Behind the Scenes at a Photo Shoot and Pierre's Pumpkin

On Friday, my farm in Bedford was buzzing with photo shoot activity. I had my assistant take a few shots of one particular shoot that took place in my vegetable garden. It was rather chilly outside, but Pierre, my chef, made us all a fabulous warm meal that you will most certainly enjoy viewing. As always, please leave your comments! I truly enjoy your feedback.

Equipment being set up in vegetable garden: 

Karena Gallagher (wardrobe, left) and Vinnetta Scrivo (makeup, right) both making sure I look great!

Jon the photo assistant looks like he could use some gloves:

Brilliant photographer Victoria Pearson shooting the scene while Art DIrector Matthew Axe looks on

And another:



Pierre's Pumpkin
Look what Pierre made for our lunch! It's been a great year for many things in my garden, including all sorts of unusual pumpkins and squashes. Pierre found inspiration when looking at this bright-orange potiron. Potiron is a European variety of pumpkin. It's known for its squat, flat shape and for its deep, nutty flavor. Pierre decided to put this potiron to use as a serving vessel for a really delicious creation of roasted root vegetables, chestnuts, and roasted chicken pieces.

He started by cutting around the top of the pumpkin, creating a lid, and then scooped out the seeds. He rubbed the inside with some softened butter and then placed the pumpkin and its lid in a 375-degree oven for 45 minutes, removing the lid from the oven after the first 20 minutes when it was tender. Pierre then cut carrots, red potato, turnips, parsnips, celeