vetrina di pasticceria / bakery window

July 29, 2014 | Simona

IMG_1821 / The Bovine Bakery, Petaluma (CA)

kitchen corner from the past

Recently my husband and I met a friend in Petaluma (CA) and together we had a bite at The Bovine Bakery. The store's window had this charming reconstruction and to the right, not visible in the photo, two oversize kitchen implements: a rolling pin and a whisk.

I find the sepia tone particularly suited to the image, turning it almost into a whimsical postcard from the past.

This is my contribution to edition #140 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Aparna of Stories from the Mahe Coast.

The photo was shot in color with my iPhone and then converted to sepia (Lightroom preset Sepia tone).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

cesto d’aglio / basket of garlic

July 22, 2014 | Simona

just harvested

Gently pulling out of the earth a head of garlic is one of the most enjoable garden tasks I know. It comes out all covered in dirt, but a good scrub and trim bring out the natural beauty of the bulb and also its distinctive aroma.

clean and ready for storage

Here's my stash of garlic: I am all set for the next few months. (I have already started using the newly harvested garlic, for example in the filling for my pierogi.)

When planting time comes, I will use a portion of the cloves to get next year's crop.

This is my contribution to edition #139 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu.

The photo was shot in color and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset B&W Look 2).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

Black and White Wednesday #137: la galleria di foto / the photo gallery

July 9, 2014 | Simona

IMG_1720 / handmade pasta semolina flour

my latest pasta adventure

Every day I find a reason for working on my kneading board, be it making pasta or bread or some other baked goods. Sometimes with floured hands I pick up my camera and take a photograph of what is on the table at that moment. Above is one such image. (Recipe details will follow soon.)

For now, here are the details of edition #137 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event.

Enjoy this week's show!

Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu: Watermelon

Cinzia of Cindystar: Figs in my garden

Aparna of Stories from the Mahe Coast: Celebrations in Chocolate

Sanhita of Pocketfull of Spices: Tangy Mango Chutney

Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook: Pistachio Shells, Terracotta and Wood

Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yums: Switzerland's National Symbol

Newrule

mother nature as jeweller

Simona of briciole: Raindrops like pearls

As of today, Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook is accepting submissions for edition #138 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event. You can send her your contribution to thewellseasonedcook AT yahoo DOT com.

I am sending her the top photo of this post, which was shot in color and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset BW Look 2).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

Thank you to all the contributors, to Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook who created the event and to Cinzia of Cindystar who is now organizing it.

I do hope I have not left anybody out of the roundup. If you find that, notwithstanding my best intentions, I actually have omitted a photo, please send me a note.

Arrivederci a presto

preparazione dei pierogi / making pierogi

June 29, 2014 | Simona

the magic of making things by hand

On a maple kneading board, with a maple rolling pin, I roll a soft dough.

With a metal scalloped cookie cutter I cut a circle of dough and with a metal teaspoon I deposit on it a dollop of filling.

With my hands, I make one half of the circle hug the filling and kiss the other half.

A pieróg is born.

This is my contribution to edition #136 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Cinzia.

The photo was shot in color and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset B&WLook 1).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

nursery / vivaio

June 6, 2014 | Simona

Seedlings everywhere

On a recent sunny Sunday, we visited Trinity River Farm. In April and May, the farm stand there sells plant starters, then from June on, fruit and vegetables. I browsed the greenhouses, looking for a few plants for my little garden. The wood frame and the stove gave the older greenhouse a warm charm…

peppers, tomatoes, basil and more

while a newer structure looked more businesslike.

I know myself and the microclimate where my garden is located well enough not to indulge in flights of fancy that include tomatoes, peppers, basil and other plants that need a lot of sun. Still, I did not leave empty handed: I chose a new plant of thyme, my favorite culinary herb, and two flower plants.

This is my contribution to edition #133 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu.

The photos were shot in color and then converted to sepia (Lightroom preset Sepia Tone).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

Black and White Wednesday #131: la galleria di foto / the photo gallery

May 28, 2014 | Simona

Kneeland Glen farm stand sign

I am doing research for an article on farm stands and I took the photo above during a site visit. Kneeland Glen Farm Stand is open year round, but typically farm stands in the US are seasonal and their season has started. Do you know the farm stands in your area? Maybe you can do a bit of research as well: you may discover some interesting places to visit this summer.

For now, plan on visiting the contributors to edition #131 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event.

Enjoy this week's show!

Siri of Cooking with Siri: Morning Cup of Tea

Haalo of Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once: Ceretto Winery

Rajani of My Kitchen Trials: I scream, Ice cream!

