Strongrrl: Life, with muscle

Up to no good

2011-12-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

For reasons I can't really explain, I got an urge to make candy last weekend. I don't particularly like candy — I prefer my sugar mixed with flour and butter and applied directly to my midsection. That said, we made sea salt caramels from this recipe and peppermint bark and pistachio-cranberry-pumpkin seed bark and they pretty much rock. The bark couldn't be easier to make. Just melt good chocolate (I used Trader Joe's 72% cacao, but you can use milk, white, whatever) in a double boiler. Pour melted chocolate into a waxed paper-lined pan and top with whatever you choose. We found putting it in the fridge for a few hours helped it set up.

And now we're off to California, for some end-of-year festivities. See you all in 2012!

The 5th unbirthday

2011-12-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday, Dad. Despite the fact that you've been gone 4 1/2 years, you are still very much a presence in my life on a daily basis.

Boo!

2011-10-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Somehow Fall has begun here in Portland, just when most of us locals had barely adjusted to summer. Honestly, I'm glad. While I do love daily sunshine, I'm not crazy about heat. Anything over 75 just feels unnecessary to me! I love the opportunity to put on boots and a sweater; to make soups and bake with abandon (these cookies have made a comeback); to cozy up with a book in front of a rainy window.

Golden

2011-07-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Mixed media collage using Golden acrylics and mediums on Tyvek fabric.

When I was younger I was always making something. The medium didn't matter, as long as I could create. Once I became a working professional my creative output slowed, but it was always there in fits and spurts. And then I became a mom.

For the past 6 years any art or creative project I've worked on existed in the realm of "mom". Either I was doing art with Anna or making something for Anna. And more recently, I started teaching art to other children. But I haven't really been doing any art of my own.

A few weeks ago I was in Collage, a great local art store, when I saw a mixed-media piece on display. It had layers of beautiful colors, glazes and collage elements all applied in a reverse process on clear acrylic, so you viewed it from the opposite side from which it was worked. I was intrigued. I thought about that piece for a few days, and I couldn't escape the pull. I really wanted to know how it was made.

Recently I got a chance to find out. I spent 5 1/2 hours in a workshop with the artist herself: author, teacher, and Golden Working Artist, Chris Cozen. Chris was great, blasting through four different techniques using Golden acrylics on unusual surfaces (Yupo paper, Tyvek kite fabric, clear upholstery vinyl, and clear acrylic). I have to say that although it was the work on the clear acrylic that drew me into the workshop, I think I actually enjoyed working on the Tyvek fabric best. And what's really cool is that you can sew it too, so I'm very interested in working with it more! For those of you who are curious about these techniques, Chris offers online workshops. She was a great teacher and I recommend her highly.

At the end of the day, I was asking Chris some questions about using the Tyvek for bookbinding. I mentioned that I'm teaching a Book Arts Camp for kids this summer, and Chris got very interested. We talked a bit about the camps and classes I teach and then she did something totally unexpected. She packed up ALL the Golden paints we worked with that day and gave them to me for use in my classes! Honestly, I had been looking at all those colors enviously throughout the workshop, because I knew I'd never be able to afford to buy such a rich assortment on my own. I cannot thank Chris and Golden enough. It was such a wonderful ending to a really great day.

To see Chris's work, visit her website: chriscozenartist.com

I'll Follow the Sun

2011-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Shortly after my father died, I had a powerful dream about him. We were walking outside by a pool, and Dad was wearing golden-yellow swim trunks. Without saying a word he laid face-down on a chaise lounge and his swim trunks turned from gold to black. I laid my body over his and immediately woke with the Beatles song I'll Follow the Sun going through my head. The weird part is that I don't remember ever hearing that song before. Though I was certainly raised with a fair amount of Beatles songs in my repertoire, that wasn't one of them. That dream has stayed completely vivid for me, four years later. More like a memory than a dream.

