Valentina

A Good Match | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

27 Feb 2017 2 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #2017Greenery, #ColorComboWithGreen, #Greenery, #https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/a-good-match/, #Pantone2017Colors, #PantoneGreenery, #WordPressPhotChallengeAGoodMatch

The color of this year is Greenery, says Pantone, Institute of Colors.
Greenery includes green foliage, vegetation, undergrowth, underbrush, plant life, flora, herbs and green vegetables. Often people associate colors with holidays. It’s OK to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day, but not any other time, many people think this way. The other day, I heard a friend saying she would feel a potted plant if she wore green. OK, green is not her color and many feel the same. It’s hard to dispel this myth, when it is inculcated in people’s mind that green clashes with their skin tone, corroborated by expressions such as “green with envy”- all these beliefs contribute to keep green color away from the wardrobe. Green is a good match to many colors and I will prove it.

First, I suggest not to wear green around the face if it feels that uncomfortable, wear it at the bottom or as accessories.
Second, mixing colors is an art and a fun art. If you really want to mix your own green and create original combinations, just remember that green is a secondary color made with blue and yellow. By introducing some yellow into green, the result is avocado and by adding more of the blue to the yellow the result is turquoise. Avocado and turquoise are good match with silver, cream, gold, black, brown and even rust.

I have composed two combinations, one for spring-summer and one for fall season. Both combinations are easy to wear, casual-elegant and classy, perfect to leisure around or for work.
Don’t tell me green is a difficult color, these are a good match anyone can wear.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

Spring-Summer: Turquoise – Avocado – Beige

In the above composition:
Turquoise Shirt – Reborn Collection Green Garden
Avocado Pants – Paul Smith Green Avocado Cotton Blend Pants
Avocado Bag – http://www.poshmark.com
Wedge Sandals – Badgley Mischka Women Cashet-Ii
Suede Wedges – Soludos – Saks Fifth Avenue

Fall: Green – Rust – Brown

In the above composition:
Moto Jacket by Veronica Beard – https://www.veronicabeard.com/stevie-fringe-moto-jacket.html
Knit cardigan by ModCloth – https://www.modcloth.com
H&M Suede Dark Green Pants
Leopard Scarf – http://www.scarfand.com/scarfands-crinkled-leopard-infinity-scarf/?gclid=CKic2MqeqtICFYhsfgodmNg
Shoes by Monroe&Main – Heelcap Oxford
Dolce&Gabbana Animal Print Bag – http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp

Still afraid of green? Don’t be, I am here to convince you of the contrary. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

I am Valentina, a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style has surrounded me since the very beginning of my life. My many years of experience in design business led me to offer consultations in both fashion and interiors, so much so that I can remodel homes as well as personal images. I am passionate about colors and I encourage my clients to express their individual style in their homes and with the clothes they wear. I am the author of three books, one of which is a book on color theory: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Walking Fashionable | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

17 Feb 2017 4 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #CaliforniaFashion, #DonalJPlinerShoes, #ElegantMenShoes, #ManFashion, #ManShoes

Welcome to my Fashion Friday episode.
My parents and their siblings were in their late teens when WWII broke out. After the liberation by the hands of American troupes, the entire Europe fell in love with everything American, products, fashion, cars, food and English language took over the world. Roll time forward, Italy, many years later, there I was watching American films with my fashionable aunts who, like everybody else in Italy, loved Hollywood. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

We admired the class of American actresses, dressed impeccably, hats & gloves, their hair always in place, nails always painted red and that infamous cigarette holder forever between their red lips. They exploded elegance with body language, through their clothes and in the expressions they used. Never, I heard blasphemy and vulgar words out of their mouth. The actors were not far behind, charming in their manners and so well-groomed. I believe, back then, people centered life around looking perfect in every moment of the day; even homes showed in films, often set in California, were so elegantly decorated.

Roll time again, forward it many more years later, I moved from Italy, now living in California. I came here and didn’t find all that elegance I saw in American films. California is still under the influence of hippies and bohemian free people, casual is the style. There is nothing wrong with casual, but when being casual borders untidiness, then it’s a different story, we can call it slovenly, or lack of self-respect. At times, I feel people go out in their pajamas and don’t even bother to wash or dress. Californians live in flip-flops and sweat suits every day. Stores sell cheap merchandise with high price, fashion choices are awful for both men and women.

Hollywood today,…..well…. it is not an exemplary place, it’s only a platform for venom and vulgarity.

One day, I was walking in a posh area, elegant stores all around and very casual people walking in the streets. Something caught my eyes. Returned on my steps and saw original men shoes artistically displayed in the window. It was the store of Donald J. Pliner. I asked a woman working there, if she knew who is the typical client buying these shoes. She couldn’t say, probably thought I was a weirdo. I asked for permission to take photos and left, irritated by her lack of interest.

(Photos taken inside the store Donald J. Pliner -https://www.donaldjpliner.com)

Shoes tell a lot about us. It’s encouraging to know someone still cares for personal image. I like to understand where are the men wearing these shoes, because out there, feet are wrapped in UGLY.
Thank you Donald J. Pliner for designing for men who care to look good for themselves first. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

I am Valentina, a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style has surrounded me since the very beginning of my life. My many years of experience in design business led me to offer consultations in both fashion and interiors, so much so that I can remodel homes as well as personal images. I am passionate about colors and I encourage my clients to express their individual style in their homes and with the clothes they wear. I am the author of three books, one of which is a book on color theory: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Playing In Green | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

09 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #2017ColorOfTheYear, #2017PantoneGreen, #GreenColorPalette, #PantoneColors, #PantoneGreenery

Pantone says Green is 2017 color of the year. How many things does green represent?
Green: color of some currencies.
Green: color of grass.
Green: color of leaves.
Green: color of stones such as emerald, or granite.
Green: color of tea.

Green represents peace and relaxation.
The green street light tells us to go, but a green light in the bedroom induces sleep and the green color in the bath chromotherapy let us relax.
In the ocean, a green water patch indicates that below there are live algae feeding from the sea nutrients.

Green is not one of the colors people wear well.
In the home, green walls at night look muddy, at times even greyish and depressing.
Green furniture look outdated, unless we give some strong power to the green.

I have composed a living room with colors which will boost the power of green.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

Source of items in my board
Orange Sofa: http://www.devineleathercare.com.au/?attachment_id=327
Caramel Pillows: https://www.zazzle.com/caramel+square+pillows
Yellow Rose Pillow: Valentina Interiors & Designs

Of course, any room can be dressed with these vibrant and full of life colors, even office spaces. The idea is to play with the green and to make it come alive. I don’t see live plants in homes anymore. Live plants clean up the air, add oxygen in the home and decorate very well.

I am not afraid to combine green with colors others ignore, they look dynamic and I love them. Any questions on green? I am here at your service. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in interior and exterior color analysis, kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Knowing How To Do It | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

07 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BuiltInsDesign, #DesigningOnline, #FamilyRoomColors, #FamilyRoomDesign, #FamilyRoomLayout, #FurnitureDesign

We are all online, we read each other, we share content of people we like, we make friends, being online has become a new home for most us and the world is in our pocket. Years ago, I decided to make my time spent online a profitable time by offering consultations, design concepts, drawings and color solutions, all online services without moving one inch from my office.

This is a family room with a seating arrangement in a stairs void. Client told me that people feel as if they fall into the stairs void when sitting there. The void brings a cold draft in the room, thus nobody ever sits there. A small digital piano takes a space on that cold, naked wall and it needs something to embrace it. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Above and below: Seating into the void of stairs)

My solution is to close the wall up to a certain point leaving a large circular opening with a decorative iron design, which would allow light to spill in the stairway, would get rid of the draft and would allow people to feel more protected when sitting in that area. For the small piano, I planned a shelving unit enclosed between two flat fluted pilasters faux painted in silver-gold mix and a beautiful new lighting effect.

(Above: Concept for the wall with seating, digital piano and open shelving)

The other wall hosts a lonely, dark, outdated fireplace stuck in the middle of the wall with a fake window on the right side covered with a curtain.

With my design concept, I created a built-in unit made of dark and light wood, incorporating TV, fireplace, music and storage space. Woodworkers in the city where client lives will fabricate it. The unit will be the focal point of the room, whether the fire is on or not and will be visible from any angle of the downstairs open space lay-out.

