Bushwick Avenue & Melrose Street

Lets add a little color to the day...

I love color, around me, in my art work, in photography, I always tend to radiate towards color. In undergrad I took a bunch of photography classes and for some reason, even though I prefer the black and white analog darkroom setting versus the color darkroom, I feel my photos were just better in color. I admire photographers who can really nail a black and white photograph because it is something I have always struggled with. As an illustrator and painter I feel ever since I can remember my work has had a lot of color in it, until recently. Recently I started working a lot with pen and ink, and just illustrating all kinds of things in black and white, plain and simple, black and white drawings. I really concentrate on the details when I am illustrating in black and white. However, the other day I decided to add some watercolor to one of my building drawings... here it is... I am still torn, color vs black and white, and what influences us in making these decisions?

Lately I have been discussing the process versus the actual piece, and how everyone has such an individual process. This that after time makes art work identifiable to its creator, we attach ourselves to a certain process and even though it evolves and changes the work will always somehow continue to have strains of past work... I love to research new and old artists and compare their works through the years, it is interesting to see technique and process creating a personal style.

Bushwick Avenue and Melrose Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn

Some Bushwick Illustrations...

I have not kept up my goal of one house a day :/ Life has been hectic... Its been a very complicated January... but looking forward to a much lighter February :)

Anyways... have worked on some new illustrations of one of my favorite places - Bushwick :)

First, Northeast Kingdom Restaurant which has been around for quite some time now, and I feel terrible but have not been yet and everyone raves about how amazing it is! I am making it a point to make this one of my outings in the next two weeks!

Here it is!!!!

NORTHEAST KINGDOM
18 Wyckoff Avenue,
New York, NY

(718) 386-3864

www.northeast-kingdom.com 

Second... A deli that I really like and they are open 24 hours and very convenient right under the M train on Myrtle Avenue and Bushwick Avenue!!!

Best Deli Grocery Grill - They have everything!

BEST DELI GROCERY GRILL
671 Bushwick Avenue
Brooklyn, New York

And last but not least... A Mexican place I have been meaning to try as well...

L.A. BURRITO

L.A. BURRITO
67 Wilson Avenue
Brooklyn, New York

Meals Under $10 - Black Beans & Rice with a Twist ;)

If you follow this blog, you probably already know I love beans! 

Beans are so healthy, delicious and cheap! And on top of that there are endless possibilities! 

Today I made some black beans with a little something extra ;) and they are mighty good! 

Here is the recipe - And yes, it is under $10! 

Black Beans and Rice with a little kick!
Makes Approximately 4 large servings 
Total Cost : Approximately $7.00 (I always add about $1 for spices when they are dried and for the tsp. and tbsp. of olive oil)
 

SAUTE IN A PAN WITH 1TBSP. OLIVE OIL
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion - $.50 (about a half of a medium sized onion)


 












 




ONCE ONIONS HAVE BROWNED ADD AND MIX WELL
- 1 Tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. ground paprika 



ONCE SPICES AND ONIONS ARE MIXED UP ADD
- 1 Bag of Black Beans $1.49
- 5 cups of water

 











LET COOK FOR 45 MINUTES ON MEDIUM HEAT - MIXING EVERY 15 MINUTES SO THAT THE BOTTOM DOESNT BURN

AFTER 45 MINUTES - ADD TO BEANS AND MIX WELL
- 1 Can tomato paste $.89 (You can also do a can of crushed tomatoes if you want whole pieces of tomatoes in your beans, I was out of crushed tomatoes so I just used tomato paste :) 
- 2 cups frozen corn $1.50
- 3 more cups of water

LET COOK FOR 10 MORE MINUTES AND SERVE OVER RICE. I like to make about 1.5 cups of rice for this recipe and just add a little pepper and salt to the rice water while it cooks $1.50 


 








DONE! 
 

Brooklyn Brownstones Poster

Working on a few more of these with different buildings and in different neighborhoods, as well as landmarks. This one I print in 12inx36in and in 8inx24in. I also like to make postcards out of it. If you are interested in purchasing one you can click on the paypal link below, email me if you are interested in a specific size or if you would like to go through my etsy account, I have a listing there for this poster in 8inx24in.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/patriciamh7

Thanks for looking! 















