Azaleas are in bloom all over the place. I brought in some red ones and put them in a vase; my husband said, what are those called again? He said they are in bloom around his work building.
For more shots straight out of the camera:
Adapted from Japanese Foods that Heal: Using Traditional Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, and Well-Being by John and Jan Belleme
12 oz. udon or soba noodles (recipes called for soba and I used udon, in the hopes my kids would like this – no luck, but I loved it)
2 cups of small broccoli florets
1 cup of sliced cabbage (recipe said use napa cabbage; I used savoy cabbage)
1 large carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
3 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced
optional: 1 kirby cucumber, peeled and sliced (I skipped this)
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons peanut oil (I used olive oil and sesame oil instead)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
3 Tbsp. shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. rice vinegar (I skipped this)
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. fresh lime juice (I used fresh lemon juice)
1 Tbsp. mirin (Japanese rice wine – delicious condiment, if you can get some)
1/2 tsp. dried red pepper flakes (I used hot pepper sauce instead)
Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water. Stir to prevent sticking. Cook until tender but firm. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Set aside in large bowl.
Steam the broccoli until bright green and tender-crisp. Remove, then steam the cabbage and carrot sticks. Add to noodles. Add the scallions and cucumber to noodles as well.
Mix all the peanut sauce ingredients in the food processor. Puree until smooth. Add to the noodles and toss gently. Serve.
My daughter and middle son made these muffins a few months ago, in honor of my birthday.
Thursday’s Challenge is FACE (Portrait, Self-Portrait, Happy Faces, Emotions,…).
Next week is WATER (Ocean, Lake, Waterfall, Ice, Rain, Wet Things,…).
I “met” Lisa when she friended me on Facebook. I took a look at her art both on Facebook and on her blog, and I thought, these are wonderful paintings! What a treasure to find in New Jersey. Here are a few questions she graciously answered for this blog:
1) When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?
When I was 9 yrs old. I went to my first summer art camp program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Oh I remember it so vividly. I overheard my teacher tell my mother not to worry because when I am older I will be able to “see” more. (I was the youngest in the class). That day, I forced myself to “see” more and painted a house with every detailed shingle on the roof. That painting won an award at the end of the summer. The president of RISD approached my mother to purchase the painting, but she declined. To this day, I challenge myself to look more than I think I know. I challenge myself everyday to paint better than yesterday. Little did I know at nine I “caught the creative bug” that has since fueled me for 44 years!
Thankfully, I have the painting on my bedroom wall. Every morning, it reminds me why I am an artist.
2) How have you used social media (Facebook, blog, Twitter) to promote your art?
I post on blog, twitter and facebook regularly so I can keep my collectors and followers current on new paintings (sometimes still wet on the easel), news and upcoming exhibitions. Also, it’s a great way for followers to join in on the conversation, especially on Facebook. Posting my next exhibition, 9th annual Spring Open Studio on Facebook helps spread the word virally. I still send out postcards to my list and press releases to periodicals. It all works together!
3) What advice would you give to other artists about marketing?
Network.
4) What is your favorite part of being an artist?
Seeing magic happen.
5) Where do you look for inspiration?
Flowers and gardens. I think I was a fairy in my past life. :0)
For more on Lisa, visit:
blog: http://floralpaintings.blogspot.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisapalombostudios
twitter: http://twitter.com/lisapalomboart
website: http://www.lisapalombo.com
Her next event: Spring Open Studio, May 1 & 2 (12-5pm) 55 Mountain Ave., Caldwell, NJ
Upcoming this week (Wednesday): interview with artist Lisa Palombo. Lisa will be having an Open Studio in Caldwell, New Jersey on May 1 and 2.
The tree blossoms photo is my entry for Straight Out of the Camera Sunday: