candy

Test Shoot With Janine Kalesis and Penelope Bouklas

2024 started off with a bang! I collaborated with food stylist Janine Kalesis and prop stylist Penelope Bouklas to create these vibrant scenes incorporating cannabis and some indulgent food. Each environment had a color scheme which was complimented with accent props sourced by Penelope. Each food component was styled and created by Janine. This was a super team!! We were able to work around the scenes and capture all sorts of variations, crops, and angles. Can’t wait till the next one.

Check Instagram for more shots from the shoot!

@perrettiphoto

@foodstylistnewyorkcity

@penelope_props

Holiday Recipe: Hot Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

12 ounces dark chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
TOPPINGS: Crushed candy canes or Hershey's cocoa powder

Directions

 Place all ingredients in a double boiler and stir until chocolate is melted. Whisk works well.
    Allow the mixture to cool. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerator for about 2-3 hours until firm.
    Using a cookie scoop, scoop the chocolate mixture ( approx. 1 inch scoops) and roll into a ball. Then with your choice of topping roll in that. Immediately place each ball onto a square of plastic wrap.

For Gifting: Wrap up each ball with plastic wrap to seal.  Place balls in a freezer bag and freeze until ready to use.

To Make Hot Chocolate: 1 cup of milk into a microwave-safe mug (or in saucepan to heat). Carefully drop two unwrapped hot chocolate truffles into the milk. Stir for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the truffles dissolve into the milk. Serve warm!

Wine Choice: Merlot



Memorial Day Weekend Recovery!

What a crazy, jam packed, long, restful weekend I had! We started by seeing the new movie Mad Max which I highly recommend. Also ordering the pretzel bites with cheese (that took me way back). I continued the weekend by cooking with Joe making a huge tray of lasagna for a really fun personal project I’ve been working on. I can’t say anything yet because I’m still working through it and don’t want to spoil any of the fun! Among the BBQ’in, drinking frenzy I managed to make some of my favorite eggplant.

It’s good because it’s so darn easy. For me eggplant is healthy candy. I could eat it all day anyway. If there’s one way though I would cook it for the rest of my life it would be pan seared with breadcrumbs. Just slice the eggplant about 1/2in thick or thinner and let rest on some paper towels for 20min. While the eggplant is resting scramble 1-2 eggs in a bowl and pour italian breadcrumbs in another bowl. Heat a all clad skillet with vegetable oil until it’s hot! Take a fork a dip the slice of eggplant in the egg than into the breadcrumbs till both sides are covered. TIP: You can add an extra step and do flour between the bread crumbs to add extra flavor and crunch. Repeat the step until you fit enough eggplant flat in the pan and cook each side until browned. Remove the slices from the pan and drain on a brown bag. Once they have cooled and the extra oil has seeped out enjoy a crunchy slice of goodness :)