Dolcetto Confections

Saturday Snapshot | Me

2012-03-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

Soft Glazed Gingerbread Cookies

2012-03-07T08:06:00.000-05:00

You know how native New Yorkers can tell I’m a transplant? Because I’m not complaining about the lack of cold or snow during this abnormally warm winter. No, no it’s true – apparently northerners really do like the cold! They like freezing temperatures and sprinting from the flannel sheets to the shower because the floor is so cold. They like trudging to work in thick, puffy jackets and heavy snow boots, with only their watery eyes peeking out between their hats and scarves. They like the chapped lips and cheeks and dry hair and cracking skin. It toughens you up! Makes you a true New Yorker!

Truth be told, I think these 40 to 50 degree days are just peachy. I also happen to know that if New Yorkers weren’t complaining about the lack of snow, they would instead be complaining about the presence of the stuff. Last winter was rather brutal, and since no snow and mild temperatures mean comfortable commutes to work, let’s just call it even. Deal?

Whatever your stance might be on the current mildness of winter, I think we can all agree that such a time of year begs for an afternoon coffee break with a sweet, spicy gingerbread cookie. These are especially comforting during late afternoon as the harsh winter sun is just beginning to set and the chillier nighttime temperatures are inevitable.

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Project Life 2012 | Week Nine

2012-03-04T15:26:00.002-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Street Sign

2012-03-03T10:46:00.003-05:00

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Published | People

2012-02-29T14:44:00.000-05:00

Be sure to pick up a copy of the March 12, 2012 issue of People (!) where you can not only read about Kate Middleton and the Oscars, but also find Gail Simmons’ recipe for Pan Con Tomate (photographed and styled by me!) from her new book, Talking With My Mouth Full. Enjoy!

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Project Life 2012 | Week Eight

2012-02-26T11:33:00.001-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Bar at Daniel

2012-02-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

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My Portfolio

2012-02-24T15:23:00.000-05:00

In my reading and research on photography, one piece of adivce I see repeatedly is to start your professional portfolio as soon as possible. It's not that I ignored this advice, but rather felt I was only in the beginning stages of piecing my portfolio together. And then I received three requests for my portfolio in two weeks. Yikes!

After some intense selecting, sorting, and flipping through old magazines, I am happy to announce the launch of www.allisonveinote.com, which will serve a my photography and food styling portfolio. I hope you will stop by and find something inspiring!

"Talking With My Mouth Full" Book Party

2012-02-23T19:47:00.003-05:00

This past Tuesday was rather exciting as my amazing boss, Gail Simmons, published her very first book, “Talking With My Mouth Full”! Only a year ago, she was in the very beginning stages of writing; since then there were many more hours of writing, tons of editing, recipe testing, shooting the book cover, selecting the jacket design, and planning a book tour. It was an incredible process to observe and I feel fortunate to have played a very small part in it all.

Tuesday night, FOOD & WINE and Essie threw Gail a book party at Beauty & Essex. It was the party every girl dreams of hosting just once in her life and nothing short of fabulous. The cozy space at Beauty & Essex featured accents inspired by the Essie Spring 2012 colors. Even the cocktails were mixed, muddled, shaken, and stirred with these colors in mind!

The evening would not have been complete without a fantastic guest list, including Andy Cohen, Padma Laksmi, Dannielle Kyrillos, Nigel Parry, Melanie Dunea, Dorie Greenspan, Marcy Blum, Mindy Fox, and Amy Atlas (I was SO excited to meet her!), among many others. We all spent the evening toasting to Gail’s success – present and future – and she could not have been a more gracious hostess. Be sure to order your copy of Gail’s book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Check out more photos from the party here.

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Project Life 2012 | Week Seven

2012-02-19T12:30:00.001-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Roberta's Pizza

2012-02-18T10:03:00.000-05:00

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Grapefruit & Brown Sugar Soda

2012-02-15T08:35:00.000-05:00

So, have you tried making Brown Sugar Broiled Grapefruit yet? If so, you might have faced the same dilemma as me, looking down at the remaining juices of the simple dessert, wondering what to do next. If it was only grapefruit, the answer would be simple: Squeeze the remaining juices into a glass, lift to your lips, and enjoy. But since the grapefruit juices are now combined with the lush flavors of brown sugar, drinking the residual syrup somehow just seems so potentially overpoweringly sweet. Not to fear - a splash of fizzy seltzer water easily transforms this grapefruit-brown sugar syrup into a refreshing soda! Cute straw optional, but recommended.

