LA NOTTE DELLE DONNE - AN ALL WOMEN ART SHOW

Had another art show this past weekend and it was fabuloso! This art show was an exhibit of 6 local women artists: Heather Jerdee, Cassandra Buck, Anne Black-Sinak, me, Laura Rice and Susan Waughtal. The Exhibit will be an eclectic mix of mediums and styles. Mediums included photography, mixed media, acrylic and oil on canvas. In spite of being a little sick and not able to help out too much, I made it!  I was sleeping for nearly 16 hours a day the whole week and of course, since I never get sick, Murphy's law says it would have to happen at this time!  Haha!  Oh well, I made the most of it, there was a great turnout and everybody had a nice time.  That's all that matters.  

A WEEK OF SLEEP, SICKNESS AND THE NEAR DEATH OF TWO KITTENS

 Yes, since last Monday, each night I have slept for 11 hours.  For most people this is unheard of but I really manage to get about 9 hours every night anyway.  I need it, it's part of who I am.  But to sleep 11 hours more than one night in a row, I had a feeling it was my body telling me something.  And I was correct: come Wednesday I felt it - the scratchy throat, the lethargy.  I was sick.  This is something that doesn't happen to me, the last time I was sick was about 6 years ago when I got asthma, and before that about 4 or 5 years and maybe that was just a little cold.  Anyway, I wasn't terribly sick, just tired.  The lethargy was just terrible and on Friday I slept for 18 hours! Wow!  I had my art show Saturday, so I had to get up and get my large photo canvases hung, but I just couldn't stay and help out, I was needing some more sleep if I were to make it through the night.

I did, it was a fabulous evening and thanks to my new friend Cassandra - it went off with out a hitch!  It was well attended and everyone loved the art work displayed.  I was a very happy little girl.

So yesterday was Sunday and I woke up feeling pretty darn good.  I went out and did chores and felt much better, almost anxious because with all that sitting around and resting - my ass was getting numb.  It was time to get out.  But knowing full well that when you start feeling a little better after being sick, you should NOT over do it or you will regret it!  So I took it easy, did some work on my websites, since I had two days off in a row (!)  unheard of really… and then just went to bed at 9.

Now things were going quite well, I was still sleeping soundly and enjoying my nice warm bed when I heard the God awful sound of someone hacking at the God awful time of 5 am.  Yes, hacking!  ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

Gross!

Then it happened again.  ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

and again. ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

and again. ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

and again. ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

and again. ukk ukk ukk haaaccckkk!

Ok!  That was it!  Percy had a hacking problem and it was totally grossing me out, interrupting my sleep, and not to mention I had to listen to the lap, lap, lap after each and every hack!  OMG!  I know, dogs do that, but super gross!

So I said, "Come on Perc."  and I led her upstairs, got myself a cup of water, went and laid down on the coach in the office, and tucked myself under the big, comfy fleece blanket hoping for another hour or two of sleep.

Except a couple of other beings in the house had another idea.  Just as I am about to relax into a deep slumber I am pounced upon by some bugger called Bear.  I resisted the temptation to throw her across the room and placed her gently on the floor instead.

Now in this family there is something that is an unwritten law with us.  We DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT interrupt someone's sleeping.  I instilled this in my daughters from day one and if you come into a room to find someone taking a nap, you better leave the room and not interrupt them unless you want to take your life into your own hands.  This is a cause for murder in my book.  Sleep is precious, not to be messed with, dude.

So when an animal doesn't understand this law I don't know why, I mean they sleep 20 hours a day!  I never interrupt them!  Ever!  I go outta my way to make sure I do not disturb them, you would think they would offer me the same courtesy.

But no.

Next came that little butt hole Cashew, who decided that my water tasted better then his water and started lapping up some out of my water glass.  Then preceded to knock it over.  All over my notebooks!  Now I'm MAD!  I grab each and everyone of them darn kittens and the other cat in there and throw them out of the room, slam the door and lay back down.

Wide awake.

Well, at least I feel better now.

How could something so cute be so evil?

