Art, Eats, and What Other

I haven't done one of these in awhile but now seemed like a good time. I've been reading but haven't seemed to able to finish anything.
Art
artist Karen Hallion has some great artwork that mixes Doctor Who and Disney Princesses, both of which I love. You can find Karen here: Facebook, Deviant Art

Visions are Seldom all They Seem

Come Away With Me

Eats
I like finding new recipes to try out with my picky eaters. I always seem to find something on Steph's weekly menu post on Plain Chicken.
Winter in Michigan (which still hasn't ended no matter what the calendar says) is always a good time to try new slow cooker recipes. One that we tried and liked was the Mississippi Pot Roast.

Recipe
3 lb pot roast (I used a Blade Roast)
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
1 packet Au Jus mix
6 pepperoncini peppers
1 stick butter

In a 6-quart slow cooker, add all ingredients and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
That's it, no liquid but it still turns out great.

What Other

Just because everyone should enjoy some dancing here's a mash up of Christopher Walken dancing in several of his movies.

Arts, Eats, & What Other

ART
 
a new adventure by ~pieceesnp on deviantART

EATS

Undone Stuffed Pepper Casserole 

from Kraft

Ingredients:
1 lb.  lean ground beef
2  green peppers, coarsely chopped
3 cloves  garlic, minced
2 cups  cooked long-grain white rice
1 jar  (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1-1/2 cups  KRAFT Shredded Italian* Five Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA, divided

Directions
*HEAT oven to 350ºF.
*BROWN meat with peppers and garlic in large skillet; drain. Stir in rice, spaghetti sauce and 3/4 cup    cheese.
*SPOON into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cheese.
*BAKE 25 min. or until heated through.

What Other
Book Trailer for V.E. Schwab's (Victoria Schwab) new book VICIOUS. 
You can also read Warm Up, prequel to VICIOUS on Tor.com for a limited time.

Arts, Eats, & What Other

Art

Fly Away With Me by Anne Stokes

Eats
Flaming Green Dragon (from food.com)

Ingredients
1 ounce Midori melon liqueur
1 ounce Bacardi 151 rum

Directions:
1 Mix.
2 Light, letting flames warm drink (about 20 seconds).
3 Blow out flames.
4 Swallow quickly - take care not to burn yourself.

What Other
I've seen much talk and many Gifs about this...Hiccup grew up and became attractive. I don't find it any different than people with fictional boyfriends from books...

Art, Eats, and What Other

Art
Artist: Alexander Jansson (website)

Nine pound hammer

Author John Claude Bemis 

Random House

EATS
Kool-Aid Tie-Dye Easter Eggs
from Kraft

What You Need

2env.  (0.13 to 0.16 oz. each) KOOL-AID Unsweetened Drink Mix, any red color (try Cherry, Black Cherry, Strawberry or Tropical Punch flavor)
2env.  (0.14 oz. to 0.15 oz. each) KOOL-AID Unsweetened Drink Mix, any orange color (try Orange, Mango or Peach Mango flavor)
2env.  (0.13 oz. to 0.23 oz. each) KOOL-AID Unsweetened Drink Mix, any yellow or green color (try Lemonade, Piña or Lemon-Lime flavor)
2env.  (0.22 oz. each) KOOL-AID Unsweetened Drink Mix, any blue color (try Mixed Berry or Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade flavor)
1/2cup  water, divided
1-1/2doz.  hard-cooked eggs, cooled
Directions
1. MIX contents of 2 (same-flavored) KOOL-AID envelopes with 2 Tbsp. water in 6- to 8-oz. container; stir to dissolve drink mixes. Repeat in 3 separate containers with remaining KOOL-AID envelopes.
2. PLACE eggs on cooling rack in sink; rinse eggs with tap water.
3. SPOON KOOL-AID mixtures, 1 at a time, over wet eggs to create tie-dye patterns. Repeat with remaining eggs.
4. POUR a little tap water over each egg to set colors. Use tongs to transfer eggs to paper towel-covered baking sheet to dry. Rinse sink immediately as needed.

What Other

I first saw these T-shirts on Tumblr and instantly wanted one. The entire book is printed on the T-shirt (or poster). To find out more: Litographs

Art, (no) Eats, & What Other

Art

Poisonous Beauties VIII: Castor Bean

by Jasmine Becket-Griffith

What Other

I love Carrie Underwood and her new song/video. 

NBU's Art, Eats, & What Other

Art

Hansel and Gretel - Cake House
by Iricolor

Eats

This is from Cooking Books: Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

For the Cake

2 tablespoons finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup packed, light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup molasses
6 oz bittersweet chocolate - 2 ounces melted, 4 ounces finely chopped
1 cup buttermilk

for the icing

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon strong coffee
3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons confectioner's sugar (it's a good idea to sift this, I found)

Cake

Oven preheated to 350, rack in center

Whisk flour, baking soda and spices and set aside. If you're using a stand mixer, fit it with the paddle attachment, set on medium, and cream the butter and brown sugar together until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Add the eggs in one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. My mixture looked curdled at this stage, but Dorie says that's okay, so I believe her! Add the molasses and continue beating until the mixture is smooth.

Reduce speed to low and the melted chocolate and the sugared ginger.  Then add the dry ingredients in three stages, alternating with the buttermilk.  Begin and end with the dry ingredients.  Do not over mix the batter.  Fold in the chopped chocolate and pour the batter into your 9-in square baking pan.