(Above and below: Concept drawings for wall with built-in unit, fireplace, TV and storage)

Furniture of the family room will remain as it is. My involvement in the remaking of the room with a new concept was limited to designing two walls and producing a couple color palettes, both of which will create a great new atmosphere for the space. Hopefully, when the two walls will be completed, client will feel encouraged to change the rest of the room décor.

It didn’t take me long to create the new concept. It’s all about knowing how to do it through experience, love for the work and understanding client’s desires. The photos of the existing conditions and a few Skype conversations with the client told me the story. I hope to receive photos of the completed work.

Anything is possible these days when working online, from designing kitchens and baths to create color palettes. The world is smaller and work doesn’t have to be hard.
It’s all about knowing how to do it and I have the solution for any of your design challenges. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com
Copyright © 2017 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola has been a lifetime designer in fashion and interiors. Her extensive knowledge of colors and materials led her in both directions successfully. She is well-know for designing custom furniture. She cares to make spacious and functional pieces, but she doesn’t forget to introduce the element of surprise, sinuous lines, attractive shapes and colors in the style fit for each of her special clients. She is the author of ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors. Check out her books on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Feet In Short Trunks | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

04 Feb 2017 2 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #AnkleBoots, #HowToWearAnkleBoots, #ShoesFashion, #ShortBoots

Welcome to a new episode of my Friday Fashion.
Shoes are object d’art, symbol of status, taste and tradition. Shoes are the world’s favorite fetish. Women collect shoes as treasures and show them off in any occasion. Nowhere in world, but in America I have seen women at the cash register with a shopping cart filled with shoes. As soon as I learned the art of filling my closets with shoes, it was the end of me believing that a couple of pair of shoes for each season was sufficient. Now, I am addicted to shoes and created a storage problem, just like every woman I know. Buying shoes for the sheer pleasure of buying them is fun and it helps the economy, but do we know what style will complement our legs and make them look perfect?
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

In the Italian language, ankle boots are called “tronchetti”, translated in English become short logs or trunks, OK, ankle boots. You see, knowing the etymology of a word, will help us decide, take an action, or understand a situation. If a shoe looks like a short trunk or log, it means it is chunky, stout, stocky and only a slender leg can wear this type of ankle boot, otherwise the leg will look like a stump.

There are tricks of the trade to fool the eyes.
1. With shapely legs is best to wear a very dark stocking to slim down the legs, or wear pants that go just a little beyond the edge of the boot, without covering all the details.
2. For someone with shapely legs, the skirt must be short, from above the knees or higher to elongate the legs.
3. A short person with shapely legs should wear only long pants with this type of short trunk boots and never wear a long skirt and ankle boots together.

Red is not a color for holidays only, red tomatoes grow in the middle of summer and red poppies bloom in spring and summer. Wear red in the summer, when a boost of energy is needed or when you want to make a statement.

Pied-de-Poule or houndstooth is a woven pattern of textile clothing almost similar to the barnyard. To think that this pattern is only good to wear with a black & white outfit is a mistake. Wear it with any solid colors you like, no patterns and let the houndstooth shoes make a statement. The red apple in my photo is suggestive of a color.

Need help with your wardrobe this year? Contact me any time, I am ready for a new adventure. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. She is passionate about colors and encourages her clients to express their individual style in their homes and with the clothes they wear. To better help people all over the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Repurpose | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

02 Feb 2017 4 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #Recycling, #Repurpose, #Reuse, #WordPressPhotoChallengeRepurpose

“Those who know how to make things with hands will survive” ~ often said my grandmother, who lived through two great wars and economic depressions. She embedded in us kids her way to save everything and made it a concept for a life.
To reuse and repurpose is a daily practice for me, in fact, my neighbors thinks I come from Mars for being so extremely diligent in saving the environment.

Other than papers and a few bottles, my garbage bins are always almost empty. I dry my laundry in the wind and repurpose as trash bags those plastic bags for fruit-vegetables from grocery shops. Leftover food become a new specialty. Consumed towels get repurposed into dust rags. Papers written on one side are reused as scrap paper. I repurpose clothes as new creations, save buttons from old clothes and incorporate them in something else new. Scarves and shawls become covers for side tables, the list goes on and on.
I am a true repurpose and recycle Queen, perhaps I should start teaching classes.