THE CHAT - WITH JEN AND PAM

Another one of our 'Chats' was in the paper Saturday. These are so much fun!  Hope you like this one:

THE CHAT: Eating well 'easier than you think.'

BOB'S IN THE PAPER - AGAIN.

We are so so lucky and blessed to be recognized as much as we are and it 's really neat that someone takes notice to all the great things going on in this town in the last few years AND that we get to be a part of it!  So here Bob is again, doing his thing: music, theatre, etc.

Artists Can Polish Their Work at the Salon

THE FLOORS ARE DONE! HECK YEAH!

Did I mention that we moved here nearly 10 years ago?  Did I mention that when we moved in, the kitchen floor looked like this:

Did I mention that we've lived here nearly 10 years and our kitchen floor looks like this now:

Yes, 10 YEARS!  I guess all that work on the outbuildings was more important. This is how the previous owners left the floor and we just never did anything about it.  Covered it up with a rug.

I know.

But we finally took the plunge. It was time.  It was 10 years of the followup comment to anything Bob wanted to do on the barn. For example Bob would say,  "I'm thinking we should build a deck on the barn," and I would come back with "Perhaps we could have the floors done in the house."

10 YEARS, people!!

We asked our good friend Justin to do the install.  This is a good thing.  Bob believes he could've done a great job, I know he would try, but I just felt more comfortable having someone professional do it. And if you've ever seen Bob's handiwork, you would agree.  I love you honey but...Phew!!

When Justin and I went shopping at Home Depot I took my dear sweet time looking at every different flooring option available.  Thank goodness Justin is a very patient man, I think I took 5 hours to decide.  Ok, it was only about an hour.  But of course, when I settled on the color I liked, they had none in stock, so I took a sample piece home and ordered online.  Funny part is - the tile looked just about as close to the original wood on the floor!  I guess staring at it for 10 years, you get comfortable with it.

So Justin stopped by early one day a couple weeks ago and got started.  He was so fast that I didn't get a picture of the entryway floor and all the broken linoleum tile in there, but here is where he had it all pulled up:

I thought it looked pretty cool like that and my creative mind started getting all excited and wanted to put down some kind of heavy polyurethane on it, ya know like the do to bar tops?  Then I slapped myself hard in the face.

Next was the tile:

Then that night I came home to find it half done:

Oh so beautiful!!

and here's the finished product:

Yeehaaa!  Now my kitchen cabinets need to have something done to them.  I think they were made of plywood, not sure but they don't look too good and shabby sheik is not really in style anymore.  Hmmmm….

Focus!  Focus!

Next: the living room floor!

ONE NIGHT OF ART! - TONIGHT!!!!

You MUST be there tonight!  It's awesome, it's fun, organic, unpredictable and crazy!  and some of the best artists in Rochester are showing their work.

Even the Post Bulletin did an article on it this week.

and some of my work too. : )

GRILLED CHEESE WITH ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER, BASIL AND TOMATO SOUP

Nummy!  And another cold day treat.  I think I need to step it up a bit. Maybe grill outside some bison burgers and make coleslaw.

Or I could just fake my way through winter and eat all this great comfort food.  Seasonal cooking, right?

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER, BASIL AND TOMATO SOUP

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup milk

1 ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth

½  cup roasted red bell peppers

¼ cup chopped red onion

1 Tbs Ghee or butter

5 leaves of fresh basil

¼ cup mashed potato flakes or 1 medium baked potato, mashed

1 16 oz can of chopped or stewed tomatoes or use 2 lbs fresh

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

Place roasted red bell peppers and basil leaves into food processor of blender and process until chopped fine but not pureed totally down to nothing.

Next process the chopped tomatoes. Same thing - don't over process.

Have you discovered Ghee yet?  Oh my!  So good for you (links to cholesterol reduction) and tastes like butter because it is butter, clarified butter.  Ya know the kind you get when you order lobster?  I don't order lobster, I hate fish, but some people do so I’ve seen it. It's actually considered dairy free.  Wow, really.

Place chopped onions into pan and add the Ghee. Cook until soft.

Place all the ingredients into a pot.