1970

1984

1992

2001

I'll Follow the Sun
by The Beatles

One day you'll look to see I've gone
For tomorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun

Some day you'll know I was the one
But tomorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun

And now the time has come
and, my love, I must go
And though I lose a friend
In the end you will know, oh

One day you'll find that I have gone
But tomorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun
But tomorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun

And now the time has come
and, my love, I must go
And though I lose a friend
In the end you will know, oh

One day you'll find that I have gone
But tomorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun

I love you, Dad. You were my sun.

Steven Millman Rappaport
1942-2007

Spring Tulips!

2011-05-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first day (and perhaps the last for a while!) that truly felt like Spring here in Portland. It was sunny and in the high 60s, and it seemed all of Portland was outside basking in it.

About 45 minutes South of Portland, in the forgettable town of Woodburn, is the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. We spent the afternoon basking in the warm sun and the riot of color. It was fabulous enough to make up for the fact that we're back to grey skies and rain today. We Portlanders are nothing if not resilient to the vicissitudes of the weather!

Link love for my Foodie friends

2011-02-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

Grilling Naan on the Foreman Grill.

Although you wouldn't know it, there has been lots of cooking going on around here. A lot of new recipes, many of which became new favorites by the second bite! Unfortunately there hasn't been a lot of kitchen photography going on. When I started posting recipes on this blog a couple years ago, I would often take the time to use the special lightbox David made me to set up the shoot. It made for beautiful, well-lit pictures, but it took time. These days my kitchen time is often rushed, last-minute, and without ceremony. The recipes, though, are well worth sharing. In no particular order, here are some real gems:

Gena's sweet-potato hummus has changed my life. I adore it. I added a touch of cayenne in place of the black pepper. I make a big vat and eat it with everything.

I first made these almond cookies for a New Year's Eve party, because they pair well with champagne. These are not kid cookies — they're more refined — a little sweet and a little salty. I use Trader Joe's Almond Meal in place of grinding my own almonds.

To go with the red lentil curry I mentioned a few posts back, I decided to try making Naan. In the comments mentioned grilling these on their Foreman grill, which worked like a charm. My plan is to make a double batch of these and freeze a bunch to have on hand whenever the mood strikes. They're delish and certainly should not be reserved only as an accompaniment to Indian food.

For my birthday dinner I wanted mediterranean food. We picked up a bunch of sides at the amazing Barbur World Foods and I made this simple, flavorful Fish Couscous with Onion T'faya as a main. Honestly, I was taking a chance, especially since we subbed frozen Wild Cod from Trader Joe's for the much more expensive Halibut the recipe called for. It turned out great and will definitely be added as a regular dinner entrée here. Even Anna loved it.

Enjoy!

Art Classes

2011-02-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

Cat with dog and bird, by Anna, age 5

Goose by Tatum, age 7

Horses by Elsa, age 7

Last year was dismal for my graphic design business. Because of the economy, because I work mainly with higher-ed and nonprofits, or just because things change. I spent countless hours thinking about what was next for me. I started my etsy shop, I volunteered, I brainstormed over wine with other moms in similar situations.

And all the while I was always doing art projects with Anna and her friends. I don't know why it took so long for the idea to click, but once it did it was as right as rain. I am now teaching art to kids out of my home. I started with 2 classes this month, and will be doubling that in the Spring.

I admit it's a bit daunting. And 90 minutes is a looooong time when working with kids in such a focused way. But man, just seeing the beautiful work they produced was so inspiring.

If you're interested in learning more about the classes, you can visit my new class website here. I've added a permanent link to the sidebar on the right as well. (By the way, I used a free service called Weebly to build this site and it is awesome!).

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk cookies

2011-01-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

Although you wouldn't know it by following this blog, there's actually been a lot of baking going on here lately. I've discovered some great new recipes that I promise to post soon, including a fabulous crusty bread that takes even less effort than the 5-minute breads I was so excited about last year.

Yesterday however, I just needed a cookie. These are modified from a Martha recipe, and have become my new favorite. I love the texture as well as the not-too-sweet flavor. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Chocolate-Chunk cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

3 cups oats (not quick oats)

1 cup flour (I use white wheat)

1/2 cup bran or wheat germ

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t sea salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2/3 c granulated sugar

2/3 c light brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

1 t vanilla

1 c dark chocolate chunks or chips

Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla to butter mixture. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add in chocolate chunks. Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes, depending on your over and your preference for chewy or crunchier cookies. Devour.