The object in the photo below was a candle holder with glass beads. A little knowledge of Arduino technology turned it into a LED light for the garden. The night is no longer dark in that area of the garden.

lamp
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

This was in response to WordPress weekly photo challenge: Repurpose

Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

It’s my hope that through my writing and my stories I am enriching your aesthetic sensibility towards design, style and inspiring you to live in beauty. I have loved my profession as an interior-fashion designer since 1990. I am here ready to offer consultations on-line if you need. Check out my latest book on the subject colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Graceful | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

25 Jan 2017 4 Comments

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #Graceful, #https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/graceful, #PouringWines, #PugliaFood, #PugliaTravel, #WordPressPhotoChallengeGraceful

What do you do when outside is cold, damp and lonely? You go inside a family owned restaurant and find comfort and warmth in food. That night we did just that. The day had been relatively warm, a sudden drop of temperature was not expected for the night, but the prospect of being received in a restaurant built in 1900 with the tufa stone was too exciting to miss it. Gracefully, we were seated in a small room reserved just for us. The light yellow colored walls, the natural texture of the exposed tufa stone and the sparse décor were an invitation to feel at home.
I had no doubt food was going to be exceptional. Here, under the curved vaulted ceiling, nothing mattered that night. (Click on the photo to view it larger).

I couldn’t help noticing Giuseppe, the waiter pouring our wines with grace. He was elegant, attentive not to spill even a drop on the tablecloth of that precious wine, pouring from the left of the guests as the Bon-Ton requires, the seriousness of his motion, all said to me: “Here, you will be treated with class and grace“.
In my capture, Giuseppe looks totally absorbed in his task. Pouring wines is an art of its own, it requires knowledge, elegant manners, subtle motions and grace.

Wine represents the labour of many people and nature’s generosity, when it wants to be generous. The gracefulness of the people of Puglia towards food and wines tells how much respect they have for the land. Preparation of food is sacred, eating happy food prepared with love keeps people healthy.
Knowing that someone will take care of us, offering the best food they can prepare in one night it is grace to me.
The guests in that trip to Puglia are still talking about that night. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinaexpressions.com/trips-to-puglia-2/

As a writer and cultural promoter of Puglia, my native land, it is my intention to let readers feel and experience a new ”wheel of emotions”. I want to encourage them to visit areas of Italy not beaten by massive tourism and through stories of art, architecture, fashion, food-wines, shopping, I want them to create their special adventures and live it up in Puglia! Check out my books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Ambiance | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

19 Jan 2017 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #Ambiance, #BohemianStyle, #VenetianBlownGlass, #VenetianDécor, #VenetianHomeDecor, #WarmColors, #WordPressPhotoChallengeAmbience, https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/ambience/

Can we define “Ambiance” as the character and atmosphere of a place? We certainly can. It all starts with the front door, your business card. People visiting your home will know what’s inside by the way the front door greets them. Is the front door landing clean, are plants manicured, is the landing well-lit, is there a functioning doorbell or door knocker, is there a welcoming bench outside the door, is the pathway leading to the front door curvy or straight, is the landscape matching the exterior colors of the home? These are some of the questions we should answer to give a good first impression and to create a positive aura around the home. Inside the home, your spirit should be noticeable as soon as one steps in. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

This is what to do if you are creating your ambiance, or need inspiration. The first thing is to compose a visual board (photo above) with pictures of images that strike your fancy. Once you have them all together, you can edit the composition by subtracting or adding the way you like. The board will help to visualize colors, textures, natural material, finishes, lines, shapes and where the light should hit to create feelings, backdrop, or set the tone for a dreamy ambiance.

My inspiration for my living room ambiance came from a hand-made golden Venetian wine set I bought centuries ago in Venice, Italy. That wine set, in my imagination, called for capricious living room items, not too modern and not too traditional either, with a bit of fantasy, showing opulence and warmth. In Venetian interiors is common to find some mixed items from Asian and European countries, as wealthy Venice of the 1700s (The Serenissima) traded with the Orient and the Middle East.

