Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Hang 'em up!


Dishes do double duty (say that ten times fast!) when artfully arranged on a wall. Here, we're showcasing L'Orangerie, a Spring-time favorite of lush green ferns and botanicals. 

Where's the orange?! 

Allow us to explain: l'orangerie is a French term used for green house. Historically, an orangery was built specifically for orange trees, but over time the word has become more generalized and is now used to described a green house of any variety. Also, we think it's pretty.

Seventh Annual Tablescape Contest

Dear Friends,

It's almost Summer, which means it's time for Rosanna's seventh annual Tablescape Contest! This year's theme is, "Come over, I'm making food!"

Not all get-togethers are carefully executed events, organized to the last detail. Sometimes the best reasons to gather family and friends is for game night, a BBQ, or simply because you'd love to see some of your favorite people. How do you entertain and prepare for guests when you call them up and say, "What are you doing tomorrow/this weekend/tonight? I'm making food!"

Use your creativity and remember that off-the-cuff entertaining doesn't always take place indoors! Incorporating Rosanna pieces is encouraged but not required, and please be sure to share your story behind your photo. I will choose winners personally, so join in for your chance to win a $500 Rosanna gift certificate, and to be featured on Rosanna's Table Talk blog.

Get Setting!
Our Seventh Annual Tablescape Contest will start on June 1st, 2013 and end on August 31st, 2013. Winners will be announced shortly after. For a little inspiration, take a look at the photographs from our last few contests:


The Prizes
1st Place: $500 Rosanna gift certificate
2nd Place: $200 Rosanna gift certificate
3rd Place: $100 Rosanna gift certificate

Official Rules
1. Anyone with a passion for Rosanna-ware and tablescape design is welcome to compete, regardless of age.
2. Set the table for at least two. No actual food or Rosanna products are required.
3. Contest begins on June 1st, 2013 at 12:00 AM PST and ends August 31st, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST.
4. Submit up to 2 photos of your tablescape and the story behind each design. Digital submissions must come as jpegs, around 4x5 inches, no less than 72 ppi and no more than 180 ppi.
5. When entering, make sure to include your name, city, and an email or phone number where we can reach you. We respect your privacy and will not give out any of your information.
6. Photos in hard copy will not be returned.
7. Rosanna Inc. reserves the right to use and/or publish photos of your tablescape submissions however we see fit. Photos may be published on social media sites. Publishing does not necessarily constitute a winning entry. By submitting your photo, you agree to these terms.
8. Please email all entries to info@rosannainc.com
9. Mailed entries should be sent to:
    Rosanna Inc.
    Attn: Tablescape Contest
    6755 East Marginal Way South
    Building B
    Seattle, WA, 98108

Good luck!


Warmly,


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Pasta Ortolano (Greengrocer-Style Pasta)


italian countrysideitalian countryside


Pasta Ortolano is the quintessential spring pasta, using the best of the fresh produce available in early spring. It is inspired by my love of the Italian countryside and the bounty of vegetables available. The dish offers a delightful mixture of textures: velvety wilted spinach, slightly crisp asparagus, and firm spring peas that burst upon the tongue. The flavors are light and distinctly green. This is a very fresh-tasting dish that is easy to eat and makes you feel very healthy after you eat it. Serve with Prosecco, a sparkling white wine from Italy.

cheese

SERVES 4

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if necessary
4 ounces spinach, washed and chopped into 3-inch pieces
1 pound very thin asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch lengths
1/2 cup shelled spring peas or frozen baby peas
1 clove garlic, minced
Sea salt
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 pound dried penne rigate pasta, preferably De Cecco brand
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, in one piece for grating

1. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the spinach, asparagus, peas, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt and saute, stirring constantly, until the spinach is wilted and the asparagus and peas are tend but not mushy, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the wine and cook until it has almost evaporated, about 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente (with a little give), 12 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander.

3. Put half of the vegetable mixture in the pasta pot, then return the pasta to the pot and top with the remaining vegetable mixture. Toss to combine the pasta and vegetables, adding salt to taste if necessary. Add a drizzle of oil if the sauce seems too dry. Grate cheese over the top and serve immediately.

Enjoy!



Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Table Wear: Pasta Italiana


It's farmers' market season and we couldn't be more excited about being able to take advantage of all the fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and flowers popping up all over the city. This week, we're all about casual, farm-chic style with our Pasta Italiana collection. This is one of our longest running collections, featuring Rosanna's very own pasta recipes and suitable for year-round entertaining.

