Saturday, November 27, 2010

TOASTED PUMKIN SEED GUACAMOLE

TOASTED PUMKIN SEED GUACAMOLE

So - did you save thoses pumpkin seeds after you carved you Halloween pumpkin? Try this recipe - anything with guacamole has to be great!

3 avocados
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 – 1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
Juice from 1/2 small lime
3/4 cup hulled pumpkin seeds, plus more for garnish
Kosher salt


1. Place the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan over low heat. When the pumpkin seeds start to pop, mix them with a spoon until they are golden and toasted. Place the pumpkin seeds in a food processor until finely ground. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and then run the processor until the seeds are the consistency of a chunky paste.
2. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop the avocado into a bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork or potato masher.
3. Add the onion, serrano, cilantro, and pumpkin seed mixture to the avocado. Mix well to combine, and then mix in the lime juice.
4. Season to taste with salt, and garnish with additonal cilantro and pumpkin seeds.








Friday, November 26, 2010

OREO TURKEY


What you need:

9 Candy Corn
2 Double Stuffed Oreo Cookies
1 Whopper
1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
1 Tube of black piping gel
1 tube of white icing
1 Yellow and red food coloring
1 Yellow and red food coloring
1 plastic Ziplock bag
1 sharp knife
1 pair of scissors
1 bowl

Prep:
Put your Peanut Butter Cups in the fridge to cool. If you have cold hard chocolate to work with it makes it a lot easier.
Squeeze some of the white icing into a bowl. This will be your orange. Mix red and yellow food coloring with the icing to create your desired orange. Then put that into a plastic bag and set it aside for later.
Creating:
First you will be creating the tail using 1 Oreo cookie and 6 Candy Corns. Gently, with one candy corn pull apart just one side of the Oreo. Don't don't break about the entire thing. Put a good amount of icing in between the two sides. This will help the Candy Corn stay. Place 6 Candy Corn (white side down) in between the cookie. See picture.

Take your white icing and squeeze a generous amount onto the top back of an Oreo cookie. Take the other Oreo and put the bottom into the icing to have it stand up. If it doesn't stand, add more icing! Once you have it stand put it up against something so it doesn't fall until the icing is dry. I use a thick book.

Remove your Peanut Butter Cup from the fridge. Take your knife and cut off the very bottem so you have a flat surface. Put icing on the bottom of it the bigger flat. Bump it up against the bottom and back of your Oreo cookies. See picture.
Next take your Whopper and squeeze more icing on it on one side. Place the whopper on top of the Peanut Butter Cup to make your head.

Find a piece of Candy Corn that has a nice big white end. Using your sharp knife cut the color off leaving you with the white end. Place some icing on it and stick it on your whopper as the beak to your Oreo Turkey. Hold for a moment.

Put some frosting on the back of a Candy Corn and place it on the side of the Peanut Butter Cup with the small end pointing up. Do this on each side for the wings. Make sure to hold for a moment to get them to stick!

Take your icing and place two white dots as eyes. Get your tube of black piping gel and place a black dot on each eye to make them come alive.

Grab your bag of already created orange. Cut a very small hold in the corner of the bag. Now, pipe feet.
Now you are done! It is that simple!!

Please send me one! I've been carrying this recipe around for three years!!
No OREO TURKEYS in my house yet.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Remember Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Monday, November 22, 2010

Portfolio Critque

So – in the end I came away with this . . .



My art is Strange/Creepy/too Edgy - they were looking for CHARMING


Kids love fine details with drama and color and movement and something they can relate to


Charming was the operative word of the day – so I’m off to do charming!

Nov. 22nd 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Portfolio Critque

Of these two illustrations, the art directors said the jester was more successful than the balloon boy. But the weakness is that the characters are too generic – they need a sense of a distinct personality, facial expression and a relationship to a story. As a side note they said – Learn to draw hands – get some figure drawing skills. I was thinking to myself – I did that cartoony style on purpose – and then they said – and don’t tell me you did this on purpose. There was no winning!

Nov 16th 2010

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day

To those who served and those who are currently serving,
Thank You and God Bless!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Portfolio Critque

I just loved these drawings, I did the big eyes on purpose, I just liked it. The critique – this particulare style – big eyes on the side of the head – is very European, not appreciated in the USA. Again, these are decorative. They said – NO big eyes and NO exaggerated features. Your children’s book audience cannot connect with exaggerated features.

Nov 8th 2010

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Portfolio Critque

Basically what I learned from the art directors critiquing my portfolio - When they look at an illustration  - they want to know what the story is – what’s going on?


~ They want a strong central focus
~  Bold palette
~ Good composition
~ A relationship between the characters
~ Sense of distinct personality
~ Facial expression
~ Unusual point of view

So many artists do the same technique and style –
Yours must be the best
– be unique
– Stand Out!

Nov 4th 2010

2022

   Merry Christmas