The Old Dogwood Trees’ Blossoms
A Brief Visit.
Your visit is so brief….
but your memory lingers,
and it is ceremoniously revived
each Spring when you surprise me yet again.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Brief Visit
Spring
Pink Apricot Watercolor Tulips
Pink Apricot Watercolor Expressionist Tulips – 8 x 10 Fabriano 140 lb Cold Press
Pink Apricot Watercolor Tulips.
I found a few extra moments to steal away to my art studio this past weekend.
I felt like painting some tulips – inspired by our recent trip to Phipps Conservatory‘s Spring Flower Show.
I gave this one a couple tries before I finally decided I liked this version. I started too tight and too “literal.” I so admire folks who paint things that look exactly like real life, but it is not my passion. In my first go, I tried much to hard to replicate the photo. I then loosened up a bit and created this version that more represents the beauty I felt looking at the tulips.
To me, this painting speaks Joy and Happiness and Life.
And that is what I am feeling this week as we count down the days in wedding week!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints used: Rhodonite Genuine, Cadmium Yellow Light, Green Gold, Perylene Green
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Lemon Crinkle Cookies.
Amidst all the chocolate and peanut butter and pecans and raspberry and apricot, we needed a fresh, bright, citrusy, spring cookie for the wedding cookie table.
This light, delicate Lemon Crinkle Cookie is just the ticket!
A tangy zip of lemon juice and zest in a small little puff rolled in powdered sugar and “crinkled” will make a lovely contrast in flavor and color.
It’s wedding week, and we are so excited!
Hope you will give this lovely cookie a try.
And while we are talking about cookies…. my friend Sherrie told me a joke this week that I thought would be fun to share given all the cookie recipes I’ve been sharing lately….
Why did the cookie go to the hospital?
……………………………………………………………………………….Because it was feeling crummy! 😝😝😝🍪
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 Tbsp freshly grated lemon zest (2 large lemons)
- 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from same 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon extract
- A couple drops of yellow food coloring
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 1/4 ups flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar (to roll cookies in before baking)
Directions:
In the mixing bowl of electric stand mixer, combine cream cheese and butter until creamy and smooth. Beat in sugar, lemon zest and juice, vanilla and lemon extract, food coloring and salt. Mix until well combined, light and fluffy. Add egg and egg yolk and beat for 1-2 minutes on medium until creamy and light.
Gradually add in baking powder and flour on low speed until just incorporated. Dough will be quite sticky. Cover bowl and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Roll dough into 1 inch round balls and then roll in powdered sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on baking stone or cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until cookies puff and crinkle. Do not overbake. Cookies should not brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Cookies are wonderful when frozen or refrigerated for a “cool” taste.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Fresh Strawberry & Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Fresh Strawberry & Lemon Poppy Seed Cake.
If you know me at all, you know Poppy Seed Cake is my favorite of all cakes.
Unusual to most I’m guessing, but most significant to me because my Grandma always made it for my birthday (New Year’s Eve) since everyone is just about over it with sweets by then after the holidays.
I had some fresh strawberries that were on the verge of going bad and lemon on the brain from a cookie I was making for the wedding cookie table, so I decided to whip up and “zip” up a poppy seed cake for Easter Sunday.
A bit of tart and sweet lemon zest in the batter along with chunks of juicy red-ripe strawberries and a thin lemon glaze really “Spring”ed up my usual wintertime poppy seed cake craving.
Hubby loved his with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra handful of fresh strawberries on top.
If you are looking for a fresh, not too sweet, but yummy Spring cake to serve, give this one a try. It is truly delightful!
Fresh Strawberry & Lemon Poppy Seed Cake*
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- 1/4 cup poppy seeds
- Glaze:
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour a fluted cake pan or your favorite.
In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating. Add milk, yogurt and vanilla next. Stir in dry ingredients until combined. Gently stir in strawberries and poppy seeds.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until cake test inserted comes out clean.
Prepare glaze by mixing lemon juice and powdered sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, then stir in milk until smooth. Set aside.
Cool cake for at least 20 minutes before drizzling with glaze.
Serve with additional fresh strawberries and ice cream, if desired.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Adapted from a recipe found on BakerbyNature.com
The Colors of Spring
The Colors of Spring.
Tulips in Apricot…
and Crimson…
and bright, sunny Yellow.
Daffodils and Hyacinths in soft pastels of Coral and White.
A strikingly perfect Purple Delphinium.
Azaleas in bursts of Orange.
And the delicate Pink of this flower I do not know the name of that I call the snake flower.
Just a few of the beautiful colors of Spring soaked in at a brief stroll through the last days of the Spring Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA this past weekend.
Such a sight for sore winter eyes.
Happy Spring!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Heart.
Each year when you* bloom –
my favorite flower of all –
you gift me with the pause to remember
the life to celebrate,
the grandma to honor,
the sweet memories to cherish.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*This bleeding heart plant is over 25 years old and has lived and thrived at two different homes for me. It was a gift from my grandma that will move with me wherever I live. It is just one of several sweet special “things” I cherish because they were a part of her that lives on with me. Love you Grandma! It’s Springtime – one of your faves!
Those days…
Easter & Spring Carrot Vegetable Tray
Easter & Spring Carrot Vegetable Tray.
It’s not always that hard to be creative and fun with your food for holidays and special occasions.
For our Easter celebration this year, I made a veggie tray in the shape of a carrot with carrots and other vegetables. A meat serving platter is a great shaped tray for creating this “design.”
We dipped our veggies in hummus.
You could also make a ranch or dill or spinach dip or whatever you like, but have fun with your food and make it a little festive with quick and easy simple touches like this!
My favorite is the sugar snap peas. What is your favorite crudite?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Painting Purple Posies
Purple Crocus Spring Watercolor 10×14″ 300 lb Arches Cold Press
Painting Purple Posies.
Though I could never create the beauty Mother Nature does…
especially in Spring when the purple crocuses pop up and remind us once again of the hope of life and rebirth and renewal…
I couldn’t resist painting my impression of these beauties I captured and posted yesterday.
It was good to splash some Winsor Violet and Opera Rose and Prussian Blue and Cadmium Yellow with a touch of Perylene Green.
And instead of trying to recreate them, my goal was to paint how they made me feel.
I struggle with stopping here or filling in the details to make them look more realistic. But ultimately, my love for impressionistic painting wins, and I stopped.
Before I ever ventured into this amazing joy of painting, I would have thought this way easier than exactly duplicating or painting more realistic representations, but the urge to “fiddle” and “replicate” typically leaves me feeling less satisfied.
To restrain….
To stop “before…”
To leave a bit – even if only a teensy bit – to the imagination…
is a challenge…
But a crazy and totally fulfilling, joyful experience when it works.
Not convinced I hit it with this one, but the joy in the journey might just be as satisfying as the ultimate goal.
Kinda like life – huh?
It’s a journey – meant to be embraced and expressed and felt – all along the way.
Once we reach the destination – then what?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring Surprises Popping Up
Spring Surprises Popping Up.
Is anything more beautiful
that the bright pops of purple and yellow
that come in the Spring to brighten the brown and gray
and highlight the fresh new green?
Especially in unexpected places
on unexpected adventures
with people you love
on Sunday “rides.”
Spring is popping up.
Smell the air.
Listen to the sounds.
Look for the beauty!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 