Music is a big part of my life. I wanted a miniature musical instrument on my entry door that played music every time I opened the door. I found a small harp made in Scotland. Now, a sweet sound welcomes people when they come to my house.

Continuing with music, Venice and Bohème theme, I wanted a lyre side table for the sofa in the style of Biedermeier. I found something similar and contemporary, which I keep illuminated from the bottom and from the top. The slipper chair next to it is a real treasure, it’s a Jacobean style. It came from an antique store in the Gold Country in California, the owner didn’t know its value. I re-upholstered with mystical fabric, I thought music and constellation play the same tune.

To find a Venetian chair was a challenge, but not for long. I found a chair with the right shape and price, but beauty wasn’t there. A skillful painter, using only Chartreuse and gold paint, turned the chair into a Venetian style. Re-upholstered with a double face fabric: Chartreuse color fabric with Venetian shoes printed on, paired with a purple-chartreuse polka dots fabric, made this chair an original, whimsical Venetian idea. It is now in my reading, breakfast corner.

(Above: reading-breakfast corner)

From these few items, creating the ambiance I was looking for, was easy. The aubergine wall is dark and sexy. A colorful lamp découpaged with Florentine fabric details sits on a glass top with an Italian amphora underneath, which I keep illuminated inside and now fills an empty corner. This colorful lamp adds mystery to the wall, which at night picks up different tones according to the lights I turn on and what I want to illuminate.

Warm colors, candlelight, posh pillows, glass accessories and mirrors reflecting light, all make the perfect Venetian-Bohemian style space for me. Does this style exist? Who cares, it exists in my fantasy. ❤️ ❤️❤️

As I said earlier, light has an important role when creating ambiance. In spaces where no task is required, I like to create suffuse lighting effects coming from any corner even from inconspicuous places such as behind furniture.

The home is your cocoon, create the ambiance that makes your soul sing. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian designer in business since 1990, interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. She is always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces she designs. Colors are the focus of her business today, changing people’s energy and life force just by introducing them to colors they would have never imagined. Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California featured her work. She appeared on RAI, National Italian T.V., nonetheless her story continues. Find copies of her book on colors ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors and all her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Arts of Puglia: Stringing A Chair | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

11 Jan 2017 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #HowToStringStrawChairs, #PugliaArtsandCraft, #PugliaStyleDecor, #PugliaStyleInterior, #StrawChairs, #ThonetChair14

Who has not owned a Thonet chair and not knowing it? Michel Thonet was born in Vienna in 1796 and became a well-known master ébénist under the rich Austro-Hungarian Empire. Thonet experimented a technical way to bend wood and succeeded by using warm steam to bend it to his liking, then placed the shapes created in steel molds to dry. Following the excellent results and high demand, in 1860 Thonet deposited his trademark and the Nᴼ14 chair, the most famous of his collection was born.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Thonet chairs Nᴼ 14)

Every home, café, bistro and restaurant in Europe filled their rooms with Thonet chairs. The flexibility and resistance of this chair Nᴼ 14 became so popular through the Belle Époque and every era from then up to now.

Change country, travel down to Italy, same era, in the then poor agricultural region of Puglia. Thonet chairs were popular in well-to-do Italian households, I remember them in my family, but in the countryside and farmer’s families the straw chairs, practical, sturdy and durable, were the second-best choice. People who learn the art of stringing chairs made a good living. Necessity is the mother of invention. (Prices of most straw chairs here: http://www.lasediasrl.it/it/search/1/Paglia.html)

Many centuries later, while advanced countries push innovative recycle programs, down in Puglia, no longer a poor region, recycling is nothing new and doesn’t need to be created. Many crafts considered “ancient” are still in use in Puglia, a few people continue the art of stringing and weaving chairs, as we have mastered the art of reuse (I say we, because I am from there and I am one who reuse everything). We learn at a young age to fix broken items and not to throw them away in the land.

Poli Gaetano from the town of Rutigliano strings chairs since he was a boy. In the video, he speaks Italian, but watch his gestures, they are strong, decisive and precise to make sure each chair he fixes will live for long time. In 20-25 minutes a damaged straw chair returns brand new. His father was in that line of work and fed a family of seven. Gaetano is now over 70 years old passed the trade to his son.

