Birthday Girl

I had a birthday this week — I’m now officially one year older than a week ago….

My husband gave me some lovely flowers — So lovely!  I had to put them in a favorite piece — A very woodfired Vessel made by Bede Clark!  Ceramic artist and professor at University of Missouri.  I LOVE his work — I acquired this piece several years ago at NCECA.

We also went out to Dinner!  WOW — We never manage to go out to dinner during the week (we’re ‘weekend folk’).  But it was the first totally sunny (comfortable) day in quite awhile — We went to a favorite Irish Pub to dine outside along Lake Minnetonka.  We enjoyed (shared) a big bowl of Mussels (with toasty bread for soaking up the wine broth), and then an awesome (perfectly cooked) Burger and Fries (with a really enjoyable local beer).  Great lakeside Birthday Dinner!

Then, we came home for a simple (summer/refreshing) Birthday Dessert — Key Lime Pie!  Served on one of my own Maasha Plates — Stoneware, slip with ashy/celadon glaze treatment around the (distressed) rim!

Basically, a pleasant, low-key, tasty Birthday!

And now, I’m hoping the last of my new work dries so that I can bisque-fire tonight.  Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend!

Rhubarb – On a Platter

Rhubarb Cake (with Candied Ginger):

It’s finally springtime in Minnesota (chilly, rainy, chilly), but we do have plenty of springtime rhubarb!  I also have a new platter that I just acquired during the St. Croix Pottery Tour.  So I’m sharing the two together — My new platter and a bit of rhubarb.

Actually, I grew up in a house with lots of rhubarb out in the yard — And I hated it; I HATED rhubarb.  Now, I have NO rhubarb in my yard, but I quite appreciate it’s tangy, unique (almost exotic) flavor.  I’ve discovered that it makes a lovely chutney; and it’s really great for baking.  So I’m sharing an easy, perfect-for-springtime Rhubarb-Ginger Cake.

The Food – Rhubarb-Ginger Cake:

I have a recipe for a Blueberry-Ginger Cake; I decided to try rhubarb instead.  It includes a very easy, very tasty, crumbly Ginger Topping (with lots of candied ginger) — I’m calling it Rhubarb-Ginger Crumble Cake!

With either rhubarb, or blueberries, or BOTH together — It really makes a great ‘coffee-cake’ for breakfast; and with a bit of whipped cream, it makes a delightful (gingery) dessert any time of the day.

Note — I’ve included the Recipe on my Recipes Page!

The Pottery – Platter by Guillermo Cuellar:

I’m sharing my Rhubarb-Ginger Cake on a platter made by Minnesota Artist, Guillermo Cuellar.  While working at the St. Croix Pottery Tour (with FIELDS full of pottery), I continually noticed a specific platter.  Quiet, earthy-greenish tone, broken ‘rope’ textured surface treatment — Finally, I got it!!  I think it’s a perfect presentation for the cake!  Guillermo’s pottery is so ‘comfortable’ — I think I’ll be using this Platter for many more yummy creations!

And a Link — www.GuillermoPottery.com

And just wondering — Did anyone else hate rhubarb, growing up??

Happy (finally?) Springtime everyone!!

Springtime Weekend, Springtime Risotto

Springtime at my Farm:

I just dashed down to my Wisconsin Farm for the long holiday (Memorial Day) weekend.  And things were looking very green and spring-like; although the weather (and sky) was cloudy and cool and misty. I do hope everyone enjoyed a meaningful holiday weekend.

I’m now back home – And happy to share a few Springtime-at-the-Farm photos; and also, a Springtime Risotto (tasty with lobster and asparagus)!

Above — The calves next door, under the apple blossoms.

Above — Looking across the Pond….

Above — Most of our neighbors are Amish; plowing the fields….

Above — More plowing….

The Food — Lobster Risotto with Corn, Asparagus, and Pea Shoots:

I may live in the MidWest, but I love a bit of lobster now and then.  I had a few lobster tails in the freezer; and some very fresh springtime asparagus from a small market down the road.  I thought a Risotto would provide a perfect medium for combining these, along with sweetcorn and pea shoots.

I made a simple Risotto — Then mixed in sauteed leek, corn kernals (I freeze my own every year), gently sauteed lobster chunks, and asparagus.  All topped with happy pea shoots.  So delightful, springtime-tasty!!

And Risotto looks so inviting in a new bowl made by Colorado Artist, Jim Lorio.

The Rusty Pots (NOT Pottery):

I love RUST; old rusty things.  And as a potter concerned with three-dimensional work, I love finding interesting ‘forms’ of any material — Wood, metal, fiber.  So it’s always exciting when we ‘find’ some old relic on the Farm — Like the sturdy differential housing (from an old pickup truck?); and the very rusted-but-colorful, very deformed, old bucket (found in the mud in one of the ponds).  I love the ‘found’ RUSTY pots — Even though they’re not made of clay.

Hope everyone is enjoying (finally) Spring!!

Tres Leches Cake

Delightful Cake / Delightful Bowl:

I am still recovering from TWO back-to-back Arts Tours!  My Lake Minnetonka Tour (with sooooo much preparation); the St. Croix Pottery Tour (where I help out at Guillermo’s Studio).  I so enjoy both of these events (every year), but I also enjoy getting my life back when the excitement is over.

While working at the St. Croix Tour, Guillermo’s wife, Laurie, made a simple Tres Leches Cake for one of our desserts.  A ‘Mexican’ cake made with ‘three milks’ — Moist like a ‘custard’; delightful, refreshing, like a Mexican Tiramisu.  I had to try making this cake!  And I had to share one of my new Bowls that I acquired at the Tour!