Cinzia of Cindystar: Spring Tropea onions

Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook: Pu-erh Chinese Brick Tea

Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yums: Lilac in Bloom

Sudha of Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous: Asparagus

Simona of briciole: Cheese curds

As of today, Cinzia of Cindystar is accepting submissions for edition #132 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event. You can send her your contribution to casacortella AT tin DOT it.

I am sending her the top photo of this post, which was shot in color and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset Split Tone 1). The gallery of images contributed to the event.

Thank you to all the contributors, to Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook who created the event and to Cinzia of Cindystar who is now organizing it.

I do hope I have not left anybody out of the roundup. If you find that, notwithstanding my best intentions, I actually have omitted a photo , please send me a note.

Arrivederci a presto

cagliata / cheese curds

May 22, 2014 | Simona

a quick peek under the cloth

When I make cheese, my kitchen acquires a luminous quality. The pearly white of milk and curds reminds me of Galadriel, the royal Elf, as protrayed by Cate Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings movies.

I took the photo while making Crescenza, a soft cheese I have been using most recently

This week, I have the honor of hosting Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook and now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar. Send your contribution at simosite AT mac DOT com, namely

your name
your blog's name
the image(s) (max 500 px wide, either orientation, max 150 kb file size)

You have until Wednesday, May 28 at 9 am Pacific time to do so. If you are unfamiliar with the event or need a reminder of the rules, you will find the details in this post (and in Italian here). Feel free to use the logo below. If you have a photo, but no blog, send it to me and I will include it in the roundup, which will be published on Wednesday, May 28.

Since messages can get lost, please, contact me again if you don't get an answer to your email or a comment on your blog within a couple of days of emailing me.

This is my contribution to edition #131 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by me, Simona of briciole.

The photo was shot in color and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset Split Tone 1).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

nasturzio all finestra / garden nasturtium at the window

May 16, 2014December 12, 2025 | Simona

edible window decoration

I am looking at the bench in our garden and my view is framed by the intrepid garden nasturtium that has come inside our living room through one of the windows. I have been watching it grow, wondering where it will go, fascinated by its tenacity.

Flowers, young leaves and seedpods of garden nasturtium are edible and I have featured them in some recipes: my Rattlesnake bean salad uses nasturtium-infused vinegar and my roasted cauliflower uses the pickled seedpods. I am planning to test additional creative uses for the plant in the coming weeks.

Above is a cluster of nasturtium flowers outside the house. I like their radiant color.

This is my contribution to edition #130 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu.

The top photo was shot in color with my iPhone and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset B&W Look 1).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

fragole / strawberries

May 11, 2014 | Simona

irresistible temptation

I am working on the next chapter of my pasta adventures, which will be out tomorrow or Tuesday and I am also writing a piece with recipe for my column on The Weiser Kitchen site on the subject of strawberries.

I took the photo above at the farmers' market recently. If it looks like I am falling into the strawberries is because that is what I wanted to do: dive into the berry goodness in front of me.

one ripe and one not

From color overflow to monochromatic sparseness. I took the photo above during my most recent visit to Redwood Roots Farm.

Do you need a few suggestions on how to use the ruby gems? Here is a whole menu:

This is my contribution to edition #129 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Cizia herself.

The photo was shot in color with my iPhone and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset B&W Look 3).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

mollica e crosta / crumb and crust

April 29, 2014 | Simona

look at this crumb!

It was hard to take photos during the bread-baking class at the San Francisco Baking Institute I attended last week. I was always focused on the task at hand and my hands were usually not in the ideal conditions to pick up the camera.

The quiter moment came at the end of each day, when we tasted our bread production. We mostly made baguettes using different methods and then evaluated the pros and cons of each in terms of look, smell and flavor. The photo above shows the beautiful crumb on a couple of baguettes made by our teacher. Their smell and flavor were as good as their look.

from my Instagram gallery

Color is necessary to show baguette's crust. I shaped and scored the two above.

You can see my gallery and follow me on Instagram here

This is my contribution to edition #127 of Black and White Wednesday – A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by Sreevalli of Ammaji Recipes.

The top photo was shot in color with my iPhone and then converted to black and white (Lightroom preset B&W Look 4).

The gallery of images contributed to the event.

briciole

Simona Carini serves recipes and Italian words related to food

Food photo

vetrina di pasticceria / bakery window

cesto d’aglio / basket of garlic

Black and White Wednesday #137: la galleria di foto / the photo gallery

preparazione dei pierogi / making pierogi

nursery / vivaio

Black and White Wednesday #131: la galleria di foto / the photo gallery

cagliata / cheese curds

nasturzio all finestra / garden nasturtium at the window

fragole / strawberries

mollica e crosta / crumb and crust