DesignScene

2011-01-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce that the iPad app David has been working on for months, DesignScene, went on sale in the App Store today. The app was the brainchild of our friend, Roger, who approached David about helping bring the idea to fruition. You can read more about the process here on Roger's blog.

Of course I'm biased, but I totally think you should go buy the app. The very reasonable price of $3.99 will help to offset the cost of buying the iPad you'll need to use it! Go watch the video Roger put together and see if you don't agree!

Undo

2011-01-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

I have a cold. Before that I had bronchitis, and in between there might have been a bit of excess (sugar, wine, fat) going on. What you see above is my antidote to all that; a little elixer known my way as Chia Juice.

Chia is the yoga instructor extraordinaire who introduced me to this wonderful cure-all, and I've never been able to exactly match her recipe. I use all the same ingredients, but the taste is never quite the same. That said, it still tastes yummy and works miracles. It's great to sip while working out, or just when you're feeling depleted. And right now, I feel just a wee bit depleted.

Once again, I've got no real measurements for you. It's one of those things you just have to do by trial and error. This recipe makes a concentrate, and a little goes a long way. You can store the concentrate in the fridge for a few weeks.

Chia Juice
Hibiscus flowers (or hibiscus tea)
Ginger root
Good quality salt (Chia uses a rock of pink, Himalayan salt)
Fresh lemon (or lime) juice (I heart Meyer lemons)
Agave to taste

Steep hibiscus flowers (or tea) with fresh ginger slices in boiling water to make a concentrated tea. In a separate container, dissolve salt in water (if you're using a large rock, you can just use room temperature water and let it dissolve over time, otherwise use hot). Allow both to cool.
Mix some salt water into the tea, keeping in mind that it will be very salty, but not undrinkable. This is your concentrate.
When you're ready to drink it, pour a small amount into a glass. Add fresh lemon juice and fill the rest with water. Add a touch of agave to taste. You will probably need to adjust the flavor balance a few times to get just the right salty/sweet/sour balance.

Enjoy!

Sweetness

2010-12-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays, everyone! See you in 2011.

December 5, 2010

2010-12-05T12:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dad. You are missed.

Catching up: link love edition

2010-11-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Oh, hello there! Seems like forever since I've posted! There's been so much I've wanted to share with you all, but life got in the way. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are some things I've been finding fabulous lately:

Gena, over at Choosing Raw, posted a recipe for Vegan Carrot Raisin Bran Muffins a while back. No, they're not raw, but they do manage to be super nutrient-dense while still tasting like dessert! I added one-half cup millet for some crunch and subbed maple syrup for the brown rice syrup. Yum!

This red lentil curry has become my go-to recipe of late. A big pot lasts for days and is so nice on these cold, almost-winer nights. I've made this with both red and green curry paste. I prefer the red, but it works either way. I also subbed diced tomatoes for the puree, just to give it a little more texture. You can also add in some other veggies, of course.

Have you seen Out of Sight, the animated short about how a blind girl sees the world? Truly beautiful.

I've just discovered That Artist Woman and she is blowing my mind with the awesome art projects she creates for her classroom. This is one that parents of kids of all ages should bookmark and visit regularly. I'm planning on making these snowmen with Anna in a few weeks.

I love getting things in the mail, especially little surprise packages. That's why I'm psyched to be participating in the Holiday Ornament Exchange over at BluPenny. You make 3 ornaments, you get three ornaments, from other artists/crafters around the world. There are a couple days left to register so go sign up!

Lastly, I've been through a plethora of cough medicines lately, from homeopathic to herbal to Western, including a horrible experience with codeine (migraine-sufferers beware!). The one med that finally worked was a prescription for Benzonatate (generic for Tessalon Perle). I'm not saying it's for everyone, but I had one hellacious cough, and this med quieted it down without weird side effects. (May you never need it!)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'm planning on trying some new veg recipes, which I'll post next week. XO.

