Blog - Artful Dishes

Orange Sherry Vinaigrette

This recipe was born out of not wanting to waste the orange after using the peel for some Orange Simple Syrup. Granted I could have just eaten the orange, but I was in the mood for a salad, so that’s where I went! I first segmented, or supremed, the orange to use in the salad. Supreming the orange is really easy and makes the segments much more pleasant to eat because you are leaving the membrane behind and only using the orange flesh. Take a small knife and cut just inside of the membrane on each side, then pop out… Read More

Watermelon Lime Popsicles

Watermelon Lime Popsicles Watermelon lime popsicles. Have you ever heard three more refreshing words? The natural sweetness from the fresh watermelon juice, combined with the orange simple syrup and fresh lime juice make a sweet, frozen treat kids and grown ups alike will love. As part one of my One Watermelon, Three Recipes series, let’s get into how to make the base of the recipes, watermelon juice. It’s a perfect time of year to make watermelon juice. The temperatures are going up and it’s watermelon season, so they are inexpensive and really delicious. I like to use seedless watermelons because, although… Read More

Orange Simple Syrup

Making your own simple syrup really makes a difference in your drinks and desserts. A simple syrup is just equal parts granulated sugar and water. The sugar and water are combined in a saucepan, then you add whatever additional ingredients you want for flavoring. In this case it’s orange peel!

Wild Rice Salad with Chicken and Grapes

Wild Rice Salad with Chicken and Grapes is perfect salad for pot lucks and picnics. Chunks of chicken, juicy grapes, crisp water chestnuts, chewy wild rice and salty cashews are all brought together by a light and flavorful dressing. The Idea: I love wild rice! It’s chewy, nutty and hearty. It’s also very versatile and is great in salads like this recipe, as well as in soups and hot dishes (a.k.a. casseroles). This wild rice salad with chicken and grapes hits all the right notes, it’s savory, sweet, crunchy and salty. Chunks of chicken, juicy grapes, crisp water chestnuts, chewy wild rice and salty… Read More

How to Cook Wild Rice

Learning how to cook wild rice is so easy! And you’re going to love this nutty, chewy grain that’s disguised as “rice”. Soups, salads, pilafs, stuffings, hot dishes, you name it, wild rice makes it better. How to Cook Wild Rice: Wild rice is a delicious, toasty, chewy, hearty addition to any dish or meal. Think salads, soups, stuffings and hot dishes (that’s casseroles to you non-Minnesotans!). Traditional “wild” wild rice is actually a species of grass that grows in marshes and lakes in Minnesota and Canada. It is harvested in canoes by Native Americans, then dried and roasted… Read More

Miniature Bronze Sculptures

I’ve always enjoyed creating smaller sculptures. I like the detail and sweetness of them! Maybe it’s because I started my art career with mosaics, which are also very detailed? Regardless, they make me smile. For the bronze sculptures I sculpt in oil based clay, which is non-drying so I can take my time. Once I have a sculpture finished, I bring it to my foundry and they create a mold using the lost wax process. When the mold is completed, I can order a set number of editions of my signed and numbered sculptures, all cast in bronze at the foundry. In… Read More

Roasted Jalapeno Blender Salsa

Roasted jalapeno blender salsa is a spicy restaurant style salsa with tons of flavor. It’s also really easy! Toss some roasted jalapenos, garlic and tomatoes into your blender with onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt. You’ll definitely want to give this salsa a whirl! The Idea: Chips and salsa are definitely one of my favorite snacks, or meals, if I’m being honest. There are definitely jarred salsas I like, but nothing beats homemade. This roasted jalapeno blender salsa has the bright flavors of a pico de gallo, but with a smoother consistency. Roasting the jalapenos and garlic, and using canned, fire… Read More

Turkey Meatballs in Black Bean Sauce

Turkey Meatballs in Black Bean Sauce Let’s talk about meatballs. There’s a reason everyone loves them! The variety of meat and sauce combinations is endless. They are often my go-to meal for dinner on busy nights (my other go-to being tacos for the same reason – variety!). I was thinking about dinner the other day, as I often do, (usually right after waking up). I had a package of ground turkey to use up, but no ideas of what to do with it, so my mind went immediately to meatballs. That decision made, I was then standing staring into my pantry… Read More