Ring | Pants | Top | Bag | Boots | Hat | Belt | Watering Can

Monday, May 20, 2013

Movie Night with the Girls


One evening, my eldest daughter Alessandra and her friends inited me along to a late-night movie. I balked, saying I could never stay up that late. "Come on, Mom, it'll be fun!" my daughter said as she handed me a cup of espresso. I downed the shot, and before I knew it I was out the door on the way to the movies. When we arrived at the theatre we were greeted by a large group of lovely twenty-year-old women. And my daughter was right; it was great fun.

As we walked out of the theatre, those twenty-year-olds were greeted by a group of young men who happened to be passing by. Much to my embarrassment, but not surprisingly, they became interested in the group of beautiful young women. My three extra decades of life experience inspired me to duck into a doorway to watch the scene play out in front of me. I enjoyed watching the interactions among these smart women and men as much as I'd enjoyed the movie, even if it was from behind a pair of Ray-Bans on a dark night.

If you're fortunate enough to be invited on an outing by your children, by all means go. It's an exciting experience to be a party of this new world, even if just for an evening. Observe and enjoy your child as a young adult. You might learn something about yourself and the new generation emerging.


If you're stumped about what movie to see, why not try the latest iteration of The Great Gatsby from director Baz Luhrman? We here at the Rosanna office are really excited about the film and love the look of it! One of our new collections for Holiday 2013 includes Luxe Moderne, our take on Art Deco!




www.rosannainc.com

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Mediterranean Diet as a Way of Life with Cathy Volpone

The lovely Cathy Volpone, owner of Big John's Pacific Food Importers in Seattle, is guest-blogging this week in honor of yesterday's Go Red For Women Luncheon in Seattle. Cathy and her father, John, were Rosanna neighbors at our last warehouse and come from a lovely Italian family. Read more to hear about how the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet was their normal way of life growing up in Seattle. And be sure to visit their amazing store in SoDo!

When my father, Big John was growing up in Seattle during the 1930's and 40's, his family didn't realize they were on the "Mediterranean Diet" - they were just trying to survive. Typical of Italian immigrants, they raised chickens and goats, made their own wine, grew their own vegetables, and were naturally surrounded by apple orchards. They are very little meat, mostly fish and a little red meat for spaghetti sauce from the local butcher. At the end of summer, they canned what they could and hoped it would last them through the winter. They never wasted a single scrap of food. They lived lean and green by necessity.

My parents' wedding day.


By the time I came along in the 1960's, our Italian-American table had expanded. Unlike his father, who earned his living with a shovel, my father was in the food business! And although we still grew vegetables and made homemade wine, we had access to huge grocery stores and restaurants. We didn't eat out much, but when we did it was either at The New Italian Cafe or Top Spot Chinese Restaurant, both on Rainier Avenue South (and both sadly gone). Although Big John cooked on Sundays, our Croatian-American mom did most of the daily home cooking. She learned the Italian dishes as well as many American ones and everything was always made from scratch and delicious! Throughout the 1960's and 70's our Mediterranean Diet was still pretty much in tact.

The family around the table.


In the 1980's and 90's American life seemed to speed up and take out became the norm. We ran from our aerobics classes (my favorite was Belltown Ballet and Conditioning Studio) to grab dinner "to go" (I loved Pasta and Company and Rex's Deli). Luckily for the Mediterranean Diet, foods from Greece, Italy, and Spain went mainstream. It was no longer a challenge to get a Greek salad or a panini. But even with all of this access to healthy food, keeping the American heart healthy was still a challenge.

Big John today.

In this century, many of us have come full circle and have tried to go back to how my dad's family lived on Beacon Hill in the 30's and 40's. Now the garden is called "organic" and not wasting food is called being "sustainable." We have chickens, we make our own wine. No matter what you call it, it is all good news. The family table is getting a second wind. It is my hope that as we gather for meals with those we love, the Mediterranean Diet will continue to be a way to not only a healthy heart, but a satisfied soul.



www.rosannainc.com

Monday, May 13, 2013

Asparagus Frittata

A frittata is an endlessly adaptable Italian baked omelet and a staple of la cucina povera, "the poor kitchen" - or more accurately "the simple kitchen" - in which leftovers are never wasted but rather turned into gastronomic delicacies.

