Cucumber, Tomato and Olive Hors d'Oeuvres

For Tom's reception last week at the 55+ Gallery in the Turner Senior Resource Center, we brought both a blueberry cake and some summery hors d'ouvres.

I always have such a hard time trying to figure out what to make for these events. Because it's August, it only made sense to use some beautiful garden and farmers' market produce rather than puff pastry that can be purchased at any time of year. We wanted something seasonal.

And for some reason, a deconstructed Greek salad got stuck in my mind: cucumbers, tomatoes, lovely Kalamata olives. Feta's rich saltiness was desired, but it was too crumbly for the hors d'oeuvres as we started to envision them, on skewers.

So we substituted something spreadable - herbed cream cheese. And, of course, we left out the gorgeous but messy beets!

These were a delight for all our senses: visually enticing, tantalizing aroma, cool to the touch, crisp to bite into, and vibrantly flavorful.

Cucumber, Tomato and Olive Hors d'Oeuvres

1 English cucumber, sliced 1/4"+ thick
1/2 of an 8-ounce container of chive and onion spreadable cream cheese
16 Kalamata olives, pitted, halved lengthwise
32 grape tomatoes

Cut each cucumber slice in half across the slice. Schmear 1 teaspoon of cream cheese onto each cucumber piece. Take a froofy toothpick and skewer an olive half first, then a tomato. Skewer the cucumber last, without pressing the toothpick all the way through; the cucumber should lay flat against a serving tray.

Makes 32 hors d'oeuvres.

Note: Be sure to use wooden toothpicks. The plastic skewers we used were distinctive, but they didn't stay in the cucumber slices very well. Also, if you want the cucumbers to be "striped," simply run a vegetable peeler down the length of the cucumber before slicing it.

Blueberry Streusel Cake for an Artists' Reception

Everyone is invited to join me this Sunday, August 14 at 4 p.m. for an artists' reception at the 55+ Gallery in the Turner Senior Resource Center. My boyfriend - Thomas Boulan, a docent at the Riverside Arts Center who creates fascinating digital collages - is featured in the newest two-man show running until October 28, which we're very excited about!

During the reception, Tom and John Copley - the other featured exhibitor, a noted painter who works in oils - will have an opportunity to discuss their careers and their creative interests. It's a fabulous chance to schmooze with the artists.

The gallery "exhibits two-dimensional art created by gifted artists aged fifty-five and older." Tom won't actually reach that key birthday until October 1, but the lovely folks at Turner let him join the party a little bit early. Guests of any age are welcome at Sunday's reception, or to visit the gallery anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. (Picture = "Spring Equinox" by Thomas Boulan)

While the Center graciously offers refreshments at the reception, the artists are welcome to contribute to the buffet as well. And you know I don't miss an opportunity to cook or bake or feed people!

So Tom and I debated what to serve, considering ease of eating while perusing the artwork, whether an item needed to be kept warm or chilled, etc. We ultimately decided upon hors d'oeuvres reminiscent of Greek salad, featuring skewered cucumber slices topped with herbed cheese, cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives.

Of course, something sweet was also mandatory. And with so many gorgeous fruits available, it was easy to decide upon this lusciously moist, brightly-flavored blueberry cake - it is absolutely the essence of summer! It's quick to prepare, can actually feature any berry that suits your fancy, and receives enthusiastic raves every time I serve it.

So please stop by the reception on Sunday to meet Tom and John, and enjoy a piece of cake while you chat and immerse yourself in beautiful artworks on a summer afternoon. We'd love to see you there!

Gallery 55+
Turner Senior Resource Center
2401 Plymouth Road, Suite C
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-998-9353


View Larger Map


Blueberry Streusel Cake
(modified slightly from a recipe on Epicurious.com)

Cake:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup blueberries

Streusel:
1/4 cup flour
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup instant oatmeal, plain
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/8 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8"x8" baking dish.

Make the cake: In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, sour cream, egg, sugar and lemon zest. Stir in baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour. Carefully stir in blueberries and spread batter into the baking dish.

Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon and walnuts. With a fork, mix in butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle streusel over the top of the cake.

Bake the cake for 40 minutes until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool before cutting.

Serves 8-12, depending upon how generous the portions are.

Peeping Into the Art Exhibit

There were some amazing artworks shown at the Riverside Arts Center's reception this past Saturday evening, in honor of the Annual Docent Art Exhibit. Last year's had a few striking pieces, but this year's offerings were truly exceptional!

There was also a buffet table, which was unfortunately heavy on grocery store sweets as well as chips 'n' dip; however, there were fruit and vegetable trays, which always make me happy, in addition to guacamole and Pigs in Blankets and a really lovely cheese assortment.

We brought the peanut-and-chocolate-coated pretzel sticks that Tom had asked me to make specifically for the event, which turned out to be so popular that Tom didn't even get to eat one!

We also brought a surprise offering. The idea had come to me in a flash of inspiration (or foolishness, depending upon your opinion!). It was festive, it was seasonal, and it was reminiscent of all the colors displayed upon an artist's palette.

So scroll on down to meander through the gallery with me! See some more of Tom's works, the rain and hail we drove through on our way to the party (which unfortunately kept attendance fairly low), some other notable pieces from the exhibit, some distinctive attendees, a display of the food and -- at the very bottom -- our whimsical contribution to the cause ... :)

My two favorites of Tom's (with apologies that the lights and flashes and reflections spoil the viewing somewhat):

House Fire by Thomas Boulan



Spring Equinox by Thomas Boulan



Like Mother Like Daughter by Corinne Vivian



Muse by Joan Newberry



Spring Fling by Laurie Clark



Ypsi Trashart: 1 Block, 1 Week, 3 Hours by Michelle Shankwiler

Invitation to an Art Exhibit

After Nancy Left Him, Roy Painted Everything Pink

by Thomas Boulan

My boyfriend Tom, for those who are new to my blogging family, is a very accomplished artist and writer; and starting Thursday, eight of his digital collages will be part of the extremely prestigious 7th Annual Docent Art Exhibit at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti [ip-sih-LAN-tee].

