In the garden and beyond

This coming weekend, I've been invited to join a group of Westwood friends to sell our wares at Jane's Beyond the Garden Gate Sale.  The sale takes place on Sunday, December 4th from 12 noon until 4pm at 52 Wildwood Drive in Westwood.  There will be jewelry, pottery (mine!), soaps, ornaments, live wreaths, as well as greens, candles, lanterns, fleece, furniture, etc. Bring your friends!

What's in the garden and how does it inspire?  Last night I washed, peeled and cut up leeks and radishes from my November Powessit Farm Winter share.  My favorite way to eat these veggies is to saute them in some butter, then add water, cover and steam until done.  They are soft and comforting and delicious topped with feta or goat cheese.

sliced raw radishes

I am not a fan of raw radishes, but my family likes them raw with a little cream cheese.

Red radishes and Watermelon radishes

The color combinations in the Watermelon variety are a wonderful surprise to behold when you slice through a seemingly pale white exterior.  Radishes are high in vitamin c and have a healthy dose of potassium.  Great for lowering blood pressure too!

Daikon radishes

I've also got some daikon radishes to eat.  These can be quite large.  They are delicious in any Asian style recipe whether it is a stir-fry (that's how I'll eat mine) or shredded in a salad or even pickled.  You'll find them quite mild compared to other radish varieties.

How does the food influence the pottery?  The light green and neutral colors of these root veggies is something I've enjoyed playing around with.  Of course, when you are coking, you need bowls, bowls and bowls!

crisscross bowls

For more radish recipes, click here

Halloween Rescheduled

The moon setting over Powessit Farm in Dover, MA

I don't ever remember Halloween being rescheduled in my childhood, but then again there wasn't ever a storm in October that did the damage this past one did in my memory either.  We, thankfully did not loose power for more than 24 hours, but many did and it was a wise decision that our town made to reschedule and not cancel this spooky event. 

Distributing candy is done from bowls and that seems to be #1 on the gift giving list for pottery purchasers this year.  Here is a selection of some I will be offering this year at upcoming venues and sales - purchase now so you can have a one of a kind bowl for next Halloween's bowl of candy! And what to do with all that candy in the meantime? Scroll down for a recipe for "candy" bars.

Potters Place November 18,19,20 Open Studios

Dedham Square Artist Guild - Open Thurs-Sun

Custom Art Framing/ Gallery 9 in Norwood, MA

Candy Bar Cookies

Makes about a dozen cookies.

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 eggs beaten
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup milk
5 small candy bars, chopped up

1. Pre-heat the oven to 375.

2. Cream the butter, peanut butter, and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and mix well, then add the vanilla.

3. Sift the dry ingredients together and add alternately with the milk. Stir in the cut-up candy bar pieces.

4. Spoon tablespoon-sized drops on greased cookie sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Pumpkins for sale at Powessit Farm

Happy Halloween!

Dedham Square Artist Guild

Yesterday, I delivered some of my handmade pottery to a cooperative artists guild in Dedham Square.  I'm looking forward to working with this great group of artists who create in many different mediums!

What is DSAG?

The purpose of Dedham Square Artists Guild is to provide an environment for artists to show and sell their work and to enrich the cultural life of the community. The collection of work will encompass a diversity of styles ranging from realism to abstract. All media are welcome including: acrylic, assemblage, beaded jewelry, bird carving, ceramics, collage, fiber arts, handmade books, lampwork glass, lithograph, mixed media, note cards, oil, sculpture, pastel, pencil, pen and ink, photography, relief printing, scarves and watercolor.  

Shop Hours

• Thurs 12-7
• Fri 12-8
• Sat 12-8
Sun 12-5 

Location

553 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026.

Stop by the shop in Dedham Square. Support local Artists.

Inspiration

So much of the inspiration for my pottery comes from the local food that I eat as a result of being a member of a local CSA.  That inspiration comes from not only the way that I use the food in recipies, but also the actual food itself.  Take for example these two tone bowls.

I am spellbound by a summer squash that is green, yellow, green ... It is a special type called Zephyr Squash.  It is a hybrid of a crookneck squash and a delicata squash.  Use it the same way you would any summer squash (It's just prettier). They are the inspiration for my beautiful two tone bowls.

I'm working on this bunny bowl; it is in the first stage (greenware). It has been wheel thrown, hand trimmed and painted with underglaze paints.  Once it is dry, It will be fired in a kiln, then glazed and fired in another kiln. It will look different in the final state.   