BUY ONE NOW! :) 

Brooklyn Brownstones Poster
8 inches by 24 inches - 

PRICE - $22 plus $3 shipping 
(ships two days after order is submitted, poster comes unframed)

Brooklyn Brownstones Poster 
12 inches by 36 inches

PRICE - $45 plus $3 shipping 
(Made to order - Item will ship within a week of order being submitted, poster comes unframed) 

 

Great Wine Selection in Bushwick!

Henry's Wine & Sprits
69 Central Avenue
(on the corner of Melrose Street and Central Avenue) 
(347) 435-0070

henrysbk.com

Need great wine in Bushwick? Well, on the corner of Central Avenue and Melrose Street you will find the cutest little wine and spirits shop, Henry's. They really did a beautiful job in this store, the set up of all the wine and the decoration is just perfect! And of course the wine selection is fantastic! I bought 4 bottles the other day and loved all of them, and on top of that, they were all under $12! And guess what? Don't want to leave your warm and cozy apartment, THEY DELIVER! And the people who work there are really friendly and helpful, need I say more?

Meals Under $10 - Dahl (Yellow Lentils)

Dahl (Yellow Lentils) 
Total Time - Approximately 1.5 hours
Total Cost - Approximately $6
Servings - 6 large servings 

I love lentils! And lately my favorite kind are the yellow lentils. My sister made this for me a year ago, and it was one of those really cold nights, and I wasnt having a good day at all, and I was hungry, and tired, and well you know... just one of those days. I was also traveling, my sister lives in Houston, and this is where she made it for me. 

Anyways, it made me feel so much better. The second I arrived her apartment and smelled the curry in the air, it was so comforting and warm. 

She taught me how she made it, and although it is not really the complete authentic way, it is pretty good! I have made a few adjustments of my own and I am sure you will too!

CHOP AND SAUTE IN 1 TBSP. OLIVE OIL
2 Celery stalks, chopped $.35
1 carrot, chopped $.25
1 yellow onion, chopped $.50
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. curry
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 jalapeño chopped $.25












ONCE SLIGHTLY BROWNED - ADD
1 bag of yellow lentils and mix $1.50

THEN ADD
5 Cups water - Let cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes

THEN ADD
5 Chopped potatoes (small) $1.50

COOK UNTIL POTATOES AND LENTILS ARE SOFT.
If you would like to have this meal with some rice - I like to cook some Jasmine rice with about 1/2 tsp. cinnamon - it makes for a delicious combination with the curry, one tsp. for 2 cups of rice. 

ENJOY!

Meals Under $10 - Chili

Vegan Chilli!
Total Servings - 6 Large servings 
Total Cost - Approximately $5.00 (Yay to that!) 


SAUTE A MEDIUM TO HIGH HEAT IN 1 TBSP. OLIVE OIL UNTIL LIGHTLY BROWNED
1/2 cup chopped celery $.50
 
1 small yellow onion - chopped (about 1/2 cup) $.25
1/2 large purple onion - chopped (about a cup) $.50














TO SAUTEED MIXTURE ADD -
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (if you want it spicy, if not you can leave this out)
1 tsp. garlic powder 


 












THEN ADD -
1 bag of red kidney beans (16oz) $1.49

MIX UP WELL AND ADD -
4 cups of water - let cook for about 45 minutes at medium to low heat - stirring occasionally (stirring will avoid beans to stick to the bottom of the pot)

THEN ADD - ANOTHER TWO CUPS OF WATER -
(After you add the can of tomato paste and you mix it well, let it cook at low heat for another 30 minutes or until beans are soft, if you want it to be a little more like a soup add a little more water and adjust your seasonings slightly.)
1 Can of tomato paste (oz) $.49

RICE -
2 Cups of Rice (cooked with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder) $1.00

 I like to eat my chili with tortilla chips :) A pack of "Tostadas Buena Vista" made in Brooklyn ;) are $2 and it brings more than 25 large chips!

