Wednesday, August 17, 2022

TADD with Rain

 Hi Everyone!
Today is TADD with Rain and the theme is Figure Drawing. Mine are older and in acrylics. I thing these will count.

 


 


 I wish I had a better photo of this. I painted it when OR. was on fire and people were being evacuated. The fire came 12 miles from my house. This was several years ago.


 





 This is gold leaf.

 


 He was all alone

 So I painted in some friends



 
Over the last few months I have not been feeling well. (No, the medical people here no nothing.)
So meals have been hit and miss around here. But I have managed to make a few things.
First I want to tell you that Mr. M. and I went to pick Blueberries. We do this every 2 years. The Farm is organic and is about 1 1/2 hours southeast from us. It is a beautiful drive and a very nice farm. We have been going there the last 15 years. We pulled up to the farm to find the gate locked and a closed sign. One of the owners was there to inform me they were closed for the season. That the heavy rains and more than normal pickers closed them early. She did tell me that their other farm was still open about 20 miles away. We headed over. There sure is a difference in how the two farms are kept up. This second farm is not near as nice. But we were there for blueberries. I will tell you that we are very disappointed. The berries are tiny just not as juicy. That record breaking rain we had well into June hurt gardeners and farmers. We normally pick about 35lbs of BB. This year we didn't even get 15lbs. However, we had a great time and stopped at the Butterfly Museum on the way home. They have a nice farmers table at super low prices. I got some amazing plumbs, 3 for $1.00. I also found out that in spring I can buy Milkweed plants. Can't wait.
We also stopped at our regular place for our picnic. It truly was a fine day.
Now for food.

Into the sink to cull and clean the BB. Also take the box out quickly because there are earwigs and spiders.
 

 "they" say not to wet BB but I am a fanatic about cleaning produce.


 Every counter top had BB drying on them.


 First thing, To Live for BB muffins.


These are actually called to die for BB muffins but I don't like that phrase.
 

 Of course a week with out pizza in my house is a crime. LOL


 I don't like gravy and the bread goes to Mr. M. Chicken Fried Steak, both potatoes and peas from the garden.


 A very inexpensive cut of beef, tenderized in the Instant pot, with brown gravy over egg noodles and squash from the garden. I had the same thing with no gravy. LOL


 Now this is something I don't normally make. I cooked some ground beef with seasoning. Drained the fat put back in the pan and scrambled some eggs into it.


 Placed it in a baking dish and topped it with Tatar tots. (YUCK) I seasoned that, topped it with cheese and baked until the everything was done. To tell you it wasn't half bad.  I don't even know where the TT came from. LOL



 Yummy pasta salad for our picnic. Yes, that is dill. LOL


 Now this is my kind of food. I made a veggie stew. Everything, except the tomatoes came from my garden. Mr. M. had his over rice. The veggie broth I made and canned too.



I know you want this muffin recipe. You can use any kind of fruit in it.
Combine 1/2C white sugar, 1/3C APF, 1/4C cubed butter, 1 1/2t ground cinnamon. Set aside
 
In a bowl mix 1 1/2 C APF, 3/4 C white sugar, 2t baking powder, 1/2t salt and set aside. In a measuring cup pour in 1/3 C veggie oil, add 1 large egg and then enough milk to make 1C. About 1/3C of milk. Mix this with a fork until the egg is broken and everything is combined. Pour this into the flower and mix just until it is all combined. Don't over mix. (Before I add the BB I mash them just a bit. Not all of them you do want some whole BB in the mix.) Add the BB and fold them in. In a prepared cupcake pan add mix right up to the top.  Sprinkle the crumb topping onto the muffins, then back at 400°F for about 20 minutes. Check to make sure they are done before removing from the oven. Let them cool a bit before transferring them to a cooling rack. Seriously the best muffins ever.
 
Don't forget to join me tomorrow for Friday Face Off. Any kind of face, in any medium.
Have a great Thursday.
 