Straw and cane chairs are suitable for a country décor, especially in the rustic Puglia style, as well as in Tuscan and French style décor. Straw or cane chairs are perfect in covered patios, tea rooms, breakfast nooks, conservatories, bedrooms, or anywhere extra chairs are needed.

(Photo above: Interior of Trullo Sovrano – Wikimedia Commons)

In the Egyptian style patio I decorated sometimes ago, I substituted the straw with upholstered fabric panels treated with blueprint technique.

In a French style boudoir, the same style chair became red and upholstered with traditional striped fabric.

Ciao, Valentina
https://valentinaexpressions.com/trips-to-puglia-2/

As an Italian designer and true to my origins, I am well-known to bring originality to people’s homes, but that’s not where I stop and any situation is a perfect opportunity to design something out of the ordinary. Check out my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Rice Possibilities | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

10 Jan 2017 2 Comments

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #ItalianFood, #RiceSpecialities, #Risotto, #RisottoMuffins, #SaffronRisotto, #VegetarianFood

(Click on each photo to view it larger).

“Rice borns in water and dies in wine”. I wrote in my first book: ©Come Mia Nonna – A Return To Simplicity. Let’s start the year with something delicious: Saffron Risotto.

Risotto is a staple food for most of us Italians. It is not a fancy specialty as it might be in foreign countries. Arborio or Cannaroli type of rice, stubby, high starch content, is the type of rice needed to get the right creaminess in a risotto. Toast it in olive oil and a dollop of butter, softens with white wine, add all the ingredients and cook it slowly by adding a few ladles of warm broth at a time until juices are consumed, and rice is cooked to a perfect cream. Some people make it sound so difficult, instead it is the easiest food to prepare in 20 minutes or less. I like to add saffron to get a wonderful a yellow color.

Improvising many other dishes with leftover food from the simple risotto, it’s easy and the possibilities are endless: muffins, rice frittata, rice ramekins, rice torte, just to name a few. They are ideal for parties, make them fresh, don’t serve leftover food to your guests..

Risotto with mushroom: Cook the rice as mentioned above. In a skillet cook the mushroom. At high heat and 1/2 glass of water cook mushrooms only to let water out, then discard it, it would be bitter if you use that liquid. Add garlic and ginger in olive oil, bring the mushroom to the skillet, let them saute’ and marry together about 10 minutes, season with salt, pepper and parsley. Serve with the risotto mixed in or as two separate entity as in my photo (above).

Risotto muffins with asparagus. Cook the rice as mentioned above, or if you like to take short cuts use the Mahatma Yellow Rice. It’s not the same thing as making your own risotto, but it saves time, 10 minutes and it is ready. While this is going, prepare asparagus as you like. I brush them with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, then grill them. After the rice is done, cut the asparagus in small pieces, mix in the rice, add one egg and Parmigiano cheese, fill a non-stick muffin pan with this mixture, sprinkle Parmigiano cheese on top and bake at 375ᴼF until golden brown. Serve on a bed of mixed greens as in my photo (below).

Risotto Muffins with veggie and meat. Mix in the risotto some leftover veggie, ground meat, one egg, spices, season to your liking, fill paper cup cakes, drop them in the muffin pan and get a new taste. Bake at 375ᴼF until golden brown. (Photo below).

Risotto Squash Ramekins (single portions). In the oven, roast a butternut squash seasoned with salt, pepper, thyme, sage and olive oil. When done, scrape the pulp off the squash shell and mix it with the risotto. Butter and fill ramekins with the mixture, sprinkle Parmigiano cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake at 375ᴼF until golden at the top. (Photo below).

Remember, all the ingredients are already cooked, it is only matter of marrying them together the second time when you have leftovers. Give a leftover an intriguing new taste. This is very easy, promise! Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is the designer who cooks. She has a deep interest in food that led her as an autodidact in the studies of food in history, natural remedies, nutrition, well-being and learning food of the world. She wrote two books on Italian regional cuisine and one book on color theory, in which she included one recipe for each color. Robert Taitano, a friend and business associate of http://www.wine-fi.com says: “Valentina – an International Professional Interior Designer is now giving you an opportunity to redesign your palate”. Get your copy of Valentina’s books on
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