Slow Cooker Posole (Hominy Stew) is easy to prepare, can be ready to eat in 4 hours, and tastes really good. Well, that is, if you like spicy Southwestern New Mexican style cuisine. This is actually my Mom’s recipe, which is modified for those of us who appreciate good kitchen engineering, but are constantly on the move, working, going to school, and on a regular workout at the gym. Yeah, really busy all the time.

 

I once joked that I’m so busy, if I could take in all my meals as a liquid drink once or twice a day, I would do it. I guess at the time, I wasn’t really kidding. Thing is, any doctor will tell you this is an unhealthy choice. We aren’t plants, right? Although, I’ve met some people who act like house plants.

 

This posole recipe will feed four people until they are stuffed. I’m not kidding. This is a high protein and high calorie meal perfect for a cold winter’s day. This is an old Southwestern meal, meant to be hardy, and stay with a hard working cow-hand all day.

 

There are as many recipes for posole, as there are for chile. And even though I say this is a faster path to good posole, you’ll notice, it’s still work, but to any culinarian, it’s really “play”, isn’t it?

 

So here it is. You’ll have fun making this dish while you’re getting other “stuff” done:

 

 

1.      1 lb. ground pork! Yep, I’m a vegetarian, but not when someone throws a bowl of posole in front of my face! Make sure it’s fresh, and organic though. This is hard to find in many places. Authentic posole uses pork shoulder which is prepared as diced chunks, and seared first. You don’t have time for this. If you can’t find fresh ground pork, just have the butcher grind a fresh pork tenderloin, and you’re good to go.

 

2.      1 carton, Swanson’s Chicken Broth, the real stuff, not the “lite” nonsense. Organic, and without MSG, is the best health choice.

 

3.      2 cups water. You need this because the hominy gets thirsty.

 

4.      ½ teaspoon salt.

 

5.      1 lb. frozen uncooked posole, thawed. Yeah, don’t use “canned” (48 oz.) unless you are desperate. Authentic posole requires about 1 to 2 lbs. of hominy corn cooked and prepared until the corn bursts. You don’t have time for this. You’ll be in the kitchen all day.

 

6.      1 small onion, chopped.

7.      2 cloves garlic, minced.

8.      1 teaspoon crushed oregano.

9.      3 tablespoons ground red chili. Yeah, “count em”, three. Authentic posole must always have a good punch, and bite a little. This is a New Mexican recipe, man! You can put in more if you like, but if it’s good red pod from Hatch, New Mexico, three will make your brow sweat.

 

Throw a slow cooker liner in the slow cooker. Turn it on high. Crumble the pork into the cooker. I know what you’re thinking. You’re not draining anything. That pork fat is the flavor we’re looking for in good posole.

 

Toss in the chopped onions, minced garlic, oregano, and ground red chili. Now pour in the chicken broth and water, then the salt. Always add salt to your liquid, not the liquid onto salt. The salt will go into solution immediately (that’s what we want). Now add the frozen posole that has been thawed. Stir it well.

 

Put the lid on the slow cooker. Clean and wash whatever you haven’t already. Walk away. Go get something else done. You just engineered a brilliant meal whose reward is soon coming.

 

Check it every hour and stir, then after 2 hours, turn the cooker down to low, and stir. Keep checking, and stirring every hour until done. This depends on how hot the “high” on your slow cooker gets. If it was boiling during the first 2 hours when you turned it down, it should be ready to eat in 4 hours from start to finish.

  

I have made this dish with black beans too, and many recipes call for pintos or black beans,

but I think beans of any style take away the corn flavor of hominy.

 

I like to garnish my posole with combinations of diced tomatoes, diced onions, fresh cilantro, and avocado with a splash of lime, or shaved lime and jalopeños.

 

 

Don’t forget the tortillas, and sopapillas.

 

Enjoy!

I am often asked how I draw water drops. Although my medium of choice is colored pencils, I do work with watercolor, and watercolor pencils. But the technique remains similar in all three of these media.

I generally start with wax or masking fluid as demonstrated below, then work with pencil or colored pencil in and around the borders. This is especially important in photorealism works.

Another great medium is tempera, or egg tempera, made famous by Leonardo Da Vinci's water droplet technique. But watercolors bring a dimension of blending that is bright and easy to render once practiced.

Below are the general steps utilized when we render these into our artwork. A well known American artist, Birgit O’Connor, known for her great watercolors, demonstrates below, how you can also draw or paint with this technique.

This is the first in many visual art rendering techniques we will make available in The Searchlight Messenger. Of course most people know that I work from photographs and very patient models who sit for hours.

To practice, find a good close-up photograph of water droplets to draw from, then have fun trying this technique. I think you will be very pleased with the art you produce.

O’Connor has been featured in Watercolor Artist and The Artist’s Magazine, and continues to be a great resource for those learning how to master the medium. Scroll down for one of her quick tips on watercolor painting for beginners.