Nicole

21 comments:

Jeanie said...

I love your art pieces. And your blueberry treats look delicious. My blueberry lady's last market day is next Saturday and I plan to buy maybe a big box to freeze and cook. We shall see!

Christine said...

Wonderful figure art. Your food looks amazing considering
You are not feeling well.

Rajani Rehana said...

Super post

Rajani Rehana said...

Super blog

Rajani Rehana said...

Super post

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic art and beautiful food! Valerie

Tom said...

...I love the bright colors best.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

The picture of the people being evacuated from the wildfires is very dramatic indeed. You have captured the horror well.

baili said...

You are unique one special soul my friend on mission here to inspire people with your magical, captivating art that goes straight to the heart and never leaves.

Your paintings are divine and outstanding I must say. Each is powerful and fascinating!

Sorry that fire broke up in your area long ago.


When I see your art. I feel so poor in my vocabulary so I can appreciate it the way it deserves.

Sorry that you are not feeling well. I hope and pray that you get well asap amen.

Sorry for disappointment you faced regarding blueberries garden closing.
Great that you you had nice picnic on the way back.
Food is mind blowing and mouth watering.

Gene Black said...

I think the thing about not wetting blueberries is for keeping them fresh IF you aren't freezing them. I would have to wash them also. All produce needs washed unless you grew it yourself and KNOW what was used on it.

I like your figures. I especially like the first one with the multicolored background.

Divers and Sundry said...

What a shame about the berries, but I'm glad you were able to get some. I'd love to go to a butterfly museum!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Too bad it was such a bad year for blueberries. They are one of my favourite fruits to bake with. So healthy, just full of yummy antioxidants!

Iris Flavia said...

Love your art!
Sad about the blueberries!
Season is already over here, but Ingo got some yummy local ones a few weeks ago!
Hope health is on the way to you!

Gillena Cox said...

Luv all your art. Happy blueberry cooking.
Thanks for dropping by my blog.


Much💖love

Mae Travels said...

Sorry to hear that you are still experiencing health problems, and I hope you soon get back to normal. Also, too bad the blueberry season didn't cooperate.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Carola Bartz said...

Oh Nicole, your figure paintings are amazing. I can't even decide which one is my favorite, I love them all. But I think the one in the top right corner makes the cut if I had to choose one. The blueberries muffin look delicious - this is similar to the recipe I have (somewhere).

carol l mckenna said...

Divine figure art work and delish foods ~ Wow! Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

My name is Erika. said...

I really like your painted figures Nicole. Your pieces are amazing. And too bad about the blueberries, but your muffins still look delicious-as does all your other meals. Hope you've had a good week. Hugs-Erika

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

We used to go cherry picking and apple picking in Michigan every year, but sadly haven't gone since Covid. We actually have a big blueberry farm very close to us and have never gone picking there ... not sure why because we eat blueberries that I get at the farmer's market as long as they are in season. I would say your garden has been quite a success this year judging from the meals you have prepared. Everything looks delicious including the BB muffins.

Love your pictures and yes I do believe they work well for the prompt. They are colorful except the one smoky OR fire related one( so sad and I am glad it didn't come any closer to you). And you showed your kind heart by adding friends to the last painting :) I am sorry you aren't feeling well ... I do hope you find out why and are able to do something about it. It would seem that you are pushing though it and still enjoying life. Don't stop looking for answers ... somebody, somewhere will know what is wrong and how to fix it. Be well, Nicole ...

Andrea @ From the Sol

Fundy Blue said...

Your art is colorful, moody, and striking, Nicole. It must take a lot of patience to pick 15 pounds of blueberries, let alone 35! I hope you feel better soon. Take care!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I LOVE, LOVE your figure drawings. They are beautiful. They remind me of African art.

Too bad about the blueberries, but these muffins look good. I'm a sauce junkie, so I would pour gravy over the potatoes and give you the meat.