Local color

2010-11-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

We in Portland are having a gorgeous week. Those of us who have been here a while know that this is probably the last gorgeous week until February, when we'll get another week-long reprieve from the gloom. But the beauty of these weeks sustains me, season after season, year after year.

Oh, the cuteness

2010-11-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say finally (FINALLY) my Etsy shop is stocked again. I'm still sewing away and making more cuteness daily, but I wanted to let you know the drought is over! Stop by and have a look. And please, if you like what you see, mark my shop as one of your “Favorites” on Etsy. It will help send more eyeballs my way.

Only 55 days 'til Christmas! Just sayin'.

After the ballet

2010-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I took Anna and a friend to see OBT perform The Sleeping Beauty. If I'd had my act together, I would be showing you photos of them before the ballet sipping fancy cocoa in the grand lounge at The Heathman Hotel, our favorite before-show ritual. We pretended it was our palace, I the queen and they my lovely princesses. But I am out of blogging practice, and I forgot my camera. It wasn't until after the ballet that I thought to whip out my iPhone and snap some pictures of these Beauties.

Best. thing. ever.

2010-10-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

My amazing fashionista friend, Ami (mentioned here, here, and here), gave Anna this book as a going away gift (Ami was going away, not Anna) a few weeks ago. Anna immediately proclaimed her love for the book, and later for Ami.

Rosie Flo's Coloring Book is full of images of fabulous outfits: you add the head, hands, and feet. This little book kept Anna busy for about 4 days straight, and she keeps coming back to it. Paired with my Berol Prismacolors, left over from my art school days, it's a match made in heaven.

I love little things that give kids a jumping off point for their own creativity. Thanks, Ami, and bon voyage.

One an unrelated note, we're off to Florida (again) for a visit with the family (yet another excuse to delve deep into the genealogy stuff). Next post will likely be from more tropical climes.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: When geeks breed

2010-09-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

This was the scene at a recent going away party for friends of ours. The parents were in groups talking about tech, while the kids lived it. I confess that our own little geek was part of the fray, out of the frame, but doing exactly the same thing!

Easy, healthy pumpkin pancakes

2010-09-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

One of my pet peeves is unnecessary sugar in foods, especially kids foods (I'm looking at you, pumpkin pancake mixes!). At the same time, I understand the struggle to get something into your kid in the morning, and still get them to school on time.

I love this because it is low/no sugar, had loads of beta carotene, and is quick and easy enough for school days. The trick is that I make a batch of these pancakes on a weekend and freeze them. On school days I just pop one in the toaster. Ours get an extra protein boost because I mix about a tablespoon of tahini with less than a teaspoon of maple syrup and have Anna dip strips of pancake into it.

Note: this is really more of a hack than a recipe, because I don't make my pancakes from scratch (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake Mix). Also, I don't measure, so I can't tell you exact amounts. If you're uncomfortable with winging the measurements, email me or leave a comment and I'll measure next weekend!

Pumpkin Pancakes
Makes about 8 Anna-sized pancakes

Mix about 1 c. Multigrain Pancake Mix with about .5 c. pumpkin puree (not pie filling).
Add about 3 shakes of cinnamon and 1 of nutmeg.
Stir.
Add milk to desired consistency (I like the pancakes to be a bit thick, so my batter is fairly thick).
Add about 1 t canola or vegetable oil.
Stir some more.
Cook on a nonstick skillet.

As you're cooking the first pancakes, the batter left in the bowl will thicken. Just add in a little bit more milk to get your consistency back where you want it. And remember that this recipe is very forgiving, so you can always add a little more dry mix if it's too thin, more milk if it's too thick.

To Freeze
After they've cooled, I place individual pancakes in sandwich-size, wax paper bags. I fold down the top of each bag and then place all bags in a Ziploc Freezer Bag.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you try this out!

New York

2010-09-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

Window box

I'm back from an amazing, whirlwind, information-packed four days on the East coast. I spent two days with my paternal grandfather's family in Philadelphia, and two with my paternal grandmother's family in New York.

