October 31, 2010

Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Warning:  These are even more tempting and addictive than all of that Halloween candy!  

You'll need: 
2 or 3 pumpkins (medium carving size)
4 tbsp oil (vegetable or peanut)
3/4 cup organic turbinado raw cane sugar (or other granulated sugar)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp mace (or nutmeg)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt

Hollow out pumpkins for carving and reserve the seeds.  Tip... separating seeds from sticky strands is easier if you put them in a bowl of water because the seeds will float.  Each pumpkin should yield about a cup of seeds.  Set the seeds aside on a paper towel to blot dry just a bit.  Then place them in a 9x12 dish in the oven at 250 degrees until they are dried out.  You are not roasting them, so they should not turn color.  This is just to completely dry them out.  Turn and stir them every 15 minutes.  Drying takes about an hour. Let the seeds cool.

Prepare dry rub in a heatproof bowl.  Mix salt, spices, and 1/2 cup of the sugar.  Set aside.

Then, in a nonstick pan, heat the oil on high.  Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and the pumpkin seeds stirring constantly until the sugar begins to melt and carmelize and the pumpkin seeds begin to lightly brown.  This takes about a minute or two.  Transfer seeds into the bowl with dry rub and toss.  Stir until coated completely.  Break apart any lumps as they begin to cool.
Serve immediately or cool and keep for up to a week (as if they'd last that long)...
Happy Halloween! 

October 29, 2010

Gallery Show: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Opening!

Had an amazing time tonight at the Opening for the Dia de Los Muertos show downtown.  
It was a thrilling night of art and festivities.  

The evening started with a procession called a Novenario, down Olvera Street.
The incense burners and marigolds are traditional these processions. 
 The procession continued past amazing altars and ended in front of the gallery.
 My painting "Calavera" was on the front wall.  
My mother, Pat Langewis, also had a painting in the show which was hanging next to mine.  
The curator hung them together without knowing we are related.  Isn't that amazing?
 One of my favorite pieces in the show was a large installation by Gary Baseman.
Here's my daughter standing in front of it, dressed as a bride for the procession.
Brides and grooms with skull faces are traditional dress.  As are angels and devils.
 This is Gary and I in front of his wicked installation.
It was such an awesome night, I can't wait until next year!

October 26, 2010

Recipe: Candy Corn Cookies

This isn't exactly a recipe... just wanted to share with you something fun that I tried this week.  
I had to bake something for a Halloween carnival.  I thought immediately of candy corn cookies.  After a failed attempt putting candy corn in the mix.  And a second failed attempt putting the candy corn on top of the dough and then baking (the candy corn melts)...  Third try was the charm!

Just make your favorite chocolate chip cookies, heck you can even cheat and make slice and bake cookies.  I won't tell a soul.  Then, when they are fresh from the oven, press one candy corn into each cookie.  That's it.  You just have to press it into the still soft cookies when they are fresh from the oven.  Place on cooling racks and there you go.
  Instant Halloween fun.  Yum Yum.

October 23, 2010

Gallery Show: LAND OF ODD

The Opening tonight at the Land of Odd Gallery was so much fun!  My two skull paintings "Jardinero" and "Tierra" were on the main wall as you walked into the space.  They were hanging on either side of an amazing alter full of cool miniature artworks.  Everything looked great against the mustard colored walls.  It's a new look for this gallery which really worked well with the artwork.
I also ran into artist Sheri DeBow who makes amazing dolls, paintings and wall hangings.  
This was my favorite piece she had in the next room of the show.  
Isn't it brilliant?

October 16, 2010

Gallery Show: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

I'm super excited to announce that my painting "Calavera" has been chosen for the gallery show "Sacred Memories" at The Pico House Gallery in Los Angeles.  The opening reception is October 29th from 6-9pm.  It's a really fun event.  I hope that if you are in the LA area, you'll come by the show.  It's a great chance to see lots of Day of the Dead art and experience the amazing food and culture of nearby Olvera Street.  Hope to see you there!

October 14, 2010

Eden Original: Milagro Manos

 I started this painting in 2008 and it has gone through several stages.  I wanted to express the healing power of touch.  So many times when people are ill, we don't want to touch them, but a hand or a hug might be just what they need most.  It may not heal the illness, but it can go a long way to heal the soul.

October 9, 2010

Making Christmas Blocks

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... in my Etsy shop!  I have just started to get things ready for the holidays.  First up, I took some plain wooden blocks and painted fun holiday designs all over them.  I painted each side of the blocks a different color... black, white, pink, red, pale green, and dark green.  Then using paint pens I doodled fun designs on some of the sides.

I had a great time thinking about designs that felt like the holidays to me, but in a really graphic way.  Little snowmen, trees, and snowflakes.  And I knew they'd look adorable on a tabletop... but I didn't know how addictive it would be to play with them.  I can arrange and re-arrange them for days!  Depending on which colors you have facing forward, it's a whole new look.... pink and green... red and white... black and red... it's really fun!

I have three sets of blocks now available in my Etsy shop.  Have fun!