Bake for 40 minutes until the sides start to pull away from the pan. My cake was domed, but it settled after a few minutes of cooling. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then take it out of the pan and cool to room temperature before icing.

Icing

Melt the chocolate together with the coffee in a double boiler.  Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the butter one tablespoon at a time.  Sift the confectioner's sugar over the mixture and stir it in.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it set for 10 minutes.  

Pour the icing over the center of the cake and spread it to the sides.  Let the iced cake sit for 30 minutes before cutting into 9 pieces. 


What Other  Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
This movie comes out in 2013. Interested in seeing more.

NBUs Art, Eats, & What Other

War of 1812 Bicentennial 

It was Navy Week this past week in Detroit. The Navy is going to different ports, that had an impact during the War of 1812, to commemorate the 200th anniversary. You can find out more and upcoming ports on their facebook page.
These are some picks from our visit.

ART

Catch Me If You Can

by ~CdreJohnPaulJones

If you click on the picture name it tells the story behind this boat.

NBU's Art, Eats, & What Other

Art

NICE TO MEET YOU-For children

by *CEACHESE

Eats

Cookiiiiiies
by *ZestyDoesThings

















What Other
This isn't in English but ... It's a Steampunk Martial Arts movie. It just looks cool

NBUs Art, Eats, & What Other

This is a new feature I started where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

Art

Mirabella
by Rachel Anderson

Eats
Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
I got this recipe from my Aunt (I don't know where she got it).

1 box of yellow cake mix, (replace water with juice from pineapples) prepare using directions on the box.
Mix 1/3 cup of brown sugar with 2 tbsp of melted butter. Place small amount in each cupcake wrapper.
Place pineapple in wrapper then scoop batter on top. Place cherry on top of cupcake mixture.
Bake per directions on cake box.



What Other

Book Trailer for Melissa Marr's Carnival of Souls

NBUs Arts, Eats, & What Other

This is a new feature I started where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

It's time for a little GRIMM

Art

The six swans
by ~VKart

What Other

New season of Grimm starts this Monday (8/13/12). Really enjoyed this show. Here's a nice recap of the 1st season.

NBUs Arts, Eats, & What Other

This is a new feature I started where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

It's a Wizard of Oz type day.

Art

Elphaba the Wicked
by YoukaiYume

Eats

I don't have a recipe but thought this cookbook fits :)                                                Cooking in Oz 

by Elaine Willingham, Stephen Cox

What Other



Carrie Underwood ~ Blown Away

NBUs Art, Eats, & What Other

This is a new feature I'm starting where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

Art

Book of Life by David Kracov
Find more info @ DavidKracov.com

Eats
I found this recipe on Pinterest. It was originally posted @Lesley's Recipe Archive.

Fresh Cucumber Salad (Canning recipe)

7-cups unpeeled pickling cucumbers sliced thin (about 7 large dills)
1-cup sliced onions

1-cup sliced green peppers
1-tbsp salt
1-cup white vinegar
2-cups sugar
1-tsp celery seed
1-tsp mustard seed


Mix cucumbers, onions, peppers and salt; set a side
Put vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil
Remove from heat and let cool for one hour
Pour mixture over cucumbers
Put in jars and store in refrigerator
Will keep up to 2 months. Makes 2 quart jars


*I don't like raw onions so did not include in ours but wanted to show original recipe.

What Other
Took the little one to see Ice Age Continental Drift today. I don't think it surpassed Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs for him but he laughed throughout so it was a win. Mom and Dad enjoyed it as well.

NBUs ... What Other ~ The Hobbit

This is a new feature I'm starting where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

Today is another What Other day. I have been looking forward to The Hobbit since The Lord of The Rings movies came out and it was just a whisper of talk. These were also the only movies my and hubby had to see in theaters instead of waiting for them to come out on DVD (now it's mostly animated movies with the little one).
The official The Hobbit Blog has a lot of great stuff about the movies and the making of them. Another great site for great info is The One Ring.net.


One of my favorite characters of both the books and the movies is Gandalf and he is featured on the Comic Con poster.

Movie Trailer





Anyone else looking forward to this movie? If not what movie are you waiting for?

NBUs Art, Eats, & What Other...

This is a new feature I'm starting where I can talk about just about anything, including books. I will be sharing art/artists that I enjoy as well as some of my favorite recipes. The what other is just that, what ever other thing I can think of to talk about.

Today is a What Other day! I'm in a reading slump.

Now lets clarify, I'm not having any problems reading. I still read everyday. I just find myself having trouble finding books that I enjoy. The new books I've been reading haven't been bad. Most have been rather good. It's more I feel like I'm reading them just to say I've read them rather than because I want to.
Has anyone had this problem? I'm not sure how to fix it except to just keep reading until I find that one book that turns it around.
I've started rereading old series lately as well. Current series that I've already read and am reading again include... Mercy Thompson series from Patricia Briggs, Riley Jenson Guardian series from Keri Arthur, Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Otherworld/ Sisters of the Moon from Yasmine Galenorn. Reading these series may be the only thing keeping me reading. I know going in that I enjoy them so there's no risk there.
Hopefully things turn around. I've got some books in from the library that I've been waiting for so fingers crossed. Until then I'll have to come up with some books to review or something else to post about :)


Happy Reading and Have a Great Week Everyone!!