The Food – Tres Leches Cake with Bananas & Cinnamon:

With Laurie’s recipe,  it was so easy to make!  First, a quick ‘sponge’ cake; when baked, poked with skewer all over.  Then, a mixture of ‘three milks’ (evaporated, sweetened/condensed, heavy cream) with a dash of Brandy — The milk-mixture poured over cooled cake.  Refrigerated for several hours (or overnight) — Done, easy but elegant!  I served with sliced bananas, extra whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon — Truly delectable-amazing!!  The flavors worked so wonderfully together!

Note — I did not have Brandy; I used a dash of Drambuie — OMG!  Definitely amazing, wonderful!

Recipe (Laurie’s Recipe) included on my Recipe Page.

The Pottery – Bowl by Jim Lorio:

I acquired several pieces this year made by Colorado Artist, Jim Lorio.  Several shallow bowls, and a few more goodies (I’ll share later).  I chose this Bowl (almost a plate) for presentation of my Cake — Stoneware with Jim’s snowy-white, silky smooth Glaze (I LOVE this glaze); random texture marks inside the Bowl; three delightful, ruffly dents along the rim.  I think this Bowl was perfect for a serving of Tres Leches Cake with Banana!

Hope everyone enjoyed my ‘recovery’ treat — Tres Leches Cake (in Jim Lorio Bowl)!

Now, I’ve got some major GLAZING to do, for a firing this week.

Two Tours — So Many Pots!!

Lake Minnetonka / St. Croix Valley:

I am exhausted!  TWO Arts Tours in two back-to-back weekends — So much fun!  So much work!  So many Pots!

First, our Lake Minnetonka Studio Tour.  Loved playing Host on our Tour again this year!  Thank you to so many wonderful folks who came out to enjoy our art; to enjoy our Pottery — My pots; Sandra Shaughnessy’s pots!  We would have liked ‘warmer’ weather — But truly, it was great to see everyone.  Again, a sincere thank you for stopping by!

Next, (this past weekend) the St. Croix Pottery Tour where I always help out at Guillermo’s (Guillermo Cuellar Studio).  And this year I got a motel room in St. Croix Falls for the long weekend.  A fantastic (incredibly busy) weekend — Full of pottery and more pottery, and wonderful people, and wonderful food.  The weather was ‘mostly’ great (Saturday was super-blustery), but at least Winter has finally let go.

And now that the whirlwind is over, I am so looking forward to getting my life back!  But first, sharing a few of the photos I managed to get — Mostly gorgeous flowers in gorgeous vases….

The Pottery / The Flowers:

Above:  Flowers in a Jim Lorio Vase, with stunning Guillermo Platter in the foreground.

Above:  Flowers (lots of Iris) in a Steve Rolf Vase.

Above:  Lovely Flowers in a Guillermo Cuellar Vase.

Above:  Gorgeous Flowers in a (very woodfired) Dick Cooter Vase.

And Note:  My sister, Janice, came up from Arkansas — And had fun doing ALL the flower arranging!

Yes, it’s all been a whirlwind (TWO Tours) — But I always enjoy ‘my own’ Tour; I always enjoy helping at the St. Croix Tour!  Sooooooo many Pots!!

Lake Minnetonka Arts Event – This Weekend!!

Lake Minnetonka Studio Tour

We’re in the countdown to the Arts Tour THIS WEEKEND!  And we’ve all been so very busy getting our homes/studios ready for the Tour.  But it’s been enjoyable, and even exciting – Working with a really great group of Artists, getting ready to open our studios, and share our art, THIS WEEKEND!

Of course, it’s been a bit frustrating going through the longest-lasting WINTER ever!!  Major snow storms EVERY week through all of April!  And then finally — We warmed up this past weekend (Springtime warmth, unbelievable)!  We can finally get our yards cleaned up and ready for the Tour.

So, here are a few springtime flowers in a Maasha Envelope Vase….

And, now that the frogs are out (with the warmer weather) — Here are a few Frogs hopping around a Live-Edge Wood Tray, made by one of my Guest Artists, Peter Sletten.

And as always, I’ve been making plenty of my Banana-Apricot Bread.

The Tour / The Info:

If you’re in the Twin Cities — Hope you can stop by, and check out other Sites/Studios on the Tour as well.  Twenty-two quality Artists (8 Host Sites) — A great Springtime (Arts) Event!!

The TOUR (Brochures available) — www.LakeMtka-StudioTour.com

SO BUSY with Arts Event!

Lake Minnetonka Studio Tour in THREE Weeks!

Yes, I’ve been unbelievably busy the past few weeks – Getting ready for our Arts Tour!!  Again — I’ve been sooooooo  busy the past few weeks!!  Brochures, new pots, brochures and labels, more new pots, more brochures and labels, glazing and firing, brochures finally mailed out.

www.LakeMtka-StudioTour.com

And through it all, snow and MORE snow!  We look like February, but it’s actually mid-April!  Last week, a three-day storm left some of us with nearly 10 inches of snow – And expecting chilly temps this week.  That means barely any melting.  And our Arts Tour is happening in THREE short weeks!  I don’t know how we’ll get our homes and yards and decks and studios ready — With so much snow in the way.

Some Pottery:

And because I’ve been soooooo busy (and definitely NOT cooking, and not even ‘thinking’ about food) – I’m sharing a few clay pieces by some of our Ceramic Artists in the Tour.

Above:  Lovely Bowl with Shino glaze and stylized floral design — Made by Pratibha Gupta.

Above:  Totally FUN Fish-Stix (fish with attitude) for the garden or the patio — Made by Donna Winberg.

And finally, collection of Butter Dishes (inspired by circus tents) – Made by Sandra Shaughnessy.

Sure wish Spring would happen!!  It’s so much easier getting ready for the Arts Tour when the seasons are CORRECT — And the weather is cooperating!