asparagus frittata

Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and has many healthy benefits. In this recipe I use asparagus, but you can use any fresh vegetables that happen to be in season. Try this as a main course; it is delicious with a simple salad, crusty bread, and a nice red wine.

asparagus

SERVES 4

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, chopped
1/2 cup shelled baby English peas (or frozen baby peas)
1 clove garlic, minced
3 scallions, white parts only, minced
12 leaves baby spinach, chopped
6 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat half of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, peas, garlic, scallions, and spinach and saute until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
3. Coat the bottom of an ovenproof saute pan pan with the remaining oil and heat  on the stove-top over medium heat. Add about half the eggs. Let the eggs cook to form a layer, and then moved the cooked layer with a spatular to allow the uncooked egg to flow to the bottom. Add the sauteed vegetables. Sprinkle the cheeses over the vegetables, then cover the cheese with the remaining eggs, and the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the egg is firm. Remove from the oven, cut into wedges, and serve immediately.

Enjoy!


www.rosannainc.com

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Give Mom the Gift of Good Taste

Give mom the gift of good taste: Farm Belle jams, jellies and flavored honeys. Our farm-fresh goods are naturally delicious, sourced locally in the Pacific Northwest. Sweet and pretty, just like mom.

farm belle
Jams: Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Marionberry
Syrups: Tripleberry, Marionberry, Blueberry, Marion-Huckleberry
Honeys: Clover, Raspberry, Lemon Honey, Blackberry

Purchase online or call us to locate the retailer nearest you: 877-343-3779


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Déjà Vogue: Swinging 60's

Today’s fashions are highly inspired by classic trends from the past. This week we can find the style of the swinging 60’s cruising down the runways.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Mother's Day Cookies



Mother's Day is this weekend and I always like to celebrate by baking my mother's recipe for sugar cookies in her honor. My mother was well known for her sugar cookies. While she would sometimes ban my sisters and I from the kitchen so she could devote her full attention to baking, she would always let us help with sugar cookies. She allowed us to roll them out, cut them into shapes, and sprinkle them with a wide variety of sparkly sugar confections. They were always delicate and crunch. "The secret to delicious pastry is to not overwork the dough, girls," she would say. I remember her words to this day, and I repeat them to my girls, who I hope will repeat them to their girls, and so on...

mother and daughters
Here I am (as a baby!) with my mother and two older sisters.


These are wonderful cookies to be enjoyed while making and eating, as well as a wonderful tradition to start with loved ones. Show your mother you care this Mother's Day with a beautiful display of homemade sugar cookies.

sugar cookies


MAKES ABOUT 24 COOKIES.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Colored sugar crystal or candy sprinkles

1. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt onto a piece of wax paper. Set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time and mix until well combined. Wrap the dough in a clean kitchen towel or parchment paper and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter baking sheets.
4. Roll out one-third of the dough to about 1/8 inch thick and cut out shapes with cookies cutters. Sprinkle the cookies generously with colored sugar crystal or candy sprinkles and transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, or until firm in the centers but not browned. remove the cookies from the sheets with a wide spatular and cool on wire racks. Repeat with the remaining dough. Store the cookies in a tin. They can be frozen prior to baking for up to 1 month, or stored in a cool, dark place for 1 week.

Enjoy and Happy Mother's Day!


www.rosannainc.com

Friday, May 3, 2013

A Heartfelt Plea




This year I am the Go Red For Women chair! Healthful living is an issue close to my heart and the focus of my chairmanship. I am urging my company's fans, clients, and friends to support me on my mission to help end heart disease in women. To do this, I am asking you to consider making a donation to Go Red for Women. All money will go directly to Go Red For Women Seattle to help with research and education. By donating through Projekt Karma, you will be entered to win a lovely Rosanna package worth $359.00! Please click here to learn more.

The amazing prize you could win simply by donating to Go Red!

In 2004 the American Heart Association faced a challenge: women were not paying attention to their heart health. Heart disease, the number one killer of women, claims the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year. The American Heart Association created Go Red For Women in order to raise awareness to the disease while empowering women to take charge of their heart health in a passionate, emotional, and social atmosphere.

Hundreds of thousands of women are in desperate need of your help. Please join me in this important fight to save women's lives.




www.rosannainc.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Table Wear: Portico



Inspired by this season's popular geometric patterns in bold colors, we turned one of our most favorite collections for Spring into an outfit. Portico, seen below, is sized for small plates and snacks, ideal for casual outdoor entertaining.