Friday Inspiration

This says it all!

Growing fresh scallions through the winter

January in New Jersey is kind of a colorless time. Everything is awash in a murky shade of gray. Lots and lots of grays and washed out browns.  Not very inspiring for my color seeking eyes!

But, now I have vegetables growing in my kitchen through the dead of the winter!  Bringing life, light and bright color into the house - not to mention saving a few dollars. 
A simple trick I learned from my fabulous sister-in-law.  

Trim scallions about 2" up from their roots. 

Place them root down in a glass or jar with about an 1" of water.
(I change the water every few days to keep it fresh)
Keep them in a bright or sunny spot.

shoots after about 2 weeks in water

Watch new green shoots grow!
Chop, cook, enjoy!!  

Gentle Reminders

I have this collection on the windowsill at my kitchen sink.
A shell from my favorite place, the beach
A rock printed with my favorite quote
And a tile coaster I hand sketched

A sweet, small collection that I see daily, no matter what craziness is going on - seeing this bring me joy, peace and hope! 
Everytime.

A Gluten-Free Blessing for St Patrick's Day

I grew up with the old Irish Blessing, “May the Road Rise to Meet You...” in the foyer of our home, and as I learned to read, I practiced it each day on my way in and out of the house.

As I grew I continued to read it daily out of habit and always found it reassuring.

We moved during my preteen years and it was a very challenging transition for me.  Among many adjustments, the new house just didn’t feel like home.

My parents hung the blessing in the entrance of our new home… and seeing it there every day helped me as I adjusted.

I have now created my own adaptation to hang in our home, for comfort of another kind.  By changing my diet, which was not an easy transition, I  had come home again. 

Corny as it may sound... I was now truly home... home in a healthy and vibrant body.  I had returned to myself! 

The Blessing hangs in our kitchen as a joyful and supportive reminder of the journey I continue to take.

You can find more of my art at Erin Go Paint

Celebrating National Adoption Day

In honor of National Adoption Day all art prints and cards in my Etsy shop are 25% off now through Monday November 25th.
Use coupon code 4EVERLOVE25

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend!

Moo Shu Pork and the GF Princess

Last week was the annual book fair at school and after circling dozens of books in the promo flyer, my daughter walked the fair and narrowed her choices down to a wish list of 5.
3 of which were cookbooks.
Her #1 pick was The Disney Princess Cookbook. And she was consumed by the idea of this book. So excited about the opportunity to make Tiana's Gumbo- "we can make it for real, not like in a video game!!"
So, I bought the Princess cookbook for my little foodie, figuring I could convert just about anything to a gluten-free version. I am always up for that challenge!

The first recipe that enticed her was Moo Shu's Pork... easy enough to adapt with GF San-J Tamari sauce, and I even made a killer housin sauce if I do say so myself!  (I used a recipe from Food.com but used Tamari in place of soy sauce, cashew butter in place of peanut butter, and maple syrup instead of honey - and fresh ground ginger!).

"Ginger sketches" watercolor & ink on paper, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

My husband and I were anxious to sit down to eat, but the little princess took one look and her face fell. "What is that?" she asked.  "It doesn't look right."

We assured her it would taste great, but instead of sitting she went to get the cookbook to show me how it was "supposed to look!"  She was devastated that it didn't match the full page, glossy, color enhanced, picture perfect culinary photo masterpiece.  (when does it ever?!)

Ah, but, the taste - it was perfection!
When hunger won out, and she was ready to taste it - she was sold!  and plowed through a few wraps (Udi's tortillas) with her Moo Shu pork. 
And, We all ate like royalty!

Mantle Monday - Ready for Halloween!

Preparing for Halloween, my 7 year old helped me decorate the mantle this weekend, or maybe I was helping her.  Based on her pumpkin snowman, I believe she may already have Christmas on her mind!!

Some produce from the farm stand, a piece of Mommy's art, a sparkling orange and black boa, and of course a little bit of self-adhesive bling!  And the Vampire Queen is happy! and the rock star, and Cleopatra (depending on the event).

Happy Halloween!