being careful not to splash it into the ramekins.
   
6. Bake, uncovered, until tops are brown and crusty and middles seem moderately firm when pressed with a finger--about 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges and invert the ramekins onto serving plates. Serve with your favorite mushroom gravy.

Note: If you plan to serve these later, keep the timbales in the ramekins, covered, and reheat in their water bath for about 10 minutes. Or (guessing now) microwave each for about a minute before serving.

Fire Starters

I was told to cut back on the coffee and I'm determined not to let that get to me.  It's going a lot easier than I thought and I discovered that I am not a slave to coffee; I just like it.  Now there are all these tea bags in my life.  I look at everything and think "how can I recycle this" so these little bags of tea leaves were not spared.  I put some on my roses but that wasn't all that satisfying and of course I could compost them - when I get around to getting that compost bin.  Then I had that moment when it hit me:  I love to start fires in the backyard hearth/ fire pit.  These tea bags have "fire starter" written all over them!  This fun little recycle project will result some conversation worthy fire starter that lights moist or dry wood.  They would be great on a camping trip or in a chiminea.

Here's how it's going down and don't be a chump, read all the directions before commiting this act:

1. Save tea bags, allowing them to dry out
2. Using a double cooker method, a little pot with water at the bottom, bring 2" of water to a boil.
3. Use a tin can, put unmelted wax in it (obtain from hobby store or general store canning section)
4. When wax is fully melted, lower a tea bag into it briefly.  Use tongs if you have no string
5. Raise tea bag and let some excess wax drip before cooling waxed tea bag on a piece of waxpaper or foil or parchment paper, whichever
6. When cool, store for later use

You will get about 5 minutes and a 3 inch flame from these water proof fire starters. Remember to burn responsibly.

(It's been brought to my attention that someone feels I've "taken their idea".  I understand the confusion but please be assured that you and I are not the only persons on the planet who thinks to recycle tea bags in this manner.  Namaste.)

Image source