Celebrate Summer in the Middle of Winter

Get out of the winter doldrums and pretend it is summer. Shelley Smith and Elaine Husband, renowned artists from Tennessee, offer party ideas, recipes, and tips for entertaining in the garden in their new book -- "Gathering in the Garden."

(PRWEB) January 20, 2004 --This whimsical little book is full of great ideas and lovely art. Written and illustrated by childhood friends Shelley Snow and Elaine Husband, 'Gathering in the Garden is a showcase of the pair's watercolor and acrylic paintings. It also features their love for gardening and throwing parties.The parties suggested, such as a tomato taste-off with guests bringing different tomato dishes, are imaginative and fun."
Mary-Kathryn Craft, The Myrtle Beach Sun News

Shelley and Elaine have given us a new 'Garden of Earthly Delights. Their love of art, gardening, feasts, and friends makes their warm collaboration a treasure you must share with your own friends."
Pat McNellis, president of Nine West

Gathering in the Garden: Recipes and Ideas for Garden Parties
Shelley Snow and Elaine Husband
October 2003 ISBN 1-892123-93-2 $19.95
6" x 6", Paperback, 128 pp. + 60 watercolors

Dulles, VA: Winter is here - whether you are in the part of the country where winter means temperatures in the 50s and rain or where three feet of snow and temperatures in the negative numbers tell you that spring has sprung. While many people revel in the snow, skiing, fires in the fireplaces, and other joys of the season, just as many, if not more, find winter to be depressing, annoying, maddening. Whichever category you fall into, why not enjoy winter or get out of the doldrums by pretending it is summer? Shelley Snow and Elaine Husband, artists, writers, gardeners, and life-long friends, tell you how to recreate summer in their recently released book -- "Gathering in the Garden: Recipes & Ideas for Garden Parties."

Here is a summer-inspired party for your winter entertaining from Shelley and Elaine:

The Indoor-Outdoor Picnic. The weather doesnt have to be a factor in your plans," says Shelley Snow. Let the sky be your limit!"
1) Go to your local nature store and browse for tapes and CDs of nature sounds, such as crickets, birds singing, rain falling, etc."
2) For a picnic under the stars, you can find all kinds of inspiration, from luminescent stars to whole solar systems to stick on your ceiling."
3) Dont forget candles and sprays scented like woods, wildflowers, and air freshened by rain."
4) For a little realism, try lining up plastic ants from your door to your table."
5) For that sunset glow, use pink or purple strings of light in your plants."
6) Try recreating different settings. For the tropics, scatter seashells. To create an ocean breeze set a fan on low in a hidden location. Make or buy flower leis and dress for the occasion in a sarong. Have a tiki torch burning outside, and hang a tropical travel poster on your door. Serve drinks in coconut shells with little umbrellas."
7) Serve fried chicken, using your favorite recipe. Refrigerate and serve cold."
8) Try making these appetizer and salad recipes from Gathering in the Garden:
Foggy San Francisco Roll-Ups
2 cups fresh spinach, washed, drained and chopped fine
3 whole artichoke hearts, drained and chopped fine
2 green onions with tops, chopped fine
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 small package plain cream cheese, softened
1 to 2 teaspoons (to taste) Ranch style dressing mix
2 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
3 or 4, 6- inch flour tortillas

Mix first 7 ingredients together. Spread evenly on tortillas and roll up jellyroll fashion.
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours. When ready to serve, cut into ½ inch slices.

Balmy Black-Eyed Pea Salad
2 cups fresh black-eyed peas, cooked until tender
2 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 Kirby cucumbers (small pickling size is best)
¼ cup sweet onion, chopped
1/3 cup red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
Your favorite Italian dressing or bottled vinaigrette

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate overnight.

"Gathering in the Garden" is a unique collection of garden parties. Each party comes with delicious menus, recipes, and creative special effect ideas that transform ordinary events into unforgettable gatherings. The recipes center around the bounty of the home garden and make lavish use of its produce. Recipes include Tomato Green Chili Dip, Cheesy Tomato Melts, Gauguins French Coconut Macaroons, Pickled Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes and Olives, Roasted Corn on the Cob with Cayenne Lime Butter, Buttery Asparagus Roll Ups, Pear Tarts, and many others. This wonderful gift book is beautifully illustrated by the authors watercolors.

Shelley Snow and Elaine Husband are life-long friends, writers, artists, and gardeners. Shelley has been a full time working artist for over 25 years. Her watercolor and oil portrait commissions have been requested by the Governor of Tennessee (a permanent mural in the Governors Mansion), Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, and her equestrian portraits hang in the Marriott Convention Center in Nashville. Shelley is a signature member of the Southern Watercolor Society. Her watercolors have been shown in national competitions in which she has won national awards. She currently teaches art at the Gallery of Franklin in Tennessee where her work can be seen. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Elaine has painted professionally for 15 years. Essays about her home have been published in Williamson Homes and Lifestyles magazines. She has taught art in several private schools and given private lessons to adults and children. Elaine lives in Franklin, Tennessee.
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