Orange & Yellow Poppy

Orange Poppies

Red Poppies III

Red Poppies II

I decided to create a series of poppy cutouts. The designs are simple and bright. I'll be posting more over the next few days. I hope you enjoy them!

Red Poppies

Q is for Quince

Flowers in a Vase

Building a Nest

P is for Pineapple

Rainbow over NYC II

Here is another piece of the New York City rainbow!

Rainbow Over NYC

Last Thursday, after an oppressively hot day, there was a brief thunderstorm. Looking out the window after, I was amazed to see a beautiful rainbow arching over New York City! I took a quick photo and then created the piece below.

Tulips at the Greenmarket

Last Thursday, I met up with my husband and we strolled through the greenmarket at 116th & Broadway. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day and I especially enjoyed the bright colors of the tulips.

This greenmarket always has lovely flowers in the spring.

Finally, Spring and My 200th Post!

I took this photo on Columbia University's campus a few days ago. The flowering tree in the forground is finally starting to bloom! Despite a chilly start, it does feel like spring is finally here!

I'm looking forward to creating some new spring-themed pieces once I've finished the alphabet series.

O is for Orange

Oranges are mainly used for juice production and most are grown in Brazil. There are numerous varieties of oranges including sweet orange, navel and valencia.

Homemade Orange Juice

1. Wash oranges, cut in half and remove seeds.
2. Squeeze orange halves into a pitcher. For more pulp, scrape in some fruit, too.

This is so refreshing to have with breakfast!

N is for Nectarine

Nectarines belong the same species as peaches. Nectarines can have white or yellow flesh inside and they bruise easily.

Nectarine Smoothie

1. Cut nectarines into chunks, peel and freeze.
2. Blend frozen nectarine chunks, milk or milk substitute and 1 Tbsp. honey.
3. Serve immediately!

Prepping Alphabet Pieces

Yesterday, I worked on prepping the next four alphabet pieces. After cutting the paper down to the right size, I painted each piece a different shade of blue.

I mixed different shades of blue to contrast with the paper I planned to use for the fruit alphabet pieces. I'm enjoying the new colors of gouache paint I bought recently. I think the colors are very intense and bright.

Stay tuned for new pieces tomorrow!

M is for Mango

Mangoes grow on trees and come in different sizes and colors (yellow, orange, red and green). Mangoes are native to India.

Mangoes with Yogurt and Honey

1. Cut mango in half, peel and cube. It can be challenging to cut a mango because it's so slippery, so exercise caution.
2. Fill a bowl with yogurt (I'd suggest plain), place mango cubes on top and drizzle with honey.

Right now, champagne mangoes are in season. They are smaller than the typical mangoes found in the grocery store. They are a pale green when unripe and then ripen into a speckled yellow. The inner fruit is golden orange and so sweet and creamy, you'll find it hard not to eat the whole mango. They're usually only in season for a short period, so if you see them at the market or grocery store, buy a few to enjoy!

L is for Lemon

Lemons grow on small evergreen trees. Most lemons contain 3 Tbsp. of juice.

Refreshing Lemon Water

1. Pour cold water into a pitcher
2. Add slices of lemon and a few tablespoons of lemon juice.
3. Enjoy in a glass with a lemon slice on the side.

It's very refreshing to drink cold water with a healthy squeeze of lemon on hot, summer days. When I brainstormed lemon recipes, I originally intended to include a "healthy" recipe for lemonade, i.e. without loads of sugar. It's such a cooling summer drink and is so popular with children. It's really hard to find a good substitute for sugar, though. Many recipes use artificial sweeteners that are probably just as bad, if not worse than sugar. Do you have any thoughts on how to make lemonade healthier?

K is for Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit is named after New Zealand's brown, flightless bird - the kiwi. Kiwifruit is rich in vitamin C and has almost as much potassium as a banana. To eat kiwifruit, cut the fruit in half and scoop out the green flesh with a spoon. Enjoy!

J is for Jujube

Jujubes originated in China. Unripe jujube is green. As it ripens, it turns yellow-green and then red. Eat a jujube like an apple. Cut into 4 quarters and enjoy raw!

I is for Italian Plum

Italian plums are in season in late summer and early fall. When ripe, Italian plums will be deep purple and firm.

Italian Plum Crisp

1. Cut 3 lbs. of Italian plums into quarters and remove pits. Place in a 9"x13" baking pan.
2. Combine 1 cup oats, 1 cup flour, 4 Tbsp. canola oil, 4 Tbsp. brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. cinnamon.
3. Spread mixture over plums and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

H is for Honeydew melon

Honeydew melon is a sweet, refreshing fruit to enjoy in the summer! In the U.S., honeydew melon is grown in California, Arizona and Texas.

Honeydew melon Smoothie

1. Cut 1/4 of a melon into chunks and remove skin.
2. Place in a blender and add 1 cup of milk or milk substitute (soy, rice, almond).
3. Blend until frothy and pour into glasses.

I think this will be delicious on a hot, summer day!

G is for Grapefruit

Grapefruits grow on evergreen trees, reaching up to 50 ft. Grapefruit flesh can be pink, white or red.

Grapefruit & Orange Salad

1. Grate skin of one orange.
2. Peel skin from 3 - 4 grapefruits and oranges and separate pulp. Place it in a bowl with the grated skin.
3. Add sugar to taste and enjoy!

My mother frequently makes this salad in the winter and it is so refreshing!

F is for Fig

Figs have a green skin that turns purple when it ripens. Figs are high in calcium.

Stewed Figs

1. Wash figs, place in pot and cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
3. Add 1 Tbsp. of sugar and 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice along with grated lemon rind and serve.

This can be eaten as a dessert or with breakfast, spread on toast or with yogurt.

E is for Eggplant

Eggplant is native to India, and it's actually a type of berry! Eggplants grow in different shapes, some are long and narrow, others round or oval, and colors ranging from white to yellow to shades of purple.

Roasted Eggplant

1. Cut eggplant into 1/4 " rounds
2. Place on an oiled sheet and sprinkle with salt, herbs and olive oil.
3. Roast at 425 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes.

Enjoy on toast or with rice or pasta!

D is for Dragonfruit

Dragonfruit grow on cacti. Dragonfruit are mainly found in Central & South America and in Southeast Asia. To eat a dragonfruit, cut the ripe fruit in half. Then, eat the flesh - the white part of the fruit with black seeds. It's similar to kiwi.

I simply love the bright pink color and fresh green shoots of this fruit! I've never eaten dragonfruit before, though, have you?

C is for Cherry

Cherries are stone fruits, meaning they have a pit inside. In the U.S., most cherries are grown in Washington, California, Oregon and Michigan. Cherries are in season for such a short time every summer. The best way to enjoy them is wash, place in a bowl and munch away!

B is for Banana

Bananas are a portable snack - just peel and munch! They're also an excellent source of potassium. The recipe may be a little hard to read, so I've typed it below.

Banana Bread

3 large ripe bananas
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1/3 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Mash bananas in a bowl and add egg, oil, juice and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, then add banana mixture and stir. Pour into greased 9 " x 5" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until cake tester inserts cleanly.

I baked this over the weekend and it's delicious!

A is for Apple

I am creating an alphabet of fruits for children. On the front of each piece I am creating a design of the fruit and the letter in upper and lower case. The back of each piece has a couple of fun facts about the fruit and a kid-friendly recipe. The purpose of this project is to introduce young children to the alphabet in a fun, visual way and to teach healthy eating habits and encourage an interest in cooking from an early age. Please share any feedback! Thanks!

Looking Forward to Spring II

Looking Forward to Spring