Seasons Blog

A 'Sweet' Saturday of Food Styling & Photography

This past Saturday, I took part in a Food Styling and Photography Workshop hosted by Paul Lowe of Sweet Paul Magazine and Colin Cooke, photographer. The workshop was held in New York City, and the theme was Summer Salads, which will be featured in the summer issue of the magazine. It was a wonderful day of meeting people from a variety of backgrounds and hearing how they would apply this new information to their life... whether they were bloggers needing some photo tips, photographers and stylists looking to change direction or others just expanding their horizons.

The day began with Paul going over the principals of getting food ready for the camera, the importance of props and surface selection, and arranging the food for the best camera shot. His props all had texture and unique finishes that added to the beauty of each photograph.

 

Colin showed us that there is no need for expensive lighting systems - that some of the most beautiful photographs are taken in natural light. In fact, as each set of photographs were taken, the light coming through the windows was changing, making each photo even more interesting.

 

The images were immediately put up on a computer screen (instant gratification!) so Colin and Paul could discuss what makes a good editorial photo. It was an interesting process to see the photos through the eyes of a stylist and photographer, and how they choose the best shots for the magazine.

 

We were able to bring our own camera and shoot photos of the food ourselves. Here is one of my images.

 

And here is a sample of Colin's beautiful photography.

It was a great day of learning and eating! Click on the links above to see more of Paul and Colin's talent.

Diane

Are You Part of the Pinterest Craze?

Ok, we are hooked… If you haven’t heard about Pinterest yet… you will soon! This new visual social discovery network is taking over and is growing by leaps and bounds.

Pinterest allows you to create online pinboards (think of them as bulletin boards) for various categories of your choosing, (example: “dream home”, “recipes”, “furry friends”) and you “pin” photos or videos to these boards. What evolves is a collage of all of your favorite things, and you can create as many boards as you like. Other “pinners” can see your boards, follow your boards, comment on them and even re-pin the photos onto their own boards.

Head over to Pinterest, start pinning, and check out our boards! We will inspire you with decorating ideas, our love of flowers, nature and the beach… just a few of the “pins” that define what Seasons is about.

Click this button to follow us! 

Here is a sampling of our boards:

New for Spring - Lots of COLOR!

We are back from attending the semi-annual trade show for the gift and home furnishings industry, and are happy to report that bright, vibrant COLOR has made quite a splash!

Manufacturers took their cue from Target's immediate sell-out of Missoni clothing and home accents that took place last September. Missoni, the Italian luxury design house, is famous for their use of bold color and their hallmark zig-zag patterns.

You will see this trend of color and pattern repeated in spring and summer fashion accessories, home furnishings and even stationery items.

 

Panettone French Toast

Panettone, an Italian fruit bread traditionally served for Christmas and New Year's, makes a truly delicious French Toast. This recipe is perfect for a special breakfast treat on Christmas morning, and is a great addition to any holiday brunch menu.

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) panettone, paper removed
• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• zest of 1 orange
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (optional)
• maple syrup
• Serving suggestion: powdered sugar and assorted fresh berries

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Preheat a nonstick griddle or large nonstick saute pan over medium heat.

Using a serrated knife, remove the top from the panettone. Cut the bottom of the panettone in half crosswise. Cut each half into 4 equal pieces. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, zest of 1 orange and sugar until smooth. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter on the griddle. Working in batches, dip slices of panettone into the custard, turning to allow both sides to absorb the custard. Cook the soaked panettone slices until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and panettone slices.

Transfer the French toast to plates. Drizzle the syrup over the French toast and place a dollop of mascarpone on top. Lightly dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

Enjoy!

Holiday Bucket List

With the holidays fast approaching, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the things we need to do - shopping, baking, decorating...

This year, let's all keep in mind what is important to our heart and soul, and make sure that those things are on the top of our 'To Do' list.

Here is my Bucket List for the Holidays - create one of your own and enjoy the magic of the season!

 

 

Happy Holidays!

Diane

 

 

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

For Thanksgiving, we wanted to add a new dessert to our holiday menu, and this recipe from Southern Living Magazine certainly fits the bill. It combines three of our favorite holiday flavors to create a luscious dessert. This alternative to traditional pumpkin pie just might become a new family favorite!

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Praline Topping (recipe below)
• Garnishes: coarsely chopped Pecan Pie-Glazed Pecans, fresh sage leaves

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Press mixture on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

• 2. Beat cream cheese and next 2 ingredients at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended and smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add pumpkin and lemon juice, beating until blended. Pour batter into prepared crust. (Pan will be very full.)

• 3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed, 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.

• 4. Remove sides and bottom of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving plate. Prepare Praline Topping; immediately pour slowly over top of cheesecake, spreading to within 1/4 inch of edge. Garnish, if desired.

 

Praline Topping    (Prep time: 20 minutes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

• Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Boil, stirring occasionally, 1 minute; remove from heat. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Use immediately.

Enjoy!

