It's A Paint and Cook Party....

This year, we forewent Kris Kringle with my closest friends and their families and instead enjoyed the real spirit of the holidays with time together-- painting and cooking! Since I recently & proudly accomplished baking up tall, flaky, brown-golden, crunchy and chewy basic best-ever scones, I couldn't wait to impart the learnt techniques to my girlfriends-- perfect for a hot-out-of-the-oven midday treat with tea. For something fun, crowd-pleasing and healthy with lots of freshness and flavour (a welcomed break from heavy meats, carbs and fat-laden holiday dishes)-- a dinner fiesta of steak and chicken Mexican fajitas with all the fixins of course! 

Basic Best-Ever Scones and Homemade Lemon Curd

My closest friends since early school days.

It's a paint party.... what is everyone's inspiration?

There was abstract, landscape, and mine inspired by elements from a couple of photos I took years ago in Japan that I've been meaning to paint-- a Japanese garden combining a temple, bridge and cherry blossoms (bottom left). This will take me a while to complete, and so happy this occasion gave me the opportunity to initiate it...

I came from a family of talented artists-- my brother Dan alias Marten Go, an accomplished artist of all trades, but these years a hand-crafted sculpture artist and our dad a landscape and portrait artist. His most recent work is a large canvas oil painting inspired by a photo taken from his trip to Vietnam a few years ago. I especially love the details of the sky's reflection on the gentle waters. You are incredible dad!

My dad's On the Waters painting inspired from his trip to Vietnam

Dinner preparations for our Mexican Fiesta...

Colour upon fresh vibrant colour!! Olé!

And to think I will be cooking up a storm again in a few days as I host my big family on New Year's Eve! 

I say... Bring. It. On!! .....

Thank you for a wonderful evening of friendship and conversations! Here's to more good times to come...