Crab Enchiladas with Mexican Rice Pilaf (white Mexican rice)

I was inspired by a beautiful sunny day yesterday and decided to cook a nice homemade meal and also to write down this recipe for Mexican Rice Pilaf or Mexican white rice before I forget it.  My mother used to prepare this dish and as far as I know everyone in my family cooks some version of this but, when I ask people if they ever had such dish, no one has ever had "White Mexican Rice".

  Crab Enchiladas

Ingredients:                                                                                      Serves: 4

8 oz crab meat                                                                                  1 T cooking oil

12 oz can green enchilada sauce                                                      1 T butter

1 cup heavy cream                                                                           1 Boursin cheese round

1 large shallot, minced                                                                     10 large corn tortillas

80z monterey jack cheese, shreadded                                              1 bunch diced green onions

pinch of nutmeg                                                                               1 t sugar

Method:

In large pan heat oil and melt butter, add shallots and cook for 3-5 minutes until soft.  Slowly pour in enchilada sauce until heated thru, add heavy cream, nutmeg and sugar and simmer 20 minutes.  Prepare assembly items for enchiladas.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  13x9 baking dish, warm tortillas, crab meat (separate and fluff with fork), cheeses and green onion. Add 1/2 cup enchilada sauce to bottom of baking dish. To assemble enchiladas; spread warm tortilla with Boursin cheese, crab meat, monterey cheese and green onion, roll and place on baking dish seam side down.  When all enchiladas have been assembled add the rest of enchilada sauce over them and add about 1/4 more shreadded cheese over top, bake for 15 minutes.

       

 Mexican Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:                                                                               Serves: 4

1 cup long grain rice                                                                 1 T cooking oil

2 cups chicken broth                                                                 1 t salt

4 large garlic cloves, minced                                                    1/2 t white pepper

Method:

Make sure you have a pan with a tight fitting lid. Heat oil in pan add rice and brown about 5-7 minutes, make sure that it does not over brown only to light golden brown.  Add garlic to rice and continue cooking until garlic is nice and gragrant (about 1 minute).  Pour chicken broth and bring to boil, add salt and pepper; place the tight fitting lid on pan and simmer on very low for about 45 minutes.  Check the rice after 30 minutes and add more broth if necessay.  Do not stir rice after liquid has absorbed, just like steamed rice.

Mixed Media Canvas

My sister owns a fabric and trims store and I wanted to make something special for her shop.  She of course keeps me well stock with all types of ribbons, buttons and any other embellishment accessory I may need (I could open up my own store with all her freebies).  My sister claims she has not a crafting bone in her and claims she has not imagination and, has no idea what to do and how to display all the trims, buttons and whatever else that she sells.  Therefore, I made this fun canvas using pattern paper, her own buttons and trims, some of my own collectibles and oh yeah, I have to thank Karen from The Graphics Fairy where, I downloaded a vintage Paris map and an old dress form.

Maybe this small canvas will get her inspired so that she may create her own special artistic display!

Mixed Media Canvas

Since I have been getting back to my " artistic" roots of  drawing (if I had a name for it), I have also been exploring mixed media expressions which I totally love since you can not make any mistakes with all of the different layering and techniques involved.

In this particular piece I was inspired by designer Candy Rosenberg's small canvas mixed media.  My youngest son studied in Italy and while there he took some fabulous picture from his travels throughout Europe. While in Italy he also met his present wife and so I thing this piece is very appropriate.

This picture was taken in Venice but it also features some elements of France and Amsterdam as well.
Over the painted canvas I used Tim Holtz papers, Spellbinders die for my frame and other shapes.  I collect vintage and vintage inspire ribbons so, I added a small muslin piece for adornment.

Sympathy Card

Good Morning World!
Spring time in SCV it's the best time of the year here, sunny mild days.  Other times it's super hot or super cold and windy; therefore I am enjoy our short SCV Spring.
At curent time I am very busy with some personal projects and re-organizing my craft/art studio, where I have found so many things that I forgot I had (no more shopping for a while).  During this time I have also found some picture projects and here is one that would like to share. 
This is a Sympathy card created for my son's girlfriend, using a little bit of all of my favorite designers:  Heartfelt Creations, Spellbinders and Donna Salazar's water color paper.