Stir and cook under a slow simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add a grilled cheese sandwich, some homemade pickles and life is good!

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER, BASIL AND TOMATO SOUP

1 ½ cup milk

1 ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth

½  cup roasted red bell peppers

¼ cup chopped red onion

1 Tbs Ghee or butter

5 leaves of fresh basil

¼ cup mashed potato flakes or 1 medium baked potato, mashed

1 16 oz can of chopped or stewed tomatoes or use 2 lbs fresh

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

Place roasted red bell peppers and basil leaves into food processor of blender and process until chopped fine but not pureed totally down to nothing.

Next process the chopped tomatoes.

Place chopped onions into pan and add the Ghee. Cook until soft.

Place all the ingredients into a pot.

Stir and cook under a slow simmer for about 10 minutes.

GOAT CHEESE, SPINACH, BACON, SWEET POTATO AND WALNUT ARTISAN PIZZA

Its winter and I find myself making more and more comfort types foods for dinner and lunch. Yesterday I cooked up a chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy!  Oh gosh, I forget how awesome gravy tastes!  Anyway, I am still thinking comfort food sounds like a good idea, and it's time for pizza.  And you know me - regular ol' pizza will never do, I have to have "good food" pizza. Made with the best, fresh ingredients I can find and if I grow them myself - even better. Well, I had some of these ingredients I grew myself, like the sweet potatoes, but the rest I bought from the Farmer's Market or the Good Food Store. Now I'm thinking I need to challenge myself to make the "Artisan Pizza of the Month." I've been eying up those beets I bought a while back that might need to be used up soon….

So how did I come up with this kind of pizza?  My step-daughter told me how her brother-in-law made a pizza very similar to this one when they were visiting once.  So I made it and never looked back!  Best pizza - EVER!  I get a craving for this pizza at least once a month, and I don't know what it is, maybe its the salty taste from the goat cheese and bacon and the sweetness of the sweet potatoes, or the ton of garlic I add to it, but it is so darn good, I can't help but eat half of it!  and then eat the other half for breakfast.

GOAT CHEESE, SPINACH, BACON, SWEET POTATO AND WALNUT ARTISANAL PIZZA

8 oz goat cheese (use herbed goat cheese if you dare)

2 cups chopped spinach

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (use candied or spiced ones if you are really in for a taste sensation)

1/2 lb bacon ( I've been known to use a whole pound - shh!  don't tell my doctor)

2 medium size sweet potatoes - baked

1 tbs garlic

1 tbs garlic salt

1/2 cup milk

1 tbs butter

1 12" pizza crust - Gluten-free if you prefer.

Bake the sweet potatoes until soft and once cooled, remove skin and place in a bowl.

Add milk, garlic, garlic salt, and butter.

Make into mashed sweet potatoes.  This will be your 'sauce.'

Spread onto the crust (I added rosemary to the crust for even more flavor)

Chop the spinach and toss onto the pizza pie.

Chop the walnuts and add to the awesomest pizza ever.

Cut the bacon into small strips and fry it up in a pan (and never ever let you forget you're a maaannn - oh! sorry) until semi-crispy or to your liking. Drain on paper towels.

Add to the pizza.  At this point you will be salivating heavily.  Find a napkin and wipe your chin.

Add the goat cheese.  Unless you are like me and want to eat half the goat cheese by licking the soft cheese off your fingers the whole time as you are trying to break it up and put it on the pizza, freeze the cheese while you are making everything else and it should crumble better.

If using a regular crust, bake in a 400 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until crust is browned and toppings slightly brown.

If using a gluten-free crust, which will be partially baked, cook under the broiler for 5-8 minutes, again until top is lightly browned.

And there ya have it!  The best, most incredible, taste tantalizing, awesome, drool inducing pizza in the world.  I shared this with you.  You will be forever grateful.  You are welcome.  I take credit cards. And cash.

