{ An Adventure of Experiments through Food }

A series by: Erin Gray

I would like to preface my first entry by saying that as of late I have started using my usual sources (foodnetwork.com, most frequently) to find new and exciting recipes. If not already made as such, I have adjusted each recipe to make it more health conscious in an effort to stay within the parameters of my diet I have been on for the past year. For those interested I'll veer off my path just to say thanks to a discovery in the world of apps I have stuck to a plan much like Weight Watcher's, only without the stress of having to be a physicist just to figure out if I'm allowed that glass of wine at dinner or not. Let's face it .. I was an art major, math is not my strong suit! That said, I want everyone to share these recipes and not think of them as guidelines but the building blocks to tweak and use your own creativity to make them yours as I have already done for myself. Enjoy!

Dinner week 1: Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna:

12 wheat tortillas

12 oz shredded cheese (i used kroger hispanic blend)

30.5 oz sweet corn (2 cans of green giant corn)

7 oz diced green chiles

30 oz canned black beans

29 oz canned diced tomatoes

1 T ketchup

garlic salt (to taste, you can also do minced garlic and 1 tsp sea salt)

1 can sliced black olives

1 med. yellow onion

1 lb thin sliced chicken breast

1 jalepeno diced

4 sprigs cilantro, chopped

brown the chicken with just salt and pepper to season. in a sauce pan i cooked the tomatoes, oninon, chilis, garlic salt, ketchup, cilantro and onion for about 10-15 min on medium heat. In a separate bowl mix black beans, olives, corn, and browned chicken. layer as follows : 4 tortillas, half of corn/bean mix, 1/3 of cheese, 4 tortillas last of corn/bean mix, 1/3 of cheese, tomato sauce, rest of cheese. bake on 400 for 30-40 min.. also spray pan with cooking spray so bottom tortillas do not stick.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts:

1 package frozen brussels sprouts, thawed. (or use fresh if you prefer)

2 T olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

**for this meal I added chili lime powder to the brussels sprouts, I thought for something Italian adding parmesan cheese might also be a great addition.

drizzle the olive oil over sprouts. season as desired. back at 400 for 30-40 minutes.

{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos: part tres }

just a little photo update...

{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos: part deux }

Just a little update... and just in time, the clock is ticking to wrap this barrel up! I've had a too much on my plate lately, but was glad to find some time this weekend to start back up! this week I think this'll have to be my top priority!
Enjoy the Queen and her minions de lost muertos!

The Queen herself and the formation of her skulls...

{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos }

A typical Dia de los Muertos getup

So I've been dying to get back into painting, and what a better kickstart than a charity event... I mean, we all love to do good, right?  So I volunteered to paint a rain barrel for the Water Quality Forum via the Stormwater Matters group to benefit the town of Farragut (here's their handy Facebook page too!).  I've seen the previous years' barrel, and some are way cool, and figured this was a good gig to get into.

I've been sketching up some new directions to go in for my art, and I've really been fixated on my heritage... while, not Mexican (I'm Guatemalan + Spanish) I have found myself fixated on all things Dia de los Muertos related. These images done by Sylvia Ji (a Sexy Spanish modern day pinup painting meets Gustav Klimt) or even the fun t-shirt graphics by Mondo Guerra ... you know he was your fave last season on Project Runway... are the ones I keep finding myself coming back to. I've always been more of an illustrator, and I think it's time to take my findings on myself + culture (via my thesis in architecture) and love of graphics to the next media! so enjoy this Rain Barrel postings in the weeks to come! So far, I only have the base paint done, but weather permitting I want to make major headway tonight. And please any comments are always welx!

Mondo Guerra t-shirt graphic

Dia de los Muertos fashion - unsure of designer

Sylvia Ji painting

the simple red base coat

This is the madness that happens when a country has no beaches

Time to get down and hispanic! Just in case you missed it, last SNL was a pretty awesome, I'm not emBEARassed to admit I'm a huge JLo fan, so this SNL seemsed extra awesome!

One of the best skits was the station Telemundo covering the winter olympics. I am always a fan of poking fun at hispanics, and this nailed it! Not to mention, since I am dating a cute Canadian which is really just a Mexican with a sweater. Watch below... (and take note of Hector's too cool member's online jacket... gotta get me one!)

this skit also got me remembering ?Que Hora Es? one of the best pokes at the ol' hispanic telenuevo and that ridiculous spanish class we all took in 4th grade. I can't tell you how many times I've zoned out and think about just rattling on about pollo or the bibliotheque... you know, so I sound legit...