The exhibit itself runs from March 31 - April 30, 2011. The reception -- where you get to schmooze with the artists -- will be this Saturday night, April 2, from 5 - 7 p.m. Come that evening and enjoy a buffet of treats, a jazz trio, and immersion in some of the best that the Ann Arbor-Ypsi art scene has to offer.


It's wonderful for Tom to have such a fabulous opportunity to showcase his work! There are abstracts as well as figurative pieces; and I haven't even seen them all, so it's very exciting that my first viewing will present them matted, framed, and hanging in an exhibit as the works of art that they are, rather than merely as thumbnails on Flickr.

Of course, in addition to supporting Tom as well as the other docents and the gallery itself, we all know that I'm all about the food. And I always look forward to mixing two of my very favorite subjects in life -- art and eating! -- as I'll be able to do at Saturday night's reception.

Each of the exhibitors is expected to contribute treats for the guests. Tom has his heart set on my making chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks, rolled in crushed peanuts -- they're easy to do, inexpensive, flavorful, and readily totable while walking around and admiring the artworks. We're also bringing a special festive surprise dessert, but that's still a secret ... shhhh.

If you're in the area, feel free to come on down to join us for the reception -- we'd love to see you! You can also check out Tom's photostream on Flickr. And he's just been featured on Downtown L.A. Life, an online magazine which offers some samples of his work as well as a brief biographical statement.

All of the docents who work at Riverside are volunteers, and it is truly their dedication -- whether newcomers, like Tom, or those who've maintained regular shifts for years and years -- that keeps the gallery open and available to the community for no admission charge. So that they get the honors that are due to them, here are their names:

Steve Allen, Tom Boulan, Laurie Clark, Lois Dowling, Dennis Gordon, Bill Knudstrup, Joan Miller, Joan Newberry, Marilyn Prucka, Sebastian Rataezyk, Michelle Shankwiler, Tara Truax, Corrine Vivian, Ken Warner, Carolyn Weins, and Angela Wilson

Special accolades must also go to Dee Overly, curator of the Docent Exhibit and a one-woman force of nature who supports the art gallery through coordinating shows, managing staffing, envisioning exhibits, and investing her passion into the Center. She and her team of docents (whether artists whose work is on display or not) are amazing ... and you have an opportunity to reap the rewards of their efforts for yourself and also meet them all on Saturday night! Don't miss it!!!

P.S.: Many of the artworks will be available for purchase, hint hint ... :)

Riverside Arts Center
76 N. Huron Street
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197


View Larger Map

"Colors of Summer"

My very dear friend Mary Schuman (affectionately known as "The Other Mary") is showing some of her gorgeous paintings at Ann Arbor's Jewish Community Center until August 15. And all I can say to you is -- "Go! Go!!!" The exhibit is entitled "Colors of Summer"; it's open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday. I can assure you that you don't want to miss this extraordinary experience!

Okay, now that I've blurted out the Cliff's Notes version of the "who, what, when, where and why" for those who might not follow along on my meandering path through the rest of this post, let me fill in the story ....

Mary has been an artist all her life, but had neglected some of her creative pursuits as she left school, went off to work, and raised two children with her beloved hubby of 35 years, Art, who is a sweetheart and a devoted supporter of Mary. Being a grown-up kinda got in the way of artistic ambitions. But several years ago, Mary decided that this was something she needed in her life; so she signed up for classes with the renowned artist and teacher Leslie Masters and indulged her love of painting. The rest, as they say, is history.

This is the third exhibit of Mary's that I've attended, and I am continually in awe of the beauty of her work. The vibrancy and the passion of the colors does not begin to come through in my photos; it is impossible to immerse yourself in the screen as you can in the depths of the physical paintings. You will initially be drawn to the beautiful blues and greens and pinks ... you will look more closely to find gradation as one shade veers into another and yet another ... you will smile upon seeing beautiful flowers or respond viscerally to swaths of radiance with flecks of gold. There is no way to experience Mary's work without being completely and utterly seduced.

Now, of course, having attended the Opening Reception with Tom, you know there had to have been food offered! And, indeed, there was a lovely table of fruits and sweets in which we happily indulged:

I owe Mary a batch of Lemon Bars for her next reception, since things have been so chaotic in my life the past couple of weeks that she absolved me of responsibility to honor my promise to make some. Instead, Mary did her own cooking and baking in addition to all the schlepping of artworks and hanging and publicity ... whew!

She offered two recipes for everyone since, quite frankly, it's hard to go wrong with chocolate! These are easy to make for summer picnics and barbecues and parties; they'd also be a fun project to make with kids. (FYI: Tom's favorite is the Almond Bark ....)


Chocolate Covered Peanuts (pictured on the top tier)

In a double boiler, melt 6 oz semisweet chocolate chips and 12 oz butterscotch chips. Mix in a 1 lb. jar of dry roasted peanuts. Drop onto wax paper. Cool and store in a cool place. Can be frozen after cooled.

Almond Bark (pictured on the bottom tier)

2 12 oz packages semisweet chocolate chips

1 12 oz can of mixed nuts

1 1/2 cups granola with raisins (I use low fat granola)

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Stir in nuts and granola. Spread the mixture in a sprayed jelly roll pan. Chill in refrigerator for 2-4 hours. Break into pieces. Can be frozen.

Now, be sure you don't get lost in a chocolate daze and then forget to go see Mary's exhibit! It is truly, strikingly breathtaking ....