GOAT CHEESE, SPINACH, BACON, SWEET POTATO AND WALNUT ARTISANAL PIZZA

8 oz goat cheese (use herbed goat cheese if you dare)

2 cups chopped spinach

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (use candied or spiced ones if you are really in for a taste sensation)

1/2 lb bacon ( I've been known to use a whole pound - shh!  don't tell my doctor)

2 medium size sweet potatoes - baked

1 tbs garlic

1 tbs garlic salt

1/2 cup milk

1 tbs butter

1 12" pizza crust - Gluten-free if you prefer.

Bake the sweet potatoes until soft and once cooled, remove skin and place in a bowl.

Add milk, garlic, garlic salt, and butter.

Make into mashed sweet potatoes.  This will be your 'sauce.'

Spread onto the crust (I added rosemary to the crust for even more flavor)

Chop the spinach and toss onto the pizza pie.

Chop the walnuts and add to the pizza.

Cut the bacon into small strips and fry it up in a pan until semi-crispy or to your liking. Drain on paper towels and add to pizza.

Add the goat cheese.  

If using a regular crust, bake in a 400 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until crust is browned and toppings slightly brown.

If using a gluten-free crust, which will be partially baked, cook under the broiler for 5-8 minutes, again until top is lightly browned.

A GOOD FRIEND, LOTS OF GOOD WINE AND TONS OF GOOD FOOD = ONE HAPPY DAWN!

Awhile back I helped my friend Cathy with a little healthy cooking.  She just wanted someone to guide her through cooking some food with the whole bunch of dietary limitations she has.  She knows how much I love food and good food for that matter so she gave me a call.  I was happy to help.  We went shopping at the local co-op, good, all fresh, organic, gluten free and dairy free food.  The challenge for me was to cook without cheese!  I know, right?  No one should eat meals without cheese.  Just sayin'.

So I cooked up some incredible chicken broth from the chicken carcass that I baked, made some enchiladas with ground turkey, my grandma's recipe for stuffed peppers made with ground up bison meat, eggplant parmesan without the parmesan but with homemade marinara sauce, and a braised pork loin. Nummy!

Well, because Cathy is just this awesome person, she wanted to treat me to a night out.  A local winery here, called Four Daughters,  had a Chef's dinner night, so Cathy said we had to go.  Who could turn that down?  They were offering a tour of the winery, a three-course meal and wine tasting.

We took a cab so we could really enjoy ourselves and had just the best time chatting with the cabbies.  I never took a cab here in Rochester, didn't know they were so friendly and fun, them cabbies.

We got there about 7 and sat at the bar to wait, there were supposed to be a few more signed up for the dinner.  About 7:15 they assumed they weren't coming so we got started with the tour.

Our first course was a scallop with bitter greens and balsamic redux.  We got that while having the tour.  Then our next course was a peice of artisinal pizza.  At this point I'm thinking this is great!  But the best part is when the two Chef's announced that they were 'practicing' tonight and were gonna serve us more like 8 courses, which turned out to be 9.  Yeehaaa!  Glad I wore my leggings instead of my jeans. Seriously.  And don't forget wine poured with every course!  Yeehaa!  Dawn's living it up tonight!

We didn't get pics of the first two courses, we were still in a state of shock from the sumptuous taste of the them.

Next came a baby pear, goat cheese and beet …. I guess you can call it a... salad.

Then it was duck proscuitto and housemade grape jelly.

Then the Chef loves to use a noodle.  One long noodle.  And a shrimp with some house pickled pepper pepita salsa. Chef said he likes redundancy.

Then there was the potato soup with bacon - yes, BACON!  (Bacon should always have an exclamation point)

And then… it was the pan seared roasted duck breast with sauteed kale and this bread pudding made with housemade driend grapes and andiuolle sausage. I think… it was getting a little fuzzy by then and I didn't write all this down.

then the intermezzo was a house made pita chip with 5 year old cheddar.  Cheese!

Well, now that we are ready to roll out of the room, dessert arrives. It's two ginger pancakes stuffed with this amazing cream filling that tasted like heaven!

Now that's what I call a good time.  Great food, good wine, good friends and just an overall great night out.  I just really love my life.  Of course it wouldn't be this great without my really great friends. : )

And Marilyn.