Maureen Calvert McNaughton                                        

 December 2009

Dear Painting friends,

This is just a short newsletter this time, but worth reading to the end.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful letters and emails in response to my last newsletter. The feed back on the Russian Nesting Dolls was very good so I will have to paint them again for packets and teaching seminars.

I got a chuckle from Clare who wrote to tell me that she used to call her “wood curing closet” “closet o'surfaces”, but she soon took over a bedroom so now it's her “room o'surfaces.” I can remember another friend telling me that when she would write out a check for wood, she always wrote “groceries” on the memo of the check!

Some of you also wrote to say that you missed the recipes. At the end of this newsletter I am giving you all my favourite quick-fix dinners.

I know December will be a busy month of painting and decorating for you, and an elaborate dinner is the last thing you have time to make. These recipes are favourites in my home when time is short - which is most of the time!!!

Folks, please send me your favourite quick recipe and any painting tips so I can include them in upcoming newsletters.

BRUSH SALE
*25% off *

Now is the time to stock up and save on brushes for yourself and friends, just in time for Christmas. We just changed the business fiscal year end to December 31, and this means that Mary has to count up every last item in our warehouse.

So, to cut down on some of the counting I am offering a sale of 25% off all individual brushes for retail purchases only.

This sale will be in effect until December 25.

PACKET SALE
*LESS COUNTING FOR MARY*

Buy four packets and receive a fifth $10.95 packet of your choice - *FREE*, for retail purchases only. This special sale will be in effect until December 25.

2010 CALENDAR

I have had a few folks ask if the packets are available for the paintings featured in the calendar. I will have the packet numbers printed on the back cover of the calendar in future printings, but here is the packet list for those folks who have already purchased their calendars.

DECOART BLUE GREY MIST IS DISCONTINUED

This was a lovely neutral colour, but you don’t have to go without. Here is the recipe on how to make it. You can use this recipe in all packets calling for Blue Grey Mist. I think you will be as surprised as I was when I took a very close look at this colour and determined that it is actually leaning more towards green than blue! Mix one part Shale Green with two parts Neutral Grey.

This is 99% close and will do for most projects. But if you want it exact, use dime size puddles in the mix and then dip the tip of the palette knife in Dried Basil Green and mix it all together.

SOCIETY OF DECORATIVE PAINTERS
CONVENTION
May 18 - 22
Wichita Kansas
Tel: 316-269-9300
www.decorativepainters.org

The Decorative Painter Magazine is being mailed out this week with the Conference Special.

The Conference Special will be posted on the SDP website on Tuesday, Dec. 29th and conference registration will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 5th.

I hope that you plan on attending this convention and giving your support to SDP, all the teachers and the many exhibitors who work tirelessly to keep decorative painting exciting and new .

Following is the schedule for my classes at convention. I will have my wonderful teaching assistants there, and as always we will have our audio visual set up so everyone can see every last detail.

I hope you will join us.

The packets for these projects will not be available for purchase until after convention. This is a new rule this year which ensures that SDP convention classes are fresh and innovative.

0050 Folk Art Poppy - Tuesday 8am-noon
0355 Remembrance Poppy - Friday 8am-noon
0435 Blue Folk Art - Saturday 8am-noon

That’s all for now. I wish you a busy and productive December and hope that you will try some of my favourite recipes that are following below.

Warmest regards, Maureen

OLD FAITHFUL

This is a recipe that I found in an Erma Bombeck cookbook when I was in my twenty’s. It whips up in a hurry and is always good. Let your imagination run and have fun with this one!

Spray a 9" X 12" pan with cooking spray. Put in one cup of uncooked rice.
Over this pour one of the following:
• Can of mushroom soup diluted with one can water.
Another option is to also add 1 tsp Curry powder.
• Large can of crushed tomatoes with desired spices (two cups liquid)
• One cup orange juice mixed with one can water
• Beef or chicken broth 2 cups

Brown either chicken pieces or pork chops in butter and place over rice mixture.

Dot with butter if desired and spices. Montreal Steak or Chicken spice is good.

You can also top with sliced red onions, peppers and Bar-B-Q sauce.

Bake for one hour at 350 degrees F. CREAMY CURRIED RICE • Mix one can of mushroom soup with one can of coconut milk (or chicken broth or water). • Add thyme leaves, chopped garlic, pepper flakes, 1 tsp curry powder or more if desired, and a handful of raisins. • Add one can of long grain white rice. • Bring all to a boil, stir and lower heat to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring once during cooking.

STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN

This boneless cut is very reasonable priced and so easy to prepare. But it looks like you spent hours preparing it. Again there are a few variations.

Use a sharp knife to cut the tenderloin lengthwise but do not cut all the way through. Open it up like a book.

Stuffing Suggestions

1. Bread stuffing is always a favourite. You can make your own with diced bread, chopped onion and celery, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Toss it all together with a beaten egg or a little chicken broth. If you are really in a hurry, use seasoned croutons in place of the diced bread and seasonings. Or use Stove Top Stuffing mix in a box!

2. Lay slices of warmed Swiss or mozzarella cheese. Lay a bundle of asparagus spears at the short end of the tenderloin, where you will start rolling.

3. Put a layer of apple slices, dried cranberries, raisins and walnuts.

4. Spread a thin layer of pesto sauce and chopped garlic. Over this lay diced onion, peppers, and mushrooms.

Now roll up the tenderloin starting at the short end. Tie the roll together with two pieces of butcher twine. Lay in a roasting pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle on additional spices if desired.

You can also put slices of bacon on top. Roast at 350 degrees F for one hour, but test with a meat thermometer to be sure it is cooked through.

CREAMY CURRIED RICE

Mix one can of mushroom soup with one can of coconut milk (or chicken broth or water).

Add thyme leaves
chopped garlic
pepper flakes
1 tsp curry powder or more if desired
and a handful of raisins.

Add one can of long grain white rice.

Bring all to a boil, stir and lower heat to simmer.
Cook for 15 minutes, stirring once during cooking.

SALMON FILLETS or TROUT
WITH VEGETABLES AND ALMONDS

I buy the mushrooms already sliced, it’s worth the little extra it costs.

Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a wide frying pan.

To this add chopped garlic
sliced red onion
sliced yellow and red peppers
and the sliced mushrooms.

Sauté till browned then push to one side.

Melt a teaspoon of butter in the open area and then add 3 tablespoons or more of sliced or slivered almonds.

Keep stirring while the almonds brown.

Put the vegetables and almonds in an oven proof dish and keep warm in a 300 degree F oven.

If the pan is dry, melt more butter or add olive oil.

Lay in the trout or salmon fillets. Sprinkle with lemon pepper if desired.

Cook about 3 minutes per side. • Serve and enjoy!

SPINACH SALAD

The trick here is to have all the ingredients on hand. But you can omit any of them except the spinach and it is still a delicious salad.

Pre-washed baby spinach leaves
Candied nuts
Dried Cranberries
Canned mandarin oranges
Sliced red onion
Crumbled blue cheese

Dressing

Mix 2 ounces of olive oil with
one ounce of red wine vinegar
a pinch of sugar, salt and pepper.

Toss all together right before serving.