Lemony White Bean Bruschetta

This grilled bruschetta recipe, featuring mashed cannellini beans and the bright flavors of fresh lemon and parsley, make it the perfect appetizer to serve your guests. It is healthy, hearty, and worth adding to your holiday menu planning.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (8-ounce) long loaf of Italian bread
• 1 lemon
• 1 can (15- to 19-ounce) white kidney beans (Cannellini), rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley leaves (for garnish)
• 2 cloves of garlic, each cut in half

DIRECTIONS:

1. Turn Oven on to Broil.
2. Slice the bread diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
3. Using the lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon of lemon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice. In a medium bowl, with a fork, lightly mash the beans with lemon juice, peel, oil, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon parsley.
4. Place the bread slices on a sheet pan and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they are lightly toasted on both sides. Keep your eyes on the oven - the bread will toast very quickly.
5. While the toast is still warm, rub 1 side of each toast slice with the cut side of the garlic.
6. Just before serving, top the garlic-rubbed side of the toast with the bean mixture and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon parsley.


ENJOY!

Apothecary Jars

Glass Apothecary Jars are still one of our favorite decorating accents. Modeled after those used for centuries to store dried herbs, these containers are available in a wide array of shapes and sizes. They become a decorative focal point in a variety of settings - on a kitchen island, countertop, hall table, fireplace mantle or in a bathroom.

It's always a fun project to change out the contents with each season, and we are always coming up with new, creative ways to fill them - sand and shells, bath salts, soaps, acorns, pinecones, faux fruits, ornaments, candy... the list is endless.

 

            

For Halloween, we created a whimsical assortment of jars filled with candy. To keep with the traditional colors of the holiday, we used candy corn, black licorice, white & orange gum balls, and ghost & pumpkin peeps. Most of this candy can be found in your grocery store - just be open minded, pick your color pallette and have some fun!

4 Halloween Myths Debunked

Halloween is associated with more skin-crawling superstitions and myths than any other holiday. Here are a few that peeked my curiosity...

Spiders
	Historically, spiders were known as the weavers of people’s fates and connecting the past with the future. Legends say if you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved one watching over you.
Black Cats
	“If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck.” Black cats were seen as companions of witches, and many Pilgrims believed that witches often transformed themselves into black cats to avoid death. The ancient Egyptians venerated black cats and treated them as royalty. I am an owner of a black cat named “Boo” (or should I say she owns me…) and she definitely leads a royal life!
Number 13
	This number became associated with Halloween because there are 13 witches in a Witches Coven. In many hotels and skyscrapers, there is no 13th floor. Most airplanes have no seat No. 13. In Italy, they usually leave out 13 in numbering the lottery tickets. Thirteen for dinner? Not in France. A party of thirteen can hire a professional quatorzieme, a fourteenth person, from an agency. In some big hospitals, there is no Operating Room 13, to spare the patient added anxiety being wheeled into Room 13.
Broken Mirror
	“Break a mirror and face 7 years of bad luck”. Many cultures believed that a mirror had the power to confiscate part of the user's soul, and their soul would be trapped inside the bizarre world the mirror represented. Personally, I would use it as a great excuse to go shopping for a new mirror for my home!

Color Trends for 2012

As in fashion, home décor follows color trends that are always evolving. These ever-evolving colors often reflect the feeling of what is happening in our environment and in our world. Here is a short summary of the trends for the coming year that will help you with your next decorating project.

• Black is the new black

• The palatte is similar to the “Escape” trend in 2011, but a bit bolder for 2012.

• Neutrals will be cooler – grays and slate colors

• Pink and purple undertones will be strong

• Camel & Khaki become the new neutrals upon which richer hues can be layered as accents

• Metallics and pearlized colors will continue to be strong

• Gold will begin to make a comeback, but with more of a satin finish

• Bronze and silver will remain strong

Paint color can have the most dramatic effect on your space, and it is the least expensive way to update your home. Benjamin Moore has added some intriguing new colors to their 2012 paint palette. Here are some key color-family trends along with the Benjamin Moore color name.

Red: Walls and furnishings may see a range of feminine reds and oranges, all the way to softer vintage pink tones (soft, blush). Some highlighted Ben Moore colors: Candy Cane Red, Potpourri.

Yellow: The 2012 yellows will be sunny and golden, sometimes even in a lacquered shine vs. the previously seen matte finishes. Luminous blonde tones, honey and gold will also emerge. Look for colors like Baby Chick, Hollywood Gold or Metallic Gold at one end of the spectrum and more neutral tones like Subtle, Buttercream Pearl and Turmeric or Bronze Metallic.

Green: Beautiful green will move to crisper shades, some teal-tinged but also safari and camouflage tones. Forecasters are pointing toward colors like Fresh Scent Green, Pear Green or Winchester Sage to Dark Olive and Harbour Town.

Blue: The blue story will be one influenced by water and air... but more saturated than in previous years. Look for charcoal and blackened navy hues. A few colors of importance: Palm Coast Teal, Old Glory, Serenata and also deeper tones like Deep Ocean, Mysterious and Gentlemen's Gray.

 

 

Print out this blog and take it with you as you have fun planning your next painting and decorating project.