World's Best Banana Bread - Or So My Dad Says!

I now this is crazy timing, what with the phone ringing every 5 minutes and the emails pouring in due to the release of "Service Fit For A King," but my dad has been bugging me since we returned from the 'car event circuit', to bake up a batch of Banana Bread. Now, being a diabetic with a sweet tooth, good baked goods that meet the criteria are hard to find, so when he discovers something he likes, he just can't get enough. He claims my Banana Bread is hands down the best he's ever tasted. And if you knew my dad, you'd know he's not big in the empty praise department!

So, in between phone calls, I figured I'd whip up a couple of loaves, and while I'm at it, I may as well post the recipe.

Grandpa's Favorite Banana Bread 

• 1 cup Granular Splenda
• 2 mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and sides of 9x5" loaf pan with margarine. In a large bowl combine all ingredients except flour, soda and salt. Mix on medium for about 3 minutes. Stir in flour — should be the consistency of thick cake batter, if too "doughy" add a bit of milk. Pour in to greased pan, bake for 50-60 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean (only insert the skewer once, or the bread will collapse, trust me, I know this!). Let cool 5 minutes. We like it hot out of the oven with a bit of butter.

I make my Banana Bread without nuts of any kind (schools aren't too nut friendly these days) but you are welcome to add a 1/2 cup of chopped nuts if you like. I hope you enjoy it at least 1/2 as much as my dad does. — Linda

1970 Superbird Painting Official Release

It's taken a bit to get back into the swing after our whirl-wind tour of the Car Collector Auction in Toronto, the pre-opening of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alexander City, Alabama and SEMA in Las Vegas. I finally got it together and posted the webpage for Michael's newest release, Service Fit For A King, featuring Richard Petty's infamous #43, 1970 Superbird.

Service Fit For A King, is a great piece which is already receiving lots of accolades! With the edition size being a bit smaller than Michael's other prints (there are only 500 Limited Edition Giclées on Watercolor paper available), and the fact that it will appear in next year's RacingOne Official Nascar Souvenir Publication, it's sure to be a quick seller. I say next year, but it's really only a couple of months away. Hard to believe 2010 is just around the corner!

We showed the original for only one day in Toronto, and prints and the canvases for one day in Alabama, plus the postcards of the painting will be going out at the beginning of next week and I just sent out the email ... so there are still a few "key" Mopar numbers still available. From past experience, I know those and all years of cars are pretty much the top ones to go, along with #1 and #500 ... unless clients are collecting matching numbers, which I think is really cool!

Remember that this painting was created by Michael so that you can hang it as a horizontal or a vertical — again, very cool. No matter what your space, this painting works! All the paintings in this series, "Above Them All" will be created with the same idea in mind. Just so you know, there are only 500 prints, 20 Artist Proofs with Remarque and 50 Gallery Edition Canvases, TOTAL ... no matter how they are ordered.

Another thing that makes this series very unique ... is that unlike our other prints, these ones are reproduced on watercolor paper. The texture, look and feel of the paper is very similar to the cold-pressed watercolor board Michael paints on, so the Limited Edition Prints and Artist Proofs very closely mimic an original painting.

Have a "super" day! — Linda

Classic Car Auction, Muscle Car Museum & SEMA

In a three week blur, we exhibited at the Classic Car Auction in Toronto, attended the pre-opening of the soon to be famous Wellborn Muscle Car Museum, and made some new friends at the Automotive Fine Art Exhibit put on by Hot Rod Heritage at SEMA ... wow!

The Auction was our best ever. It was great to see that no matter what the media says about the economy, spirits were high — everyone was having a great time! We set up on Thursday, then showed Michael's work Friday through Sunday. Monday was for regrouping and by Tuesday we were on the road to Alabama.

The Wellborn Muscle Car Museum is absolutely amazing. Scheduled to open to the public spring 2010, it is a must see for all muscle car enthusiasts. I knew it would be incredible, but it exceeded my expectations. Tim and Pam Wellborn are incredibly gracious hosts with a clear vision for the Museum and the collector hobby. Their tag line, "Preserving the American Musclecar Heritage," says it all.

Below are a couple of sneak peeks, including one of Michael with our set up (above). On the far right, you can see the Gallery Edition of his newest #43 Petty Superbird painting. You'll notice that the photos are pretty Mopar heavy, and with good reason: it was the Aero Warriors Superbird Reunion, held every 5 years in Alexander City - we were just lucky enough to be part of it!

Rounding out the trip to Alabama, you know we just HAD to take in the Nascar race at Talladega. To start the day off, 75 wing cars circled the track. Then came the race. Wow. It was amazing to experience our first live Nascar race at a Super Speedway. Incredible, and at the start/finish line no less! 'nough said.

Michael and I took off to Las Vegas (without our kids) just one day after returning from Alabama ... I know, right! SEMA is a pretty amazing experience ... it's just so big. We stayed pretty close to the Art Exhibit, taking the opportunity to meet some new collectors. Michael did take some photos of unique cars, I'll post some once I download them off the camera.

