Sweet paul

The vineyard cookbook

Last year I did the food and prop styling on Barbara Scott-Goodman's new cookbook, The vineyard cookbook.

The recipes and wine parings are inspired by America's vineyards.

I had so much fun working on this book and I must say Barbara did a great job both writing and doing the lay out for the book.

Let's do another one real soon!

Photos by Colin Cooke.

Recipe monday

Todays recipe is for a spicy tuna rolls.

They are so easy to make and so good.

Tuna is such a fantastic ingredient, the taste is amazing and it needs very little help.

A little chili, some soy sauce and you are ready to go.

The only thing thats important is to buy good quality tuna. 

I serve my rolls with a spicy mayo.

1 LB fresh tuna

1 red chili, finely chopped

6 tablespoons soy sauce

2 english cucumbers

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Sauce:

1 cup mayo

1/2 red chili, finely chopped

1 scallion, thinly sliced

juice of 1/2 lime

salt to taste

Cut the tuna into small cubes.

Place them in a bowl with chili and soy sauce.

Mix well.

Let the mixture stand 30 minutes, this is to make all the flavors mix.

Cut the cucumber lengthwise into thin strips.

Place a little of the tuna mix on each strip and roll together.

Place the rolls on a platter.

Spoon extra tuna on top of each roll.

Mix together the ingredients for the sauce and taste with salt.

Ready to enjoy.

Photo by Colin Cooke

crafty friday!

Old books have always been a passion of mine.

Ever since I as a 18 year old covered my entire bathroom with the pages from 1800 C books.

It was really cool.

Often you can find old beautiful books that are missing pages, or missing all pages like the large book cover above.

I turned it into a piece of art by adding a page from an old book and cutout butterflies make from books as well.

I glued them on the book with small glue-dots.

They are easy to remove and you can move the butterflies around.

The butterflies cutout makers can be bought at martha stewart crafts.com

Have fun and a great weekend.

Photo by Ellen Silverman

Recipe monday

I want summer and I want it now.

Been walking around New York today.

Its a beautiful day, the sun is shining, but its so cold.

The famous New York wind.I can hear it outside my window right now.

So I need to give you guys a summer recipe today.

At least we can dream about the days when we can eat outdoors.

Enjoy!

Squash and peas salad

Serves 4

 1 squash, cut into very thin long strips

2 cups baby spinach

1 cup fresh peas, blanched 20 sec in salted water

1/2 cup pecorino shavings

1/4 cup roasted pine nuts

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

salt

pepper

 

Mix squash, spinach, peas, pecorino and pine nuts on 4 plates or a large platter.

Mix oil and lemon juice and pour the dressing over the salad.

Taste with salt and pepper.

Photo by Colin Cooke.

Crafty friday!

This crafty friday is a "two in one".

This scarf can also be used as a runner.

Supereasy to make.

You need about 20 doilies in different sizes.

Pin them together so that they make a long runner.

Use a sewing machine to sew them all together.

Beautiful on the table and even more beautiful used as a scarf.

Photo by Frances Janisch.

Have a fab weekend all!

Easter party for Parents magazine

I produced and crafted this super cute easter party story for Parents magazine.

You can see the whole story in their issue thats out now.

Run and buy.

Photos by Frances Janisch

Facsimile from Parents magazine.

Recipe monday

Lets face it.

Its monday, times are tough...what do we need.....?

CHOCOLATE

I mean, what is a better way to cheer us up?

When I am down, I make chocolate truffles.

They are soft and creamy and taste divine.

Eat one or two and the world becomes a wonderful place.

AMARETTO TRUFFLES

Makes about 30

 1 cup whipping cream

1 pound good quality dark chocolate

1 tablespoon amaretto

Cocoa powder

 

Have cream in a saucepan and bring slowly to a boil.

Place the chocolate and amaretto in a bowl and pour the cream over.

Stir gently to dissolve the chocolate.

Leave to cool.

When the mixture is set, use a spoon to scrape teaspoon sized balls.

Use your hands to roll them into balls, messy but fun.

(You can always lick your fingers after).

Roll the truffles in cocoa powder and serve

Enjoy!

Photo by Colin Cooke

crafty friday!

You all know my love of recycling.

I created this lamp for Country Living of pieces I found at a flee market.

I think I payed about $ 50 for all the pieces.

Wanted to create something "Alice in wonderland", and I think I did.

Its very easy to make.

Go here for how to.

Easter crafts

These are some images from a easter story I produced for Country Living.

You can se the whole story with how-to make all the crafts in the issue thats out now.

Run and buy.

Photos by the fab Frances Janisch

Recipe monday

Something so simple.

I never been a big fan of peanut butter.

As a european I really didn't get the whole peanut butter/jelly sandwiches.

I did this shoot for More magazine a while ago, and one of the recipes was this apple/peanut butter/honey sandwich.

I really enjoyed it, so I wanted to share it with all of you.

Its supereasy.

Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on a pice of toasted whole wheat bread.

Add some thinly sliced apples. a little honey and finish it of with a pinch of cinnamon.

Great little afternoon snack with a cup of tea.

Photo by Kana Okada.