The amount of information I gathered, both factual and anecdotal, was incredible. My next task is to start transcribing, scanning, and incorporating it into my existing research. As I do that, I'll continue to post here on my progress.

The downside to such a quick trip is that there wasn't much time for sightseeing. I did have a free morning and afternoon in New York, and I managed to take in the Matisse show at MoMA, lunch at One Lucky Duck (an overpriced but yummy raw café), and some shopping at Loehman's. I snapped these photos along the way.

Rooftop view from the living room

Window display with reflections

Apple store

Traffic cop

City rat

Window box 2

Fact-finding mission

2010-09-13T11:44:00.001-07:00

Joe and Clara Millman, my paternal great-grandparents.

When my dad died, I inherited a box of old photos and documents, many of which were unlabeled. My grandfather's and grandmother's family photos were tossed together, unsorted, in a big (classically Steven) jumble.

One thing led to another, and somehow over the past few months I've become pretty obsessed with piecing together my family history. The various online resources, of which Ancestry.com is the mothership, make this remarkably easy. What they can't do, however, is tell me who's in the pictures. For that, I need to go to my dad's family, which thankfully I still have in Pennsylvania and New York.

So I'm off on a solo-adventure (my first since Anna was born)! I'll be flying out on a red-eye late Wednesday night for four full days of genealogy geekery. I'm going to interview my 94-year-old great aunt (my grandfather's sister) in Philly, and my grandmother's 84-year-old first cousin in New York. And I'll have the chance to do the same with my mom's side of the family in October. I'm super excited for all of this.

I can't recommend enough that you take the time to interview older relatives if you've got them (Go, do it now!). I feel like I'm doing this just in the nick of time. Because of this trip, this information will be available to Anna if/when she ever becomes interested. Otherwise much of it would be lost forever.

Penguins can’t breathe under water

2010-09-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

Somehow summer is over and kindergarden has begun. There are so many things I intended to write about, photos and recipes and stories to share. Where did the time go? Oh yes, sewing and crafting, camps galore, travel to California (I will post some of those pics), learning to read (Anna), getting sucked in to the massive addiction that is Ancestry.com (me), and so on.

Anna started her kindergarden year yesterday. Because she attends a Montessori school, kindergarden is not a big change for her. She is in her third and final year in the same classroom, with the same teachers, and many of the same students. Although much is familiar, the work she does each year changes dramatically. She came home yesterday and announced that she was writing a report on frogs. Today she began one on penguins.

I can't wait to see what she's doing next week!

Pickle love

2010-08-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

One might think that because I have been known to make my own bread, cheese, and lots of other yummy creations (like these, and this, and this!) that I would also have tried canning. Though I would love to have a bounty of homemade jams, lemon curd, and veggies stored up for winter, the truth is that canning intimidates me.

Because of this inner conflict (it sounds much worse than it is!), I was thrilled to find this recipe for homemade pickles in Real Simple magazine. The ingredients were all easy to come by (I think I already had everything except pickling cucumbers) and they take only 1 day to pickle, thus providing the almost instant gratification I usually get with cooking/baking.

I did modify the recipe by subbing regular white vinegar for white wine vinegar and used chopped dill weed instead of seed. I also reused the brine for a second (and third) batch of pickles, since we devoured these in a couple days (I topped the jar off with a splash more vinegar both times).

I plan to try repeating this process with carrots, beets, and brussels sprouts soon!

What about you? Do you can or pickle? Want to?

Still lives

2010-08-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, two little girls came asking for an art project. Really? Does it get any better than that?

Neither of them had ever done a still life before, so I began by finding a few different examples online. I really wanted them to see that they didn't have to be representational. I think it's so important that kids understand there is no doing it "wrong" with art.

A simple set-up and some oil pastels were all that was needed. Their work, of course, was amazing! And I love that they both added in apples even though there wasn't one in the still life. Creative license at work!

You'll notice Anna went back to her stage name, Lavender, to sign her work!