FASHION ON A BUDGET!

New post idea! I like shopping, kind of... but I do like dressing up and such. I will post on new places I find that are cheap, fashionable and in NYC! Because everyone says New York City is so expensive, however, since I have lived here I have found the best deals ever! You do need to do a little work, you may even have too do some digging, but isn't it wonderful when you find that one article of clothing that is just perfect and you can actually afford it!

One of my new favorite stores in Bushwick -

WEEKEND FOR LADIES
45 Graham Avenue (on the corner of Varet Street and Graham Avenue)
Brooklyn, New York
(718) 599-3030

I have bought so many great things here and never spend more than $9.99 
My newest favorite thing I bought are these awesome tights! Only $5.99

 

And these tights I bought there a few days ago and were $4.99 and they are so comfy and you can match them with a ton of different things! 

Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

Enchiladas with Salsa Verde (aka Latin Lasagna ;)
Serves 4 - Large Helpings
Total Cost - $11.75 ($1.75 over budget, but well worth it and you will get a lot of food :)
(Vegetarian option - instead of chicken use 4 cups of cooked cannellini beans - cooked in garlic, salt and pepper to taste - this is also $3 cheaper if you use fresh beans from a bag not a can) 

In a deep pan - Saute all these ingredients until tomatoes are a little browned

- 1 Serrano Pepper, chopped $.10
- 3 Jalapeños, chopped $.50
- 1 yellow onion, chopped $.25
- 8 tomatillos, chopped $2.29
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped $.25

Once you have sauteed these and they have browned just slightly - turn burner off and add about 8 ice cubes - about 1 cup water (you can also add a cup of cold water)

Now - Blend - Everything in the pan and add

- 1 cup cilantro $.50
- Juice of 1 line $.17

Once blended - Take a baking pan about 10by14 inches and about 2 inches deep - pour some of the sauce at the bottom and add a layer of tortillas.

In the pan where you sautead all the ingredients for the sauce - cook your chicken - with some garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Until fully cooked and chop it before cooking.

- 1lb chicken $5.00

Now in the Baking pan - take a tortilla and put some chicken, sauce and a little mozzarella cheese, grated - roll and put in baking pan - repeat until the whole baking pan is full then add a layer of tortillas on the top and pour all leftover sauce and cheese.

- 1/2 bag tortillas $.50
I like Las Tortillas Buena Vista because they are made in Bushwick!!! Right on Johnson Avenue, you can actually go to the location and buy a hot fresh bag of tortillas or pick them up at most bodegas or grocery stores in Brooklyn.
- 8oz mozzarella $1.99 - Queso blanco is the cheese used in Guatemala but Mozzarella works too! 

Before baking.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Done :) Garnish with some cilantro to make it look pretty :)

Meals Under $10 - Pork Tacos!

PORK TACOS! 
Makes 12 tacos  - $7.90 (taking into account an extra dollar for spices)

SAUTE IN A PAN -
2 lbs. chopped Pork Shoulder $4
1 yellow onion, chopped $.50
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. chilli powder
1/8 tsp. Adobo (spice found in Latin Grocery Stores)

ONCE PORK IS FULLY COOKED - DRAIN WATER AND ADD
1 tsp. olive oil and brown the pork a bit. $.25

AT THIS POINT - I LIKE TO ADD 1/2 CAN OF CHOPPED PINEAPPLE $.50
(the smallest cans they sell - cannot remember how many ounces this is but it is about half the size of an average can of soup)

THIS MAKES FOR AUTHENTIC TACOS AL PASTOR

TO FIX YOUR TACOS -

HEAT -
12 Corn Tortillas - Pack of approximately 2 dozen is $.99

GARNISHES -
4 chopped green onions $.15 (pack of 8 was $.34)
1 cup chopped cilantro $.50 (big bunch for $1.49)
2 Limes $.34
1 chopped jalapeño $.15
3 chopped radishes $.50

My boyfriend made a special hot sauce he calls "sexy sauce" to pour on top of our tacos :) But you can also pick up a jar of Valentina or Cholula sauce too!