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Pretty Paper | Valentine's Day 2012

2012-02-14T14:10:00.000-05:00

Listening to a co-worker describe her five year-old's Valentine's Day morning reminded me exactly why I still love celebrating this sweet holiday. The preparation of Valentines to distribute at school, a special breakfast and little gift from mom and dad, a dressy outfit, wondering who will ask you to be their Valentine. The innocence and excitement of love – long before Valentine's Day meant showy bouquets of balloons and roses – is still why I so enjoy the day.

When I was old enough to handle glue and scissors on my own, without too much worry from my parents, I started the tradition of hand-making my Valentines. This year, seeking that same satisfaction of creating and distributing Valentines, I decided to forgo the usual store-bought, albeit beautiful, cards and design my own. Each note was enclosed in a beautiful, peony-pink envelope and then hand-addressed in a scripty lettering.

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Brown Sugar Broiled Grapefruit

2012-02-13T13:33:00.000-05:00

Summer desserts are so simple – a handful of fresh berries from the farmer’s market is usually all it takes to satisfy my sweet tooth. On the other hand, winter fruits are harder to so readily consume, therefore winter desserts are usually heartier and more time consuming to create.

But sometimes I want a dessert on a blustery winter’s night that feels just as simple as reaching for that handful of summer berries. Pink grapefruit is one of my favorite fruits, a bright, fresh taste and smell to cheer up the long winter months. Sprinkling just a bit of brown sugar on top and then placing under the broiler yields a delicious, warming dessert in less than five minutes.

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Project Life 2012 | Week Six + Day in the Life

2012-02-12T16:48:00.001-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Lazzaroni Amaretti Cookies

2012-02-11T10:31:00.001-05:00

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Project Life 2012 | Week Five

2012-02-05T10:33:00.001-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Lemons in a Bowl

2012-02-04T08:29:00.001-05:00

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Published | Extraordinary Health

2012-01-30T15:20:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out the current issue of Extraordinary Health, which features my photo of Gail Simmons' Israeli Cous Cous with Roasted Organic Chicken, Marinated Eggplant, Peppers & Onions recipe. It is a beautiful, delicious winter dish!

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Project Life 2012 | Week Four

2012-01-29T11:31:00.003-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Onions

2012-01-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

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Six Years Together

2012-01-27T10:02:00.000-05:00

I love this photo of Mike and me. Technically, the photo is not perfect – rather it is out of focus and blurry. But it captures a moment of silliness, with me likely trying to steal a kiss and him trying to not smile. And while better photos of us exist – posed, smiling, beautiful backgrounds – this one especially reminds me how special our relationship really is.

Much like this photo, life itself can get blurry or a bit out of focus from time to time, but Mike always makes me smile and makes me stronger than I could ever be on my own. And I will forever be trying to steal one extra kiss.

Mike, I am so glad I met you six years ago. I love you.

Project Life 2012 | Week Three

2012-01-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

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Saturday Snapshot | Bank of America Tower

2012-01-21T10:10:00.000-05:00

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S'More Bakery

2012-01-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

As I closed out 2011, I found a few collections of photographs which I meant to post during the year and, for whatever reason, simply forgot. One of the forgotten collections was these photos from an October trip to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. Among the many vendors was S’More Bakery who was serving up their signature S’moregasm - two homemade cinnamon-sugar graham crackers, one smeared with chocolate, sandwiching a toasted-on-spot homemade marshmallow. The best part of camping enjoyed overlooking the Manhattan skyline - sign me up!

The S’moregasm was just as delicious as it looks - my favorite dessert, made from scratch, and all I had to do was enjoy every bite! While Smorgasburg has closed for the winter months, you can still check out S’More Bakery on select weekends at SmorgasBrewery at Brooklyn Brewery.

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