Wintertime in Pennsylvania often brings periods of dreary, overcast days with intermittent snow flurries and/or drizzle. Sounds lovely, right? The gray days seem interminable at times, so when we finally get a dazzlingly sunny day, it puts a smile on everyone’s faces and makes my spirits soar. This scene is the view from my front […]
Category: Recipes
Painting Lavender at Summerhill
It was a cold, dreary day with occasional rain showers and blustery wind here in western Pennsylvania on Thursday, but that didn’t stop my Summerhill Sketchers from gathering for a class on painting lavender fields. I’ve been working on the lessons for my workshop in Provence in June, and I thought I’d try this one […]
Summerhill Sketching Hits the Road! (+ Corn & Basil Tart Recipe)
Every month I host “Sketching at Summerhill” here at my house. It offers an opportunity for my creative friends to get together, learn a little something, paint a bit, and enjoy some fun and fellowship away from the daily grind. I love having everyone come to my home in the summertime when the flowers are […]
Illustrated Recipe: Mojito Watermelon
Don’t you love when you start seeing those great big bins of watermelons in the grocery stores? It always tells me that summer is almost here. I love having watermelon in season (I never buy it in the wintertime) and last summer I tried a watermelon recipe that has become one of my favorites… 9″ […]
Flashback to the Fifties: Alice’s Jello Salad
Here’s a fun commission piece I did recently… This is a recipe that’s been in my customer, Pam’s, family for generations. It’s a favorite at every large family gathering. The long-running joke is that it’s usually forgotten in the refrigerator until after all the other desserts have been eaten. Then suddenly someone will remember Alice’s […]
75 Day Sketch Challenge: Day 73 + A Recipe
Ever since I left home to go away to college, I’ve relied on my grandmother’s gingerbread recipe when I had a hankering for something spicy, warm, comforting, and yummy. Imagine my surprise when I gave a new ginger cake recipe a try and found I liked it even better than our old family favorite! 5-1/2″ […]
Rice, Cheddar, and Spinach Pie
I haven’t posted many recipes here lately – too busy sketching, I guess! But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been cooking. Here’s a recipe I tried a couple of months ago and have made several times since. I’m not a big meat eater, so this vegetarian Rice, Cheddar and Spinach Pie recipe is just my […]
The First Fruits of Summer
Today was a scorcher, just what the first day of summer should be! I spent an hour in the garden early this morning, as the sun was just peeking over the trees, and did my weeding and harvesting before it got too hot. Watercolor & ink (Lexington Gray) in Stillman & Birn Alpha Series sketchbook […]
Tropical Muffins with Coconut-Macadamia Topping
These muffins define the word scrumptious! They’re so moist and delicious, with a flavor that’s a combination of banana-nut bread and a yummy piña colada! I clipped the recipe from a Cooking Light magazine a few months ago and have been wanting to try it ever since. This morning I had some bananas that were […]
Super Simple, Terrifically Tasty Fish Tacos + Mango Salsa
Watercolor, pen & ink, 9″ x 12″ I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t love this recipe. The secret to its savory goodness is the spicy-sweet rub that is sprinkled on the fish fillets as they cook. It gives them a smoky flavor with a hint of heat and a touch of spice. Contrast […]