“Watercolor has always been perceived as a very unforgiving medium that offers very little control,” says O’Connor. “This can cause a lot of frustration. But the effects and luminous washes possible with watercolor are unrivaled. In order to take advantage of the way watercolor works, there are some basic things you need to know.”

Using brushes that are too small or a poor grade of paper are paths to frustration.

Instead of beginning with the darks and then adding the lighter colors, begin with the lighter areas and then move toward the darker colors.

As a self-taught artist with years of experience, I have found that it is most important to simplify. I have tried to convey this through my articles, books and DVDs.

Once you have an understanding of how to really use water and color to your advantage, the rest is up to you. The world is wide open. 

There is a very simple painting technique you can use to add water drops to a painting. A realistic water drop creates a three-dimensional illusion and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.

Get an idea of how this technique works by doing this simple painting exercise.

Draw an oblong circle approximately 1 inch long, and then place a small dot of masking in the upper left hand corner.

After the masking fluid has completely dried, apply a wash of permanent alizarin crimson over the entire area extending past the drop approximately 4 inches (MM) on either side, leave enough room on the outside edges so the effect is not hindered and the drop can stand out.

Once the wash has completely dried, reapply water only to the inside of the drop, allow the pigment to soften then lift out the color from in the inside using a No. 14 synthetic brush, you can vary the size and type brush (acrylic brushes, q-tips and paper towels work), anything to lift color out.

Before adding the shadow allow the drop to completely dry again or the color can bleed back in. You want a nice crisp line. Using a No. 8 synthetic with a mixture of permanent alizarin crimson and a small amount of indigo, then add the shadow just below the drop, tapering up the side to define the edge.

Now remove the masking from the drop and lift some color out of the shadow. This helps to show light refracting through the drop.

In the highly competitive field of photography, being able to effectively communicate during a photo shoot is one of the most important skills a photographer can acquire. The better the photographer is at giving precise instructions, the easier it will be to capture the unique perspective most people are searching for in their photos. The photographer must demonstrate a great deal of professionalism, keeping a positive attitude and actively listening to their client. People are often nervous when being photographed; therefore the photographer should empathize with their client by observing and understanding the feelings they may be experiencing. Aside from location and time specifics, proper compensation should be discussed prior to the photo shoot, as opposed to during or after. If the photographer can properly communicate with the client, the photo shoot should advance smoothly.

Professionalism is an important factor in any successful photo shoot. As a photographer, experienced or amateur, a person must exhibit proper etiquette. In order to make the subject feel comfortable, the photographer should make them feel as relaxed as possible by offering calming talk when appropriate, and always taking the time to listen when the client speaks. Arriving on time, coming prepared, and choosing appropriate dress for the occasion is also essential. The personality and behavior of the photographer may prove to be a deal-breaker in the future of their business if professionalism is ignored.              

In addition, showing empathy for the subject is an important factor when trying to make a living in the realm of photography. The photographer should observe the individual’s body language to see how instructions are being perceived and understood. Synonymously, the photographer needs to watch for cues to determine if he or she is coming across as demanding, or seemingly trying to rush the job. If demeanor and body language is not indicative of a state of total relaxation, the photographer needs to step into the subject’s shoes for a better perspective regarding their emotions. Remember, “Speaking in a moderately low-pitched voice at about 125 words a minute makes you sound pleasing and professional.” 

Photography often starts off as a hobby and when people start to notice one’s pictures, doors begin to open. A friend may want her child’s senior photos to be captured by someone who has a good eye, or a jewelry maker may want her items photographed to sell on her website. When frequent jobs are being offered, the photographer may wonder what the proper compensation is for the amount of time they put into the photo shoot.  Overall, a photographer will need to determine how much their time is worth and express that clearly and confidently to the client. This includes, but is not limited to, how much time is spent on the photo shoot, if any equipment was purchased, travel costs, and prices of local competition. Well known photographer, Caroline Thompson, indicated through her experience that step one in determining fees, is to decide which type of photography service will be offered.

In conclusion, properly communicating with the client, and keeping an open mind, can do a great deal for establishing a person’s reputation as a well-respected photographer. If the photographer is seen as patient, empathetic, and caring, the possibility for achieving a large client base may present itself. In addition, separating themselves from fierce competition by properly determining their self-worth, is something with which many photographers struggle. In order to achieve the desired client-base, it is essential to be reasonable and consistent. If the photographer can overcome these obstacles that often stand in the way of even the world’s best photographers, they will be well on their way to a successful career.

References Guffey, Mary Ellen & Loewy, Dana. Essentials of Business Communication. (Vol. 9e). Cengage Learning, 2013. Thompson, Caroline. “Photography Rates: What to Charge for Photography Services.” Bright Hub. 3 Nov. 2012 <http:// www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/47333.aspx>. 

About the Author: Amanda Cornelissen is a local photographer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a Health Information Management Degree candidate at Intellitec Medical Institute. Her portrait photography is outstanding. For more information on Ms, Corneliissen, contact The Searchlight Studios at: searchlight@venture17.com