It's been a fun 3 weeks, exciting and tiring, but well worth it. That being said, it's great to be home. The emails and phone messages have been piling up and I have lots of work ahead of me. To begin with, I'll be posting the webpage to release the Petty Superbird, Service Fit For A King, painting this week as well as sending out the email and postcards. And we'll be sending out the prints that have been pre-ordered. In the mean time, here's a look to hold you over!:

Like the other prints in the "Above Them All Series," this one can be ordered as a horizontal or vertical. Special Introductory Pricing will be in effect. Check your email and/or our website on Thursday for the official release. — Linda

Wellborn Muscle Car Museum

Michael, the children, and I will be in Alexander City, Alabama for the pre-Grand Opening of the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum this weekend. We're really excited about it. Housed in a restored car dealership, the Museum is said to house over 80 immaculate muscle cars, including the famous K&K Insurance Charger Daytona, raced by legendary driver, Bobby Issac. For those of you who don't know, some of the land speed records that Bobby Issac achieved, still stand today!

We also have the opportunity to attend the Aero Warriors reunion at the Talladega Speedway. Seeing that many wing cars in one location promises to be something incredible! If that wasn't enough, on Sunday, we'll be taking in the Talladega 500 ... too cool! We've been to the Molson Indy in Toronto, visited the track in Indianapolis, exhibited at the Lowes Motor Speedway in North Carolina, and attended a number of drag races over the years. Plus, we've been to a full out smash up derby in up-State New York (including the infamous figure eight school bus race!) as well as going to Monster Truck Jam, and of course, breathed in the Firestone and Goodyear fragments that come with the massive tire burnout competitions at events like GM Carlisle, but we've never been to a Nascar race. All of us, kids included, can't wait!

Michael will be formally releasing his newest painting, Service Fit For A King, featuring Richard Petty's famous Petty blue #43, 1970 Superbird. It's the second painting in Michael's "Above Them All Series." With the excitement building with each of his new releases, a number of prints have already been presold. Since I am writing this in a hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, I don't have access to an image of the painting, but as soon as I do, I'll post it.

Have a great weekend. I know we will. - Linda

Collector Car Productions Auction (a.k.a. RM Auction) Toronto

Michael and I have exhibited his automotive artwork at the Toronto auction for about 3 years now. It's always been a good venue for us, even though we were tucked away in the hall adjacent to the actual auction. In fact, it's been the venue where we've shown many pieces for the first time. And this time is no exception ... we are pre-releasing his next two paintings —both sure to be super hot sellers! And, you may remember, it's where last fall, Michael was interviewed by Old Autos TV!

Recently, Dan Spendick, an RM shareholder and manager of the Toronto auction, purchased the Toronto auction, itself. The auction is now being run by Collector Car Productions, which was the company that the Toronto auctions actually started out with, until RM purchased it from Mr. Spendick about 20 years back. You can find information about the auction on RM's website: Collector Car Classic Car Auction Toronto

At first, we were a bit unsure of what, if any, changes there would be that might affect vendors, like ourselves. I don't know if it's due to the change in ownership, but for us, this year has been great. We've moved into the main hall where the auction is held. And consequently have already met a whole new group of collectors. On another good note, many of the staff that ran and organized the auctions in years past are still there. They are a great bunch and really make the whole experience that much better.

If you're in Toronto this weekend, stop by International Center, Hall 3. The doors open at 9:00 am daily, closing at 9:00 on Saturday, and late afternoon on Sunday. There are some really nice cars as well as some incredible deals to be had.

We hope to see you there. — Linda

Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie

We had hoped to make it to Hershey, Pennsylvania this past weekend for one of the "greatest car shows in North America," but it just didn't work out. Between juggling kids and work schedules, it just wasn't in the stars this year. Maybe a good thing though, we heard the weather was pretty nasty ... with winds up to 45-50 mph on Wednesday and the threat of rain on Thursday and Friday!

As it turns out, it worked out well for two reasons: we were able to proof Michael's new print, "Marauders of Woodward" (now available on our website) and it was Canadian Thanksgiving. In North America we share many, many holidays, Thanksgiving being one of them, but for some reason, we celebrate ours a month earlier. Although I do all the cooking, I love turkey and pumpkin pie, so it's not that big of a hardship.

Now, not only is my dad a diabetic, but my mother was diagnosed last week. So, it's more important than ever that I come up with sugar free alternatives in the dessert department.  I've taken a recipe traditionally made with lots of sugar and changed it to suit our dietary needs.

Irvine’s Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Prep Time: 35 minutes, Cooking Time: 45 to 50 minutes
Yield: 2 pies

4 eggs
1 can (28 oz) pure pumpkin
1/2 cup Splenda brown sugar
1 1/4 cup Splenda granular
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup (approx 1 can) fat free evaporated milk
2 (9-inch) unbaked home-made or frozen deep dish pie shell

Beat eggs lightly in medium bowl. Add pure pumpkin, Splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice and salt - mix on low until well combined. Blend in milk. Pour filling in pie shells. I'd recommend having some tart shells on hand, we had enough filling left over to fill 12 tart shells. These are a big hit with our kids — they really like the "mini-pies!"

Bake at 425ºF for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and continue baking 30-35 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Serve topped with whipped cream made with Splenda instead of sugar.

 As an added bonus, if you're watching your weight (like me) this pie will meet the low fat, low sugar test. If your diet is super strict, pass on the whipped cream topping.

Happy Thanksgiving, whenever you celebrate it.— Linda

We're in Moving Pictures

Or, rather, Michael's portfolio of automotive art is. It's my first attempt. I basically created a moving picture using stills of each of his paintings (GM, Ford and Mopar). Each frame includes the piece's name and image.

Until a few minutes ago, I hadn't quite figured out how to add music yet. I was thinking that the instrumental music from the soundtrack of the movie "Bullitt" might be pretty cool, so ... check it out below and let me know what you think! — Linda