The inspiration for this bowl comes from a couple of sources:

1. Someone asked to make a bunny bowl like I made last year, so I combed my sketch books and found a photo. My painted pieces are always original, so I experimented....

2. Fresh carrots from the CSA.  Tops have been cut off, but I remember what they look like: all green and curly. 

3. The dedham pottery dishes we use daily to eat on.

4. The shape of the form.  I'm inspired to paint on many  surfaces of my bowls. Painting the bottom of a bowl means that when you are finished eating and are in the process of washing up, you turn it over and the bowl rewards you with yet another gift.  

Tuesday is distribution day at Powessit.  I know there are many delicious veggies and fresh flowers awaiting. The farm stand is open from 1:30-6:30 and I'll be selling my pottery too.  Food and Pottery; each are inspirational!

See you in the barn on Tuesday, July 19th....

Fourth of July

What American doesn't love a patriotic fourth of July gathering with fireworks, good food, family and close friends?  I know I do. Our party will have hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and pickles. I'm going to make a bowl of potato salad.

perfect bowl for potato salad

Potato Salad - serves 8

Heart of the Home by Susan Branch

2 lbs red bliss potatoes, scrubbed and halved

1/2 lb bacon, chopped

1/2 cup shallots, finely chopped

1//4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 cup parsley, finely chopped

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

salt and pepper

1. Boil potatoes until tender, drain, cut into bite size pieces. 
2. Fry bacon. set aside. Drain all but 3 T of bacon fat from the pan. Add shallots and saute until soft. Combine shallots and cooked bacon and pour over hot potatoes.

3. Add remaining ingredients. Stir well.  Serve at room temperature.

With the bounty of local farm fresh strawberries, I'm making strawberry shortcake this weekend too. 

a bowl for cake; a bowl for berries

Strawberry Shortcakes for 8

Martha Stewart Food Magazine

cakes~

2 1/2 cups flour

1 stick butter (cold)

1/3 cup plus 1 T sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 425. In a food processor, combine flour, butter, 1/3 cup sugar and baking powder; process until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Add milk until moistened. 

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently pat into a 4x8 inch rectangle. 

3. Dust a large knife with flour; cut dough into eight squares. Transfer to a baking sheet; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 25-30 minutes; cool on baking sheet. Serve with berries and whipped cream.

sweetened strawberries~

Hull and quarter 6 cups fresh strawberries.  Toss with 1/4 cup sugar. Let stand about 20 minutes before serving.

bowls for ice cream with strawberries

If there are left over strawberries, serve over a scoop of vanilla ice cream the next day, or perhaps spooned over some warm pancakes or waffles in the morning....

Vase for flowers

Whether for yourself or your host, there is no better table topper than a handmade vase filled with flowers from the garden. Enjoy your celebration!


red and blue criss cross glazing for functional ware...

What will you bring to your 4th of July events in a handmade piece of pottery?

Distribution Starts Today - Food & Pottery Celebrates a New Season

favorite glaze combination

The 2011 season starts today at Powisset Farm where I join 300 members to support community agriculture, also referred to as a CSA. I connected recently with the farmers when I sold my work at the Powisset Farm Festival in May. I learned that they have expanded their venue to include two farm stands per week, one at Powessit and one at Rocky Woods. Area residents can now reap the benefits of the local food movement without becoming members.  

In anticipation of today's distribution, I've been creating bowls - big and small that will work with all sorts of recipes. White stoneware, colorful glaze combinations and under glaze paints are my ingredients as I forge ahead into a new season of food and pottery connections.  

small bowls right off the wheel

arugula

Yesterday, I received an email with pictures of what might be at the distribution this week.  I noticed arugula (something I had never eaten before joining a CSA) on the list.  This vegetable is bitter and delicious and something even my kids will devour!  

I stopped at the market last night to pick up a few staples so I could make this recipe tonight.  Served in a big open salad bowl, there 

won't be any leftovers...

Arugula Salad

Bunch of Arugula - washed and dried

Dried Cranberries

Crumbled Feta cheese 

Pistachio Nuts

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

Toss together...yum!

Later in the week, I'll be cooking with other veggies from this week's distribution like, lettuces, bok choi and radishes.  I'll refer to Powessit Food Blog for more ways to cook with this local fare.

Bowls, Bowls, Bowls...