Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Rainy Days and Monday's

As I sit here on this cold rainy day my mind travels back to the days just before Thanksgiving years ago.  Yes, there were days of no sunshine.  There were days when one could see the birds nibbling at the last remnants of corn in a farmers field. Iof long ago.  

Yes, we had cold days just as we are having now.  I close my eyes and I see myself walking into Memma and Grandaddy's house.  I take a deep breath and savor the smell floating from the kitchen into the living room.  It's the smell of Thanksgiving preparation.  I walk into the kitchen and I see Memma bent over the stove taking a pie out of the oven.

"Pumpkin?" I ask.  She sits the pie on the table and wipes her hands on her apron.  She grins.

"Smells so good in here, how can I wait until Thanksgiving?"

"I have a few things to enjoy before Thanksgiving Day," she admits.

I grab a homemade biscuit off the stove left over from breakfast.  "Want a piece of sausage to go with that biscuit?"

I close my eyes again and savor the sweet memories of yesterday.  Holidays were always so special growing up in Northeast Alabama.  It was always about food and family.  The smells of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and orange always filled Memma's house.  Of course, the day after Thanksgiving, Memma began her Christmas baking.  Orange slice cake and her famous fruit cake.  Of course. She baked several of each cake.   

I close my eyes again and I can see all of us gathered in the living room laughing and talking.  Gifts are piled high underneath the cedar tree.  Of course. Some years we had the flashy aluminum tree.  

I open my eyes and I hear the rumble of CNN.   No matter how hard I try, I could never recreate the sweet memories of yesteryear.  

As I sit here in my fleece PJs, I click off CNN and close my eyes.  Think I will just stay in memory la d for awhile. Maybe all day.😉

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Cowboys

Love this painting

My Chickadees

What's not to love about chickens?  Oil on canvas.

Fountain

This is another oil on canvas.love the warmth in this painting!

Prancing through the Snow

Well, with all of the snow we are getting in Atlanta, I thought this original oil on canvas was appropriate.

Taylor's Recital

Visit my website at Brenda.Luczynski@gmail.com to see additional paintings.


Carb FreeMeals

Trying to lose weight?  Try this carb free pizza using cauliflower.

1 cauliflower 
1 egg
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
1/4 cup Mozzarella 
Season to taste
Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms (optional)

Wash cauliflower, chop or grate and steam in microwave.   I mash cauliflower with potato masher.
Place cauliflower once it has cooled into a towel and ring out the water.  You must squeeze all water from cauliflower. Place in a mixing bowl stir in cheeses, and mix in an egg along with seasonings.  Place parchment paper on top of pan that you have coated with olive oil. Shape mixture into rectangle and bake at 425 deg for about 10 minutes until browned around edges.  Take out and top with additional mozzarella and Parmesan. Pepperoni, mushrooms or whatever.  Bake additional 5 minutes.  

This is very good and filling.