Hello, I wanted to share one of our favorite family recipes that we make that is super easy and everyone likes it....which is always a bonus when you have many to feed and its a vegetarian meal...go for those meatless Mondays .......whenever. We grew a lot of poblanos for the last several years and what we didn't give sell or give away we froze for meals all winter. Using our homemade pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese fresh grated. I never buy already grated cheese, we always grate it ourselves. It saves money that way, it melts better, taste much better and does not have the "anticaking device" which can be cornstarch. Always read your labels. Sometimes the product labels which actually change on you from one purchase to another. I always recheck the label to make sure they haven't changed anything. We cook here at our house basically three meals a day or have leftovers nothing is ever wasted and if it was something we couldn't use our chickens or compost pile take care of the rest.
You will first cut the poblanos stem off and remove the seeds, the seeds aren't too hot but if you are sensitive you may want to wear food safe gloves. I don't but I have working hands and I can feel a slight tingle of heat later in the night but nothing serious....like a jalapeno. Then you will blanche the poblanos in hot water they usually take about 5 minutes but that can vary. The poblanos will turn a color. They will still have a crunch to them but soft to eat easily. You will save the poblano water that you blanched in for your soup broth. Save one or two poblanos to put into the soup chopped up.
I stuff the poblanos with cheese and sprinkle some on top then pour the homemade pasta sauce on the cheese and peppers and then bake for approximately 30 minutes to melt cheese and warm the sauce. The sauce will usually bubble around the sides. I bake at 400 degrees F but
375 degrees F is fine too.
So you can see the cheese sprinkled on top.
It us very yummy and very easy to make.
Below picture is for the soup recipe
Once you have your blanched water from the poblanos dump in the pasta sauce, the cactus , black eyed peas, 1/4 jar of the pickled jalapenos I didn't use the juice. I also put in a jar of our black beans that we pressured canned. You can use dry beans but first soak them. This recipe was a spur of the moment creation and I used what was on hand. When you live where we do I just don't run to the store to get what you need I use what I have and make it work. Oh that brings back memories when all the kids all still lived at home and we would go to the store we would leave Walmart or wherever we went with like three shopping carts full in a train fashion leaving the store and let me tell you it was like no one ever seen this many kids and that many grocery leave the store. My daughter Alexis the oldest daughter we still chuckle over it. Anyone who lives quite remotely understands completely. Now add a jar of your canned tomatoes or store bought ones.
Meanwhile I baked two tilapia fish in the over at 400 degrees F sprinkled with fresh garlic and butter. I covered the fish and baked until flaky keep and eye on it, as it cooks fast and is very tender.
In a pot I cooked shrimp that I peeled and then placed in the soup. The shrimp once it boils its done, I then sprinkle with a Cajun spice ( of your choice) or Old Bay Seasoning. Whichever you prefer. We like heat here.
Here you can see the shrimp and tomatoes and the cactus. Bruce liked it so much he wanted me to make a blog post on it. So the Poblanos or chili rellenos without the frying, is dinner one and the soup becomes the next nights dinner. I will bake a cornbread with soup and everyone will love that. The boys all love cornbread.
You could add sautéed celery and onions and green peppers to this also. Which I didn't have any celery on hand last night. Also you add more beans, and or pasta noodles, rice, barley, quinoa....its endless. I have never been one to make too much with seafood other than as itself...like a fish, crab etc. I just want my seafood as seafood kinda gal....but I think this has changed my mind. Now I am thinking of lots of seafood recipes. When I was growing up we ate a lot of seafood and one of the dishes was crab spaghetti and I was never so crazy about it but I did eat it. Now I kinda think I am changed and would like to make that recipe for my family.
Despite the chili cool weather we are still having (although one day was 73 degrees) I painted some of the bags on the porch getting ready for the shows. But I have still been doing the nature walks. It is just so renewing and mind clearing.
I see some interesting trees
I love seeing the moss or lichens
This was looking through a tree that is falling down.
Alexis sent me this pic from the Florida trip of Bruce holding Ledger and I just love how Ledggie is saying hey grandma aren't you supposed to be holding me? LOL!
Keeping it simple and real.....in 2018
Live simple be simple.
Remember to "pause"
STAY ACTIVE
Just a reminder........
We will have our FIRST CRAFT SHOW at
Grassfield Band Parents Spring Craft Show
February 24, 2018
Grassfield High School - Chesapeake, VA23323
from 9-4pm This is a new one on the list this year....I am excited as we have done shows in January before, but this helps to get you back into the swing of the things. So mark your calendars. I will share others as I know of them. They will be at most of the regular places we already attend, as I have heard from some of the organizers. Those are further in the year. I will continue to keep you posted.
Congratulations to Alexis and Garrett as they are expecting again. This sweet boy will be our eighth grandchild. They are so excited and Ledger will be almost one when _______ baby is born. We are all so excited for everyone. Our Wisconsin family is growing again.
