"Purple Spring" Still Life by Yelena Strokin 2016
My dear readers, I am sorry to disappear on you like this but I have been very busy lately and I have some great news for you.
For a long time, I have been secretly wishing for my own photography exhibition. I always wanted to hold my still life exhibition and now it is really happening. I feel like my dream is coming true and I am giving myself the best present ever. But there is a lot of work, pressure and planning taking place in the background. That’s why I have no time to post any recipes, but I have so many new and good ones, especially for my Russian Monday. I will continue blogging after September. Stay tuned.
If you are local or live nearby - you are all invited to the opening or any other day of your choice. The exhibition will be in a heart of very nice historic town - New Hope, Pennsylvania, with many shops, restaurants, galleries and even very old theater. It would be a pleasure to see you there!
Glimpse through the Flemish window - Very Exciting News!
Important Announcement!
I am delighted to inform you that Sweet potato chips image, in Food Bloggers category, has been shortlisted in the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2016 and has progressed to the next stage of judging. If you like my work and I hope you do, please vote for me!
Here is a link: Pink Lady® Food Photographer
You need to scroll down for Food bloggers category and look for Yelena Strokin United States. This is very important to me and I thank you very much for your votes!
Russian Monday: "Blini" - Vanilla Crepes with Berries
“Maslenitsa” is a Russian carnival week originating from pre-Christian times. It was celebrated around spring solstice and was dedicated to the boy-Sun named Xors becoming a man-Sun named Yarilo. The main dish of the holiday week are pancakes (or “blini” in Russian) in all their varieties. Their round shape symbolizes the Sun.
Winter Flowers
You probably know the feeling when you just cannot even hold a camera in your hand feeling allergic even to a thought of taking pictures! Lately, I have been feeling like that for a couple of weeks. I have so many projects in my mind and things need to be photographed, but somehow I have absolutely no power to do so. Every night I fall asleep with one thing on my mind, hoping tomorrow is the day when I can start anew.
Russian Monday: Top 8 Russian Appetizers for New Year's Eve Celebration
New Year in Russia is considered to be a family holiday, but many choose to have their New Year’s party in clubs or restaurants, or while being away on exotic beach vacations, or in the country setting with the company of friends. However, most often, it is still celebrated at home at the festive table.
Crunchy Apple-Almond Tart with Baked Apple Chips & New Still Life "Apple Season"
Have you baked your apple pie yet? Here is another recipe for an apple tart/pie you may like to try it. Almonds add a wonderful golden hue and crunchiness to the crumble topping for this tart, which makes a perfect contrast to the sweet, juicy apple filling. Adding apple chips is totally optional, however it brings extra texture to this autumn dessert. Serve the flan with vanilla or caramel ice cream. Coffee anyone?
Spring Colors Collection - Have a Beautiful Weekend!
"flower petals drop
blossom haze blinding senses
aroma, sight sweetened"
carol l mckenna
First November Snow
There is no recipe today, just beautiful pictures of first November snow and happy colors. Take a walk with me around my neighborhood. Enjoy!
My New Orderly Kitchen
My dear readers, as many of you know that during the summer time, my blog was a little lonely as I did not post any new recipes for you. Unfortunately, I did not take a vacation to some exotic place and forgot all about the blog nor did I abandon it. We were renovating our kitchen and it took us four long month to do so. In the beginning, we only planned to change our cabinets, but we ended up changing pretty much everything: floor, lights, walls, fireplace, furniture and dishwasher.
Still Life with Oysters on a Canvas
I live in historic Bucks County which has many artsy towns and art galleries. From time to time I exhibit my Still Life work at some of them. Last month I have been awarded "Best of show" with four of my photographs. I sell my work printed on fine paper and museum quality canvases. One of the companies I have tried recently is "Easy Canvas Print". I've ordered 24x36 with border wrap .75. It came out beautifully, excellent quality and nice wrapping. I think this "Still Life with Oysters" is going to find a home on a wall of a restaurant, boutique hotel or someone's dining room-))
Still Life with Bread & Onions, Plus Exciting News!
My Still life with Bread & Onion was selected to be in the 20th Annual Artsbridge Juried Show. This year, 298 pieces were submitted. From that total, 84 hanging works and 8 sculptures were chosen. The show will take place at New Hope Arts Center, 2 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, PA. The dates of the show are: Saturday, June 14-Saturday, June 28
Rustic Bread Baked with Three Different Flours & Still Life with Bread & Eggs
"In Greek myth, bread is sacred to that irascible but generous goddess, Demeter, who taught young Triptolemus the art of agriculture, including the cultivation of grain.
The invention of bread in Neolithic times marks a key stage in man's progress from hunter to farmer and shepherd. The Romans construed a divine origin for bread, deeming that the word panis derived from the sylvan god Pan, allegedly the first to have cooked the grain that Ceres gave to man. Indeed, the image of Pan was actually reproduced on loaves of bread. To make bread, the best grain was selected and stone-ground. The resulting flour was mixed with oil and water and leavened with fermented dough...
Still Life with Pumpkins - Autumn Collection
“Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin.” Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get, and brought it to her godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball. Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold".
Have a magical weekend my dear readers!
Still Life with Strawberries and Yellow Flowers - Spring Collection
Have a beautiful weekend, my dear readers!
"Heated spring air
In tiny waves of an inch or two -
Above wintery grass."
Matsuo Basho's Haiku
Hello Spring!
"I went out in the Spring
To gather the young herbs.
So many petals were falling,
Drifting in confused flight,
That I lost my way."
Ki no Tsurayuki, One Hundred More Poems from The Japanese
