Flickr Inspiration

Autumn Colors by Indy Kethdy via Flickr.

Recipe: Wild Rice, Butternut Squash and Cannellini Stew

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (about 1/2 oz.) mixed dried mushrooms
• 1 medium onion
• 8 ounces button mushrooms, rinsed and cut in half
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or mushroom broth
• 1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice*
• 1 pound peeled cubed butternut squash*
• 1 can (15 oz.) cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained
• About 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 4 ounces Swiss chard
• Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Put dried mushrooms in a small bowl with 1 cup very hot water, stir, and let stand until softened, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cut onion into large chunks, then pulse in a food processor to chop. In a 5- to 6-qt. pan over medium-high heat, cook onion and button mushrooms with oil, pepper, and thyme, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. While onion mixture cooks, put broth in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until steaming, about 3 minutes.

3. Add broth, rice, squash, beans, and 1 tsp. salt to pan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender when pierced, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, swish dried mushrooms in soaking liquid to loosen grit. Lift out mushrooms and coarsely chop. Add mushrooms to pot. Carefully pour in soaking liquid, leaving grit behind in bowl.

4. Rinse chard and chop leaves and stems. Add chard to stew and cook until stems are tender, 10 minutes. Add more salt if you like and serve with Parmesan.

Cooked wild rice is available from Trader Joe's; you can also cook your own (do it ahead and freeze in batches). Buy prepared squash in the produce section of many markets.

Image by Leigh Beisch; food styling by Dan Becker, recipe via Sunset.

Feels like Autumn

These (and other) items are featured in my Etsy Treasury: Feels like Autumn. Visit, leave me a comment, enjoy the shops and get ready for Autumn.

Flickr Faves: Fleeting Color

Fleeting Color, originally uploaded by Ar'alani.

In a hurry today. I finished my movie poster project for art class {you can view it on my apt3design blog} after 3 redesigns. Two blog updates. Now I'm off to catch the bus for class at 2:00 PM.

Sharing some Oregon fall color with you today...enjoy!

Recipe: Baked Oatmeal

Autumn is upon us! I always get the urge to bake in the fall, do you? Back-to-school starts for me next week. My classes are all in the afternoon and evening but this looks like a healthy and tasty breakfast I'll have to try. And the topping choices are almost unlimited...yum!

Ingredients
2 cups Quick Quaker® Oats OR 2-1/4 cups Old Fashioned Quaker® Oats, uncooked
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3-1/3 cups fat-free milk
1/2 cup cup liquid egg substitute with yolk or 2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Preparation
Heat oven to 350º F. Spray 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.

In large bowl, combine oats and granulated sugar. In medium bowl, combine milk, egg substitute and vanilla; mix well. Add to oat mixture; mix well. Pour into baking dish.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven to cooling rack.

Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top of oatmeal. Using back of spoon, gently spread sugar into a thin layer across entire surface of oatmeal. Return to oven; bake just until sugar melts, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set oven to broil. Broil 3 inches from heat until sugar bubbles and browns slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. (Watch carefully to prevent burning. It may be necessary to turn baking dish.) Spoon into bowls to serve.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time Time: 40 min

Recipe and image via.

Rain

It's officially autumn in Portland, Oregon. Our weather report predicts rain for the next week.
Many folks that transplant their lives to Portland become disillusioned as fall slips into winter and our rainy season begins. As a native Oregonian, we're said to have webbed feet, don't use umbrellas and we love rain.

Personally, I do use my umbrellas but I also love the rain!

What's better than the sound of rain on a rooftop, the patter of rain on trees in the forest or a windy, crashing storm during the winter along the coast? Rain keeps our state fresh, clean and GREEN. Rain inhabits a variety of emotions...sometimes sadness but also solitude.

Reflection. Relaxation. Quiet.

My Etsy finds for today are inspired by the rain...






Top to Bottom:

Storm - signed Giclee Print of an Original Painting by Klaart
Today's Meditation original photograph by Madelyn Mulvaney of Courage My Love
Rain City Lights by Beata Sasik Art Studio & Gallery
Winter Walk with Buddy original acrylic on canvas by Fran Caldwell of Hafendeg's Shop
Crossing - 8x10 metallic finish photograph by specularity
Showers Bringing the Flowers - original embroidery by Lucy Jackson
Promise by Ann Wilkinson Photography
I don't like rain without you - original ACEO painting by David Hayward of Hayward Art

All works displayed are handmade originals by the artists of Etsy. Please visit their shops by clicking the links above...shop, buy, love handmade. Thanks!


photos copyright artists listed.

text copyright pfeiffer photos 2008.

Make it count

One of my favorite blogs to follow is written by Leah of moxie photo & design. In the post I read today she wrote about examining oneself. I understand completely about wondering what it is that I am actually doing...is it making a difference? Is it just motions that go by and are forgotten? To learn, to share. Create things, see beauty, find wonder, show appreciation, expression, joy. Wasting minutes in any day is always a concern for me. Can't get those minutes back. Better make 'em count and rack up the memory points to the max!

Thistle by Tina - Pfeiffer Photos 2008

Sometimes I honestly have to tell myself (yes, out loud) to STOP and to BREATHE. No wonder I love to sleep so much...

Mid October by Tina - Pfeiffer Photos 2008.

Last weekend Chris and I took a drive out to Oregon City, the oldest incorporated city west of the Rockies (1829), and walked along the overlook above the Willamette River. The photos displayed in this post are part of a series I captured along the way...if you're interested in owning one for your wall or on a notecard, please contact me, and I'd be happy to make you a print.

Happy weekend to Leah, and to all of you that read along...get out there and enjoy it!

VFW Post, Oregon City by Tina - Pfeiffer Photos 2008.

Visit Leah's Etsy shops, moxie thrift and moxiephotodesign, to view more of her handmade art, fine art photography and unique vintage finds!

photos and text copyright pfeiffer photos 2008 - all rights reserved.

Simply. Lovely. Treasury.

Thank you to Kenton Beadworks for including not one but two of our images in her Simply, Lovely Etsy Treasury! Click the photo grid for a larger look at all these beautiful works. Please leave your comments here and then visit the treasury to leave a comment and view all these simply, lovely handmade items from our fellow Etsy artisans!

Driving Across by Tina, Pfeiffer Photos 2008

Arcadia Wind by Tina, Pfeiffer Photos 2008

Shopping for Autumn

bird & nest accordian book - paper moon bookbinding

forest accent salad plates - west elm (set of 4 $32)

harvest time serveware from vintage thick 'n creamy

telephone pillow cover - west elm ($20)

painted hills - pfeiffer photos