Sweet paul

Crafty friday+taking a week off!

Terrarium's are all the range now.
They are quite easy to make yourself.
Start by filling a glass vase with small rocks, at least 2 inches, then a layer of soil.

Start planting your plants well into the soil.

Fill up with smaller plants, rocks, people or whatever you want to place in your little "world".

And voila, you are the master of your own little universe.
Taking a week off blogging now.
Going upstate to shoot a BBQ book, will have no time to blog.
Have a great week.
Photos by Alexandra Grablewski

Bikinis and cocktails

As a stylist you face all kinds of challenges.
When Sabra Krock asked me to come up with cocktails that matches bikinis and bathing suits, well I must say I do believe that's one is a lifetime thing.
We had a fun day mixing and shooting cocktails to mach the great swimwear from Everything But Water.
Check out the results right here!

Recipe monday

Welcome to another Recipe Monday.
This time its my "cheating Strawberry cake".
It's ok to cheat once in a while....
Start by cutting a pint of strawberries in half.

Place in a saucepan and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Heat up enough so that the sugar melts and the strawberries are warm.

In a bowl mix 1 cup mascarpone, 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon sugar.
Place the cream and the warm strawberries between 2 large sugar cookies.
If this does not scream summer, well them I have no idea what will.......
Photos by Alexandra Grablewski

Crafty Friday

Todays craft is a very simple one, but might I say, rather stylish.
All you need is a bottle and some washi tape.

Start by taping around the base and work your way up, alternating the colors.

Continue up as far as you want.

And voila, you have a very cool vase.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski

My Happy Dish Recipe Contest

This time I'm looking for your favorite fall comfort dish.
It can be a soup, salad, stew, cake or something else.
It just needs to be your original recipe and not one you found somewhere else.
So you send an email to myhappydish@sweetpaulmag.com
In the email you send the recipe, a hi-res picture of yourself and a max 100 word text that starts with, "This dish makes me happy because..".
The winner will have their recipe published in Sweet Paul Magazine and the image will be styled by me and shot by one of the great photographers that contributes to the magazine.
Deadline is August 1st.
Good luck!

My happy dish winner

This Issues "My Happy Dish" winner was Barbara Scott-Goodman with her Gazpacho with grilled shrimp and corn.
The perfect summer dish.
Check out the recipe right here!

Recipe monday

Trout, beet and fava bean salad
Talk about flavors on a plate, its like a mix of everything that is tasty in this world.
serves 4

4 golden beets, pealed and cut in 4
24 small potatoes
4 oz trout filet
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
lettuce
1/2 cup cooked and shelled lava beans
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 350F.
Place the trout, beets and potatoes in an oven proof dish.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake for 12 minutes, then remove the fish and bake on until the potatoes and beets are done, about another 10-15 minutes.
Break the fish into pieces.
Place fish, beets, potatoes, lettuce and lava beans on plates and drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil.
Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Photography by Alexandra Grablewski

A little something....

This is from a story I prop styled for the fab photographer Anna Williams.
Love the dark tones in the images.
Check out Anna's work here!

Recipe monday

Summer time is fava bean time.
They do take some work, but its so worth it.

Start by removing the beans from the pod. You need about 2 oz beans.
Cook them for 4 minutes, then peel of the skin.

Rub 12 sliced of baguette with a clove of garlic and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake until golden.

Mash the beans with grated lemon zest of 1/2 lemon.
Top the baguette slices with the beans, drizzle with oil, salt and pepper.
Add some parmesan and voila... you have this summers best little appetizer.

Photo by Alexandra Grablewski

Crafty Friday

Want to make this summers coolest tote bag?
Its quite easy.
Start with the image you want to use.
Print it out on lazertran fabric paper, www.lazertran.com

Cut it out and find out where on the bag you want it.
Remove the backing of the paper and place on the bag.

Fix the image to the bag using an iron.

And voila, you have this summers coolest bag.

Photo by Alexandra Grablewski