About Me

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Paramus, New Jersey, United States
No, this in not a blog about gardening in any way, but a journal of my journey to become a professional landscape painting artist. For years, I’ve given my paintings as wedding gifts without thinking of profiting in some way from it. I worked for 18 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC as a computer programmer. I have been a painter since 1990, coincidentally, when I started working at the Met. I watched Bob Ross do his thing on Channel 13 in New York and decided I could do this, too. I have no formal training. I incorporate Bob's wet-on-wet technique for sky and water. My subject matter is covered bridges, lighthouses, fishing village scenes, barns, etc. Maine, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Nova Scotia and Spain are some of the places I have painted. My style is detailed and sometimes people think a photo of the painting is an actual photo of the scene. I hope to continue and grow in this medium. I also like to cook & dance. I am also a committed Christian. I am taking commissions - painting your landscapes style photos or your vacation home. Prices on request. contact me - Jackmck@juno.com my website is www.artofjackmckenzie.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Recipes for the feeding of a starving artist - Portabello Veggie Burger

I'm having a painting dry spell right now, so, in keeping with my other interest (cooking) I'm giving you one of my periodic recipe posts. There's a chain of resturants called The Office here in New Jersey and for a long time they had a portobello burger on their menu. I did not get it every time I went, but often enough. Well, it fell off the menu a few years ago, but it left fond memories in my taste buds. Here's a recipe from The Record that I will be trying soon. (Note: I apologize for the ingredients being bunched up like they are. I tried separating them several time , to no avail) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This burger from North Peak Brewery in Traverse City, Mich., even had some non-vegetarians going for it. The restaurant also sometimes serves it with provolone cheese and sliced avocado along with a dab of basil pesto aioli on toasted ciabatta rolls. * PORTOBELLO VEGGIE BURGER 4 cups cooked black beans, from about 2 1/2 (15-ounce) cans (drained) 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup molasses 2 teaspoons salt, more to taste 1 tablespoon cumin, more to taste 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for sautéing the burgers 1/2 cup finely diced onion 9 ounces portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (about 4 cups) 1 cup pico de gallo or fresh salsa 3 cups panko bread crumbs Semolina flour for dusting Sliced cheese, if desired Sliced toasted ciabatta rolls Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, lightly pulse black beans, honey, molasses, salt and cumin. Remove bean mixture to a large bowl. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the one-fourth cup plus 1 tablespoon oil, then stir in the onion and diced portobello mushrooms. Cook until onion is softened and caramelized and mushrooms have rendered their juice and are darkened, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the pico de gallo, scraping any flavoring from the base of the pan. Remove from heat and cool, then add to the large bowl with the black bean mixture, stirring to fully incorporate. Stir in the bread crumbs, kneading to form a cohesive mixture. Taste, and adjust the seasonings as desired. Divide the mixture into eighths, forming each into a patty. Lightly dust each patty with semolina flour. Place the patties on a greased baking sheet. Bake the patties for 15 minutes to warm and set the filling, then remove from heat. (The patties can be made up to this point and frozen: Cool the patties, then individually wrap and freeze. Thaw before continuing.) Before serving, heat a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add a thin film of oil, then add 1 to 2 patties (do not crowd the pan). Sear on each side until the patties are crisp on both sides and warmed throughout, 4 to 6 minutes total. If desired, melt cheese on top of each patty. Garnish as desired and serve on the toasted ciabatta rolls. Makes: 8 Quote: “Happy and successful cooking doesn't rely only on know-how; it comes from the heart, makes great demands on the palate and needs enthusiasm and a deep love of food to bring it to life.” Georges Blanc, Ma Cuisine des Saisons

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