Learn About: Anthuriums As House Plants

 Anthuriums are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

Here they grow in warm, humid environments, where the rainforest canopy protects them from direct sunlight.

They have existed outside of the rainforest for many years as popular exotic-looking house plants and florist shop potted gifts.

This was where I first saw them, as a florist, 35 years ago now!

The colour available then was usually a deep shiny red and we called it the 'Flamingo Flower'.

Forward to 2023, there are now around 1000 varieties and cultivars, flower bract (spathe) colours, and hybrids, including miniatures, readily available to the houseplant collector.

Some are leaf-only varieties that offer interesting variegations, and foilage shapes.

What I have today to show you is a miniature form.

It has smaller glossy dark green heart shaped tropical leaves.

With the smaller pink waxy flower bracts also in the classic heart shape. 

Meet 'Pink Emma'.

A lovely pink bubblegum shade.

(There are many other shades of pink available in anthuriums).

Care:

*Position anthuriums in a situation that offers bright indirect light, but not direct sunlight. 

*You will get more flowers if the light is bright.

*Direct sunlight will cause the leaves to develop brown patches.

*They enjoy having a room temperature of 65 to 86 degrees F 

(18 to 32 degrees C)

*If positioned in a place in the home with not enough bright light, the plant leaves will become yellow, this will also happen if the soil does not have enough nutrients in it.

*Remove old dry leaves by pulling them off at the base of the plant.

*On hot dry days, mist with water as they love humidity.

*Spray in the first instance with insecticide at the first sign of mites, mealy bugs or scale.

* Cut off the dead flowers to encourage new blooms.

*Repot the plant in Spring if the roots have come out of the bottom of the pot. Use a quality free-draining potting mix for indoor plants.

Don't use one with added water retention crystals as they don't like wet feet or sitting in a saucer of water.

*Watering requirements are that they stay evenly moist (not wet).  They dislike drying out and them being soaked with water.

*Gently wipe dust settled on leaves and flowers with a soft damp cloth.

*Fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks when in full bloom.

Note:

ALL anthurium varieties are toxic to pets and humans if ingested!

The flowers last many weeks in a floral arrangement.

Indoor flowering anthuriums bloom throughout the year if in ideal conditions.

Flowers can sometimes change colour as genetics kick in and cause them to revert back to their original form.

#anthuriumcare #anthuriums #anthuriumpotplants #houseplants #potplants

Beautiful Sunrise Quote

 

I'm a traveller soul, so this quote is for all those like me, who love to wander.

:)

#sunrisequotes #travelquotes #quotes

Bacon Wrapped Cranberry Schnitzel

One thing I love about my friend Joni May is her inventive savoury food!

This recipe is one she shared with me and it is sensational!

Savour the blend of tastes.

The thin pre-crumbed (available from the butcher or supermarket) succulent schnitzel meat and the cranberry.

The stuffing. (I used a dry premix in a packet brand)

Rolled together and secured by a bacon wrapping.

Oven Baked.

Left to rest.

Then slice and served warm with a salad of your choice.

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You can make several adaptions to this recipe by adding chopped cashew nuts to the stuffing mix.

And if you love cream cheese, a layer of that over the cranberry jelly.

This recipe will serve two people.

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Bacon Wrapped Cranberry Schnitzel.

You will need:

Two large pre-crumbed schnitzels

4 Tablespoons of Cranberry Jelly

8 Bacon strips

1 cup dry savoury stuffing mixed with 80 grams (2.82 ounces) of melted butter

(You can make several adaptions to this recipe by adding 2 Tablespoons of chopped cashew nuts to the stuffing mix.

And if you love cream cheese, a layer of that over the cranberry jelly).

Lay the crumbed schnitzel flat on a board.

Spread 2 Tablespoons of cranberry jelly on each schnitzel.

(Add a layer of cream cheese if using next)

Then add 1/2 cup of stuffing dough onto the schnitzel.

Carefully roll from the short end.

wrap bacon strips around the roll.

Place on a nonstick baking pan.

Bake at 180 Celsius (356 Fahrenheit)  for 30 to 40 minutes until golden and crispy.

Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes.

Slice and plate.

Serve warm with a salad of your choice.

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For the printable recipe visit HERE.

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Grab a cuppa, and visit

 my Fine Art America gift store

:)

#snitzel #meatrecipes #rolledmeat

Easy Cork Plant Labels

Are you like me, and always have a pot or more of fresh herbs growing in the kitchen?

There is nothing like having them directly on hand to add to your culinary dishes as you create.

That's great if you are a herb enthusiast because you will have a grasp on what herb is what.

But then again, you might have another cook or Chefs assistant in the house who doesn't!

These simple cork labels are the answer.

Just five minutes to make.

And the perfect solution to that 'What is this herb again?' question.

Currently, in my small kitchen, I have two herbs.

Because they are the ones I use the most in my savory cooking.

Parsley and thyme.

To make the labels I used Dollar Store Craft corks, and bamboo kitchen skewers.

(Total cost  - $4.50, with excess to create more 'Cork Plant Labels' if desired to put aside for other craft projects).

You will also need a fine-point black Sharpie pen.

Pot your plants using a high-quality indoor potting mix that contains added slow-release fertilizer.

Water pots and set aside.

Take your cork and write from the smaller end to the thicker end your herb name.

I find craft store corks are a lot harder than wine bottle cork, so pushing skewers into these is difficult.

So you will need a nail and a small hammer to make a pilot hole first.

Then push the wooden skewer into the hole.

And that is it.

Place into your pre-planted pots for cute and corky

'at a glance' herb labels for the inside kitchen garden.

You could even use these DIY cork plant labels in a greenhouse or glasshouse environment too.

Visit my Saatchi Art Store for wall art HERE

#herbs #herblabels #diylabels #kitchenherbs #artprints

BOLD BRIGHTS - Interior Art Print Ideas...

Castles In The Sky

Change up your decor with BOLD and BRIGHT art prints.

Angel Flowers

I love colour and the transformation it gives to an interior. 

If you do too, here are some ideas for wall art and tips on colour usage.

            Beauty Of The Rose

Bring in the focal colour into the room decor with a matching or pattern contrasting rug, throw or matching pillows.

Don't be scared of using texture.

A Moment In Time

If you are trying to create a specific mood in a room, colours in bold colours will set the tone and make a statement.

Fire Lily

If you fear using bold colours in the decor, mix colours that are complementary to each other.

Purple Pansy

The print images shown can be placed in a frame of your choice and printed from small to large in size via Fineart America.

Wings Of Angels

Or printed on a block-style canvas.

Like An Echo

Large size artwork suits large rooms.

Placing a large scale artwork on a wall in a smaller room may cause an 'overcrowded' look.

If you want to, create a gallery wall of various artworks, use a selection of smaller sized framed prints in contrasting colours and frames for the best effect.

You can choose a theme of subject matter for the collection such as oceanic, abstracts, flowers, landscapes, birds or animals.

Kingfisher & Rust

In a room that is quite neutral, you can introduce colour into the space with the art and also with accents in decor pieces.

When you update the room at a later date, all you need to do is change up the accessories.

A much cheaper option than changing the wall colour and furniture.

#artprints

Cafe Style Mini Frittatas

Have you ever had that 'What's for breakfast or lunch moment'?

Well, that happened at breakfast time today!

Though in all honesty, I am more of a brunch type of girl as I try to follow an intermittent fasting routine.

Cafe food is so expensive nowadays, that eating out is a true treat, so I whipped up these sumptuous cafe-style mini frittatas. 

                            

A ten minute pre and mix, before baking.

The mixture of ingredients makes six.

They are cooked in a medium sized nonstick muffin pan.

There's just 'the two of us' at home, so we ate

three each with a chilli sauce swish on the side.

If you don't like chilli or sweet chilli sauce, you can serve the frittatas with a dollop of your favourite chutney.

If you are wanting an easy light evening meal, just add a side of mixed green salad made to your liking.

You will Need:

3 large free-range eggs

1 teaspoon of wholegrain mustard

1 Tablespoon of sour cream

1/3 cup grated zucchini

2 large tablespoons of finely diced onion

1 slice of diced middle bacon (excess fat removed)

1 tablespoon of chopped parsley

2 chopped cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoons of self-raising flour

To Make:

Preheat the oven to 180 Celcius (356F)

In a bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy.

Add the mustard and sour cream.

Whisk well until blended.

Add the flour then mix again.

Switch the whisk for a spoon.

Stir through all the other ingredients.

Grease the muffin pan holes.

Spoon mixture evenly in them.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the egg is cooked.

Cool slightly.

Plate and serve.

These can also be eaten cold so are fabulous for the lunch box.

Printable recipe HERE.

#lunchboxfood #fritattas #breakfastfood #brunchideas

Beach Bunnies - FREE PRINT

 HAPPY EASTER Y'ALL!

I have painted a cute little bunny picture for you to celebrate this special time.

I am painting and creating at the beach office, hence the inspiration for this image.

Three, cute little baby bunnies enjoying the small joys of life.

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If you would like a larger file image to print, just join the email subscription list, and then send me a request via miabellapassion@gmail.com.

This image is ready to copy, save and print, for small frame gifts, cards, and scrapbooks.

.

Visit my 'Saatchi Art & Photography' store HERE

Original art store HERE

#bunnies #bunnyprints #freeprints #easterprints #easterart

Smokey Sausage Hors d’oeuvres

Smokey Sausage Hors d’oeuvres, a tasty pre-dinner appetiser.

Perfect with a glass of your favourite wine.

Perfect as a platter dish for a party or 'Happy Hour' with friends.

Red smokey sausage, cucumber spiral and a pop of cheese on top.

These tasty darlings are very simple to make.

To Make Nine You Need:

12 cm (5 inch) cocktail skewers 

Three red sausages such as smokey saveloys

Cucumber 

Cheese (I used Edam)

To Make:

Cut the cucumber into a 12cm (5-inch) length.

Peel the cucumber and then use the peeler to pull wide strips.

Lay it on absorbent paper.

Cut sausages into 4cm (1 1/2-inch) slices and cube the cheese.

Place a cube of cheese on your cocktail stick.

Then concertina thread the cucumber onto it.

Press the stick of cheese and cucumber into the sausage.

I made nine Hors d’oeuvres out of three sausages.

But you can make as many as you require for your function,

just increase the sausage, and cucumber cheese ratio accordingly.

A simple, quick, party plate is sorted!

Printable recipe HERE.

Grab a cuppa, and visit

 my Fine Art America gift store

:)

#Horsdoeuvres #partyfood