Becoming Edvard Munch

I just saw the Edvard Munch at the Art Institute during one of the fab free and late Thursday nights. He is one of my all time favs and the show did not disappoint. People find this type of work depressing but I don't. I think it's liberating. For artists, it's more depressing to hold it in than let it out. I really like his color palette and how the Art Institute capitalized on it with a few of its walls painted in maroon and muted shades of viridian and cobalt. While The Scream is his most popular work, it's so wonderful to see his other works which are just as good. You can really see his influence on the graphic art world. I was taken with the very last image titled The Sun. In person it actually radiates. It was one of his last works and what a great ending.

Besides seeing good art, I have been "haunted" by the fact that my 20 year high school reunion is coming up this summer. Yikes, I am so not where I want to be in life. One of my friends said, "Well at least you are not fat." True and em . . . thanks. I guess I could use this reunion to get into even better shape. Speaking of food, I came up with a quickie recipe for left over brown rice. I was thinking that I needed something late afternoon with some protein and good carbs that I could just grab out of the fridge at my busy desk job.

Brown Rice Balls

Brown rice - let's say 1-2 cups

Nut butter

Nutritional yeast flakes

Protein powder

Cook the ole brown rice per directions on the box. I actually prepare mine in the oven which is a recipe from Miss Betty Crocker. First I soak the rice for an hour or two. Then I set the oven to 350 degrees. In a corningware style pot with a lid combine 3/4 cup of rice with 1.5 cups of hot water, a little butter (or not) and salt. Cook about 30 min or longer until it can be fluffed with a folk. My rice always comes out great this way. I never have luck with cooking on top of the stove.

In a bowl, combine the following: the rice (let it cool a bit), 1-2 scoops of protein powder (I used non-flavored Jay Robb egg white protein), a dash of nutritional yeast flakes or salt and 1-2 TBS of nut butter (I like Trader Joe's low-fat peanut butter). Mix it altogether. Form little balls and let set in the fridge on a tray or plate. Then later you can put in ziplock bags and take to work. I eat these cold out of the fridge and they are delish.

You can experiment with spices or try adding cinnamon and agave nectar for a sweeter version. Or maybe you want a savory taste so add a bit of rosemary, more nutritional yeast flakes and some salt.