Ledger is sooooo adorable, I see so much of Cooper in Ledgie.
So sweet and precious....we miss you little guy.
He is in his nursery, I love all the work Alexis did in the room we got to see it when we were in Wisconsin right after Ledger's birth.
CONGRATULATIONS
I have applied for several big shows this year as I really feel like I am ready to take on more than day events now...well we have basically done 2 1/2 day events before and back in the early 90's we did big shows that lasted all weekend with our pottery and ceramics. So we are not new to this but now I feel that I have enough product made at any giving time to expand. So I have sent in for as most of these shows are juried and some that I am in now are juried. Which they require a lot of pictures and ones who know me .....know I got that covered. So I am hoping for the BEST YEAR everrrrrr. These were some of the pics I made as collages to incorporate into applications. Also I made DVD's for other shows that I have applied for showing actual pics of us in the hives, making the soap, making all the jams and jellies, pickles...etc.
Pickles and Beeswax pics
Soaps, soap displays, Bruce and I. Which we love our customers and really enjoy what we do. Although I will say on Saturday morning getting up at 4 am is no fun!! LOL but I do it to see my customers. Their smiling faces , their wonderful stories, the bragging rights they say.....which really really makes me happy!!!!
The honey extracting and some of our bee products. This set of hives is what We have in one of the fields which in front of these hives are wildflowers....and let me tell you "them bees" as Skylar (our granddaughter who has lived with at times since mommy is in the Army) calls "them bees" love those wildflowers.
We will have our FIRST CRAFT SHOW at
Grassfield Band Parents Spring Craft Show
February 24, 2018
Grassfield High School - Chesapeake, VA23323
from 9-4pm This is a new one on the list this year....I am excited as we have done shows in January before, but this helps to get you back into the swing of the things. So mark your calendars. I will share others as I know of them. They will be at most of the regular places we already attend, as I have heard from some of the organizers. Those are further in the year. I will continue to keep you posted.
I have been busy with making lots of soaps right now and I was able to go into the hives on Sunday since we had such a warm beautiful day. Of course as I told you before we did loose some of the colonies in those negative degree temperatures. Which this hard to overcome but with farming you will have these setbacks.....but hope and dreams keeps us going!!!!! As always keep yourself busy and always stay motivated!!
This is one of my favorites so far....I felt so accomplished after painting her. Enjoyed it as well.
I have been super busy and this is the time of year I start to plan for the spring and summer, as to what I am going to plant, what shows I am going to attend or hopefully attend as some you don't get into. They will say we already have that or we already have this....blah blah but then if that's the case why do we put one drugstore beside or across from the other one??? When what I have is totally different than another. So sometime s getting into certain shows can be difficult. So I have been planning a lot. Creating new ideas for other products or things I would like to do. Selling stuff on Ebay. The boys have been home a lot now from the holidays, snow, MLK Day, and now the forecast of more snow. So when I get to create something it really is a much needed and I am so thankful to do so. I also have been taking my aunt food, getting her groceries, and of course taking care of all my duties here on the farm. As you know you stay busy and when you have that time to just let your mind and heart flow into your art it is just SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
As a lot of you know I am a mom to nine children and "yes" I had them all, and "yes" they are all from the same dad. Yes I get those questions all the time when someone ask me about them and they ask why too? I feel like really you ask that why? Sometimes folks those are questions you just don't ask..... (WHEW I got that off my mind) but as a mom to nine I have certainly seen a lot, done a lot, and worked a lot. Let me tell you, WORKED a lot I have and still do, but I know ALL moms do. I am super amazed by "celebrity" moms (these moms don't have to be movie stars so to speak but moms that are more known) and blogger moms. I will read their stories etc. and be like WOW. It really astonishes me that we as moms can accomplish so much and just handle things so well. Able to plan and execute the activities, the meals, the laundry, parties, of my gosh its endless and yet still share all this. I have been trying to find the time to complete all this myself but sometimes that inner critic says "you can't do all this" but my new attitude is I CAN DO ALL THIS. I miss all my helpers from the when the older children were here but on the other hand I am so thankful that my adult children are all successful and have left home with confidence and independence and soaring on their own. I can't believe sometimes how amazing they have all developed into thriving and clearly marvelous adults.
I don't give myself any credit for this but people always remind me that this is a true success and an art, that raising children isn't easy but the rewards are all WORTH every second. I can honestly say that I put my heart into raising my children and all though they may never see that or see it now. I see it in ways that you would never expect. It makes me happy to see them mature and grow into interesting, and prosperous adults. With the older children gone from the nest and soaring with their own little bundles of joy. I don't have the help I once had where I could escape into my art studio and create and try to push all my limits and express myself to the fullest. I can remember when I could tell Alexis to cook our dinner for a family of eleven. Crystal to do laundry, Amanda to fold the laundry and mind you there was a TON of laundry. Have Cody help with the younger children. Jr. our oldest was always with his daddy working. I could create right in the center of all that was going on. The older ones helped with the homework and later we usually would go for a walk or finish up chores together. This wasn't everyday as there were all kinds of sports, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, school projects.....games....appointment...you know LIFE. Now my life is so different yes I have four boys still at home, but I don't have the help as I once did and I work even way harder than before....I mean way harder! Some nights I am so tired that I can barely even lift my arm to read or even think of water coloring. Which it what I do mostly now since I can carry it with me anywhere and it requires very few supplies. I am no purist at it but I certainly do enjoy it and that's all that matters. With running the farm, the long hours and the markets I am so thankful to be able to make any art (on paper) Bruce tells me that my jams are art, my pickles are art, the honey, the cheese, the soaps.... and so on. It is all creating and that in itself is just fine. I wanted to share some of my watercolors as most times I don't as that inner critic comes to the surface and says NO! Honestly I put my heart into the paintings and enjoyed every step of the way and THAT TO IS all that MATTERS. One thing I want to convey in this message is to enjoy every minute of all that is going on in your life even in the hard times and the good times as you will look back on them and reflect all that you are today. As the old saying goes Rome wasn't built in a day.
This is the full layout of this watercolor girl I use Lukas watercolor paint in the half pans I carry it in my bag pretty much everywhere I go, because I don't like to be idle.
I actually used the Jane Davenport stencil to outline the perfect face. I bought those stencils several years ago which I really hadn't used as I mostly just draw them myself (although they are far from perfect) but I enjoy it and one less thing to carry with you or have. Remember My life is geared to simplify.
This was a watercolor I did while on a hike
This was the making of the girl on the hike watercolor It just makes me happy!
I like to try to random stuff and sometimes it doesn't always work out but something else is always learned along the way
Just more play
Fun stuff and a great message
This one I was inspired by Lindsey the frugal crafter on YouTube she is an AMAZING watercolorist
I love turtles
I am a Reiki 1 and 2 Certified I tend to make the symbols quite often and it comes out in my paintings ( a way to keep my skills up)
Choku Rei
Playing with color
Flow was my word for the year in 2017
Always enjoy painting bee related stuff
This was just a watercolor background and a Jane Davenport rubberstamp
One of my absolute favorites I painted while Bruce and the boys were fishing and I was sitting water coloring
More favorites I love painting sea creatures and beachy things
Some of my really early work
This was like the third or fourth watercolor I ever did and I love it
Another favorite
More backgrounds and Jane Davenport stamps
Always love sons and mushrooms
This one I painted one day while waiting on Bruce to finish a job straight from the heart
This one I think I was inspired by something on Pinterest
This one came from my inner Mindy Lacefield I have had many classes from her in the past and on her website
This was my first ever watercolor from a class from Janelle Jacobson
Some of my older work
Painted this one recently
Much more recent stuff
This one was one I created from one of Mindy Lacefields classes creating a watercolor of Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice I created this one with her camera. Mindy has the best classes affordable like $15 -$20 bucks kinda affordable. You learn a lot and who doesn't love Mindy she is wonderful. I probably told this story before but I went to an art workshop at Donna Downey's (which are AMAZING) and it was smaller event that time of year so there were two of us at one of the tables and we all got to working and I was looking over at Mindy's stuff and it hit me like a ton of bricks.....this is Mindy Lacefield sitting across from me at the same table. You know that feeling when you see someone famous and you just beam. So I say your Mindy Lacefield oh my goodness I can't believe this. I had been sitting with her a day and didn't even know it. I knew of her work but not really her face or story. So I beamed like the shiniest star in the sky the entire weekend!!! I was sitting across from one of my most favorite artist. She is a wonderful person and so very talented.
I did this one at the cabin I stayed in Crozet Virginia
I drink a lot of tea so it came to me one night to paint a tea cup
I painted this one while at my friend Jane's house, she painted a flower that night.
I love mountains and trees and this one is also one of my favs.
This is a quick video of one book
Another video of another book
As I was putting this post together I got that same feeling of that inner critic saying don't share these no one wants to see them......but I didn't listen!! I hope you find some inspiration in some of these watercolors. I feel like I am progressing as I am much more successful with acrylics and other mixed media and enjoy them all but as I said this is simple and you can take it anywhere like a sketch book and it doesn't require much stuff.
This week alone I got a lot of soaps poured and batches cut and drying I had to order more supplies as with all the soap making supplies since I use almost all organic and therapeutic it is very costly. Thankfully with the items I have sold on Ebay I have been able to buy more supplies. Winter is even harder with farm life. On the good note when you love what you do it all works out!!
Getting ready for the springtime.
I hope your New Year is going great.......! Keep up those resolutions and reading those books, keep those goals and dreams in mind and keep up the excitement and anticipation you had for the new beginnings. Each day can be a new beginning if you loose site. I know how that can be sometimes. Stay POSITIVE and ENJOY the process whatever your art or passion may be.
