A Rainy Day in Bucks County, Pa

So yesterday was a rainy day in Bucks County, Pa. Wasn't feeling much like painting so I did the next best thing..........I cooked. What did I cook..........Lasagne soup of course.  This has become a favorite in my family and the recipe was given to me by a dear friend Carole and I would love to share it with you.  First a picture of how great it looks and then the recipe so you can try it and know how great it taste!

 

Lasagne Soup

1 lb. ground italian sausage

2 cups chopped onions

1 cup sliced or diced carrots

1 cups sliced mushrooms

2 Tbls. garlic minced

4 cups chicken broth

1 can chopped italian style stewed tomatoes (14.5oz)

1 cup mafalda pasta (or any pasta you like)

2 cups fresh spinach chopped

Serve soup over & garnished with

1 cup provolone or fresh mozzarella diced

1/4 cup parmesan shredded

4 tsp. thinly sliced fresh basil

 

Brown sausage in a large pot or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot; saute 3 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and garlic; saute another 3 minutes.

Add broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and simmer until cooked, about 10 minutes (or according to package directions) Add the spinach and cook about 1 minute or until wilted.

To serve place cubes of cheese in each serving bowl, then ladle soup over to melt. Garnish with parmesan and basil.

Add a salad and crusty bread and you have a delicious dinner in no time at all!!

 

Now as if that wasn't enough I also made cookies for dessert. These cookies take a little time but believe me, they are well worth it!

Italian Sprinkle Cookies

6 eggs

5 Cups all purpose flour

2 Cups confectioners sugar

2 tbls. plus 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tbls. almond extract

1-1/2 tsp. lemon extract

Glaze

1/2 cup warm milk

1 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3-3/4 Cups confectioner sugar

Colored sprinkles (jimmies)

 

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until light and foamy (about 5 minutes) Set aside. In another mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar & baking powder, stir in oil and extract. Gradually add eggs (dough will be stiff). Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until edges begin to brown.

For glaze: combine milk & extracts in a large bowl. Add sugar, whisk until the glaze is smooth. As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, quickly immerse two or three at a time into the glaze. Remove with a slotted spoon or fingers. Place cookies on wire racks to drain. Quickly top with sprinkles. Let dry 24 hours before storing in airtight containers.

Yield: 7 dozen

 

These are definitely worth the time to make and will surely be a crowd pleaser at your next event!

 



Getting ready for baseball season

TGIF..........I thought today would never end at work! All I could think of was my new blog and what I would write about. Since you already know that painting is my passion you should also know that I like to bake and cook. So I was thinking, why not publish a great recipe along with my pictured glassware. After all that's why people buy it......hopefully to use it right!?!

I spoke to a customer today that wanted to order two chip and dip sets hand painted with the Phillies sports design. She is giving each one as a shower gift. Guess the recipient is a great Phillies Phan and who isn't. So in honor of the upcoming Phillies season I am posting a few of my Phillies designs for you.

Spicy Hummus Dip

1(14.5oz) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained

2 rounded tbls. tahini sesame paste

A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. crushed pepper flakes

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 clove garlic

course salt

1/3 lemon, juiced

Pita breads, grilled & cut into wedges for dipping

Combine beans, tahini, oil, pepper flakes, cumin, coriander, garlic, salt and lemon juice in food processor bowl and grind into a smooth paste. Transfer into our small dip bowl and surround the warm pita wedges on the plate.

 

A nice cold beer on opening day?

 

For the wine drinker

 

Cranberry-Mango Wine Cooler

1/2 C. cranberry-mango juice (such as ocean spray) or any cranberry juice

1/2 C. orange juice

1/2 C. Merlot or other dry red wine

2/3 C. seltzer water

2 lime slices

2 orange slices

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a pitcher, serve over ice. Garnish with lime & orange slices.

 

 

Magarita's anyone!

 

And there's much more with cookie jars, coffee mugs and pilsners too. If the phillies aren't your team I can paint whatever your favorite team is.  There is a full sports line at Morning Glories. So get ready for baseball season and "GO YOUR FAVORITE TEAM!http://www.etsy.com/shop/morningglories1

 



 

 



My first day blogging

I am new to this so bear with me. I promised myself that one of the things that I wanted to do for 2013 was to start a blog about my passion for painting on glass, so here goes!!

One day I was watching the public broadcasting station on TV and I saw this beautiful women demonstrating how to paint with a technique called one stroke painting. Now I have been painting for 30 some years now (oops! I'm giving away my age) and have painted with oils, acrylics, waterbase just to name a few and had never seen anything like what she was describing. But as I watched her create these beautiful designs and making it look so easy I thought to myself, I can do that.

So I went out and bought a few canvas, paint, brushes, one stroke painting books and thought I'm ready now, I can do this! WRONG............it was not as easy as it looks. So I went to my local craft store and bought a video on this one stroke painting. You have to be able to follow a video right??
WRONG.............it definitely was not that easy. So I put it all away and thought I would give that up and try something else. But it kept nagging at me and then I saw Donna Dewberry again on TV and thought I'm gonna learn this.

So back I went to my local craft store and lo and behold they were giving classes on one stoke painting. A 3 week class which I signed up for right away. I was taught the right way to hold my brush, the pressure to use to get those beautiful strokes and how to blend the paint. My teacher told me I had a real gift and that I should try to persue this and to practice, practice, practice. And so I did for a year or so. Then I started making hand painted gifts for all my friends and family. They would tell me "you should sell your glassware, it is so beautiful". That was 9 years ago and here I am today with a lucrative business and doing something I love to do.

So never give up on your dreams because thoughts and dreams become things and can bring you much joy when it's something you have a passion for.

 

 

This is something new I just created, I'm feeling animal print right now and I love the way it turned out. Animal print is suppose to be real hot this Spring so think animals when you creating your favorite crafts this year.

 

 



Zebra and hot pink is always a great color combination!

 

 

Margarita anyone!!

 



You can find this great painted glasses at http://www.etsy.com/shop/morningglories1

 

So I think I'm gonna like this blogging once I get the hang of it. Hope you'll tune in to see how I progress..........I'm just brimming with ideas and would love to here from you also, till next time

Happy Painting!!!