Produce of the week - Pineapple

Some days putting one foot in front of the other is like climbing a mountain. And if you are able to keep moving forward, even baby steps - it is enough. 
Some days getting up and doing one good thing for your body, is enough.  And, if you can do that every day (just add one thing good for body, mind, spirit) the benefits will add up. 
But for now - just focus on today. 

And focus on that gorgeous pineapple you were inspired to buy.
Because it's fresh and organic. 
And gluten free, and detoxing, and loaded with vitamin C, and manganese, and fiber, and antioxidants, and bromelain, and reduces inflammation. 
It's refreshing, juicy and smells (and tastes) incredible.

But first you face the task of cutting it. It takes time and effort, and is easier if you have a plan. And a big sharp knife!

I researched and created this for Simply Gluten Free Magazine, May/June 2013 and it was a tremendous thing to learn. So I am off to cut my pineapple, and I will take my time. 
Then I will eat some, add some to my lunch salad, and tonight will grill a few slices to add to our grilled chicken.

What will you add today to support you body, mind or spirit?


You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Produce of the Week - Peaches

March is not exactly peach season in the North East, but they have been a current food obsession of mine.  With all the meds currently in my system my taste buds are very funky (even what I can eat is limited) so I am in constant search for appealing and appetizing foods.   
Peaches and nectarines are in my top 10 this week.

So I went in search of some new recipes to try:

I love salsa and with peach added it has a lovely sweet zing:
Peach Salsa  




I think we will make this for dinner tonight:
Peach caprese grilled chicken


My mouth was watering when I found this selection on pinterest, I intend to work my way through these salads:
Peach and Avocado salad

Another chicken entree that will make it into rotation:
Balsamic peach chicken skillet

I'll be back to share my thoughts and reviews as I try these recipes. If you have any favorite peach recipes to share please let me know in the comments below! I would love to try them.

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Zucchini Cheesy Bread

My Facebook page is riddled with video recipes these days.  They come across as so quick and easy. But much more time consuming then they appear.

Recently though a friend shared this recipe by Delish on Facebook and I was intrigued.  Intrigued and haunted! The Zucchini cheesy bread was in my dreams that night, so the next morning I ran out and stocked up on the ingredients. I had to!

Truth be told - any 'bread' that doesn't use flour or grains grabs my attention. That, and anything that even resembles pizza in any way.

Luckily I was given a food processor recently and it makes all the difference in speeding through the grating/grinding process. Hand grating 3 zucchinis and all that cheese could be quite laborious and time consuming.

The recipe was easy to follow though, and impressively mine came out looking exactly like the video.  And the taste!  The taste was a winner and everyone raved.  I have made it successfully three times now.
Tips to share:

1. Be sure to squeeze all the liquid out of the grated zucchini.  If it's too wet it takes twice as long to bake (how do I know? don't ask!) and it doesn't firm up as well.

2. Definitely serve it with a marinara sauce for dipping.

3. Excellent leftover too!

Enjoy!

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Monday Motivation - The Beauty of Fall Produce

Buying seasonally gives you the opportunity to eat produce with greater flavor, and the best value.
 
 
What if the veggie art looked at tasty as the donuts or the pie? Would it inspire us to buy more - and eat more - vegetables!?

What if we kept looking at beautiful vibrant pictures of vegetables, would it shift what we crave? 

I believe it would!

It's all about the power of suggestion.

I was following an FB forum discussion this weekend on weekly food prep and there were so many who roast vegetables in bulk for the week. A brilliant and a mouth watering suggestion. Simple enough with olive oil, some fresh herbs, salt and pepper... I will certainly be roasting veggies today - and ignoring the rain.

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Leaves, Color and the inspiration of change

When I was in 2nd grade we had a family reunion picnic at Bear Mountain State Park. It was October and it must have been peak leaf weekend that year!  The entire park was filled with a carpet of the most magical eye popping color this 6 year old had ever experienced.

I spent most of the day joyously collecting leaves.  Each one was a surprise and delight. The memory is SO vivid I can see it, feel it and smell it. I was so absolutely captivated and lit up by the colors.

I am still that person picking up leaves every fall. Delighted with any and all I find. When my daughter was little I came up with dozens of projects for us to make with them - and it gave me an excuse to collect them with her.  I have decorated with them, photographed them, painted, sketched, and just sat in awe of them.

I bring them to classes I teach - the range of colors in a single fall leaf is astounding. Great practice for wet on wet watercolor painting, or blending colors without losing the purity and beauty of each hue.

No matter how many decades pass, every fall, there will always be a bit of that 6 yr old picking up leaves, gathering color, collecting magic.

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Food, Art, and Anxiety

Recently I was showing my work at an event, and my painting of the 7 Fishes, which was displayed among many others, became the magnet of many conversations.

People were drawn to it by the whimsy, the colors, the splashes of water drops, the frame... and the list went on and on. 

When I explained  the back story and that my inspiration was my friend's Christmas Eve party last year - and the dinner of the 7 Fishes - the reactions were all very powerful!  And surprisingly very polarizing.

The conversations triggered memories in all... varied memories - the joy of childhood holidays,  melancholy, sadness of missing a loved one, the like or dislike of eating seafood, the creativity of food preparation, and one woman reacted with absolute pure anxiety!  She was so stressed out she bolted from me. 
I felt terrible that a piece of my art and a conversation about inspiration could elicit that response, and yet not surprised.
The painting terrified one woman, and so captivated another that she purchased it.

Art can do that.
Food can do that. 
Memories can do that.
It all depends on where you stand and what you have lived.

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Saturday Sketch Prompt

Fall is here, school is open, and with it comes structure - structure that I desperately needed to keep myself on track. I am getting back to my regular sketching practice - and sharing it with anyone who also needs to be reminded to carve out more time to create! 

I even bought a 'messy' sketchbook when we were back to school supply shopping.  A book purely for messing around in. No pressure. No assignments. Just experimenting and playing. It feels like freedom - and an open door!

As summer is exiting and Fall is in the morning air in New Jersey I suggest picking up a leaf or a small branch outside for your sketch model. Everything is still pretty green at the moment but the colors will be changing quickly now.

Have fun and happy sketching!

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or come follow my illustrations and art on Instagram