Zuerch & Turk

Healthy Sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms

2010-05-27T19:45:00.001-04:00

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh shiitake mushrooms
3 TBS vegetable broth
3 cloves garlic
2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1TBS balsamic vinegar

Chop garlic and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove stems from mushrooms and slice. Heat broth in a stainless steel skillet. When broth begins to steam, add mushrooms and healthy saute covered, for 3 minutes. Remove skillet cover and let mushrooms cook for 4 more minutes. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper and whatever optional ingredients desired.

Sauteed Kale, Leeks and Portobello Mushrooms with Balsamic Glaze

2010-05-24T23:08:00.007-04:00

Ingredients:

* Extra-virgin olive oil

* One medium size leek, chopped

* 2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced

* 1 pound kale, stemmed and chopped

* Salt and pepper

* 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil is hot, add chopped leeks and cook until tender.

Add kale and turn with tongs to wilt.

Add the mushrooms. Season the mixture with salt, and pepper. Add balsamic vinegar and deglaze the pan.

Reduce heat to low and cook greens 10 minutes longer then serve with grated asiago cheese or plain Greek yogurt.

Giclée

2009-09-11T16:14:00.001-04:00

So I decided to get Giclée prints of my artwork and have them available for sale on my Etsy store.
I want to touch and feel the different types of medium so I decided to go to a local printing shop instead of getting them produced online. I found one in Alexandria and I am going to check that out tomorrow. Pretty excited about that...

Sept 25th is the date. It will be a small art party where my prints, pencil drawings and handmade jewelry will be available for sale :)

Fashion Illustration

2009-09-10T00:55:00.010-04:00

Acrylic on wood

5" x 24"

I like wood

2009-09-08T23:49:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I found a new resource for my wood boards. It is way cheaper than the art stores. I got a little crazy and went ahead and filled my apartment with lots of them... and new paint too. So I guess I'm going to have to paint more now.

"Then"

2009-09-03T00:55:00.006-04:00

This painting took a little longer than usual... about a week. It went through different stages and I am finally happy with the colors.
You can see those previous stages here.

"Then"

Acrylic and ink on artist panel

12" x 12"

The frame "pimps" the art work (c) Ersoz

2009-09-01T13:25:00.002-04:00

I really like how my paintings look with these antique frames.
Maybe I need to learn how to build them at home ;)

Sunday morning

2009-08-30T12:45:00.002-04:00

Margo enjoyed a late morning in bed today. Mornings are the only times my JRT is fully relaxed and isn't alert and ready to go.. at least for a while.

Proof, Washington DC

2009-08-28T14:10:00.008-04:00

When I looked for a place to eat, I always walked passed this place called Proof, because it looked like wine bar, not a restaurant. I am glad I decided to walk in because I was up for a good surprise.

It is a chic restaurant with delicious food (so far) and reasonable prices. And they picked a pretty damn good wine as their house red which is always a good sign.

They had things like crispy shrimp burger, duck confit with thai jicama salad or buccatini with prosciutto. You pick one dish, it comes with a glass of house red (which was a really good Grenache) for $12.

I chose the sauteed yukon gold gnocchi, wild mushrooms, sweet corn, tomatoes, scallions and parmesan. It was delicious. You really didn't need any teeth for the gnocchi, it melted in your mouth.

I can't wait to go back and try the other food and wine on the menu.

Proof

775 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

2009-08-27T19:52:00.001-04:00

I finished the first piece on wood panel.

Why do I always have such a hard time naming my drawings?

Mix media on wood panel

2009-08-27T10:34:00.002-04:00

I experimented with acrylics on plywood panel last night. I am pretty happy with the results. The wood gives a good smooth surface with a light texture and nice base color.

I like playing with the opacity of paint on wood.

I think I will continue using this ground.

New piece in progress

2009-08-25T22:53:00.005-04:00

Recent Chicago/Ohio trip from my iPhone

2009-08-25T15:19:00.011-04:00

Here are a few iPhone photos from our recent trip. Our first night was in Chicago. We started the night with amazing ribs and margaritas at Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill.

J was very upset that he was recommended the steak covered with cilantro and didn't get the duck in mole. The new word he learned for that was "ukte".

We ended the night with drinks at the VioletHour. I had the best ginger ale ever made with fresh ginger I believe...

On the way back we drove through Ohio's country roads, stopping by the little Amish markets. It rained hard when we passed through West Virginia.

I will post more pictures about this trip later.

Chickpea stew turned out delicious

2009-08-24T20:53:00.023-04:00

I used homemade organic tomato paste mixed with homemade
organic red pepper paste. I added one cubed beefsteak tomato.

I also added in half a cup of red wine while the meat, onions and the tomato/pepper paste were simmering.

I served it over rice with a scoop of plain yogurt. Yum.

Etli Nohut (chickpeas and beef stew)

2009-08-24T16:28:00.005-04:00

I am making chickpeas and beef stew tonight. It is a traditional Turkish recipe but I might add my own tweak to it :) I already soaked the chickpeas over night. This is the part I always forget to do, so I never get to cook this delicious dish.

Here is the recipe I'll be using:

Ingredients

400 grams chickpeas

2 medium onions

250 diced lamb (i will use beef)

40 grams margarine or vegetable oil

20 grams tomato paste

Salt

Directions

Cooking time: 35 Minutes

Serves : 4

1-Soak chickpeas in salted water overnight. Drain and wash under cold water. Place in large pan, cover with water and cook chickpeas until soft. Drain. Brown meat and onions in margarine.

2-Add tomato paste and stir through for two minutes. Add enough water to pan to cover meat. 3-Cook meat until tender. Rinse cooked chickpeas and add to meat. Salt to taste and add more water to cover chickpeas. Cook for further fifteen minutes.

Photos to come later...

1 of 3

2009-08-24T13:19:00.010-04:00

Spent the weekend in Richmond.

We went to Edo Squid which is my favorite restaurant in Richmond. The two of us ordered food for 5 people as usual :) and made a dinner out of it the next day as well. I got back home on Sunday and tried my new acrylic materials. I used a glossy open medium to thin the paint. The colors seem much brighter which I am happy about.

Here is what I came up with last night:

It is a little different than my usual style. But I decided not to trash the drawings midway. This way I will experiment with different styles and techniques.

Here we go..

2009-08-07T15:21:00.005-04:00

I have been lazy... for a looong time... about doing what i love the most. I recently broke that and started drawing again. I am definitely rusty but it feels so good. It is interesting to see how my style changed without practicing for years. I am hoping to improve my technique since I am full of ideas and excitement :)

Here is an acrylic piece I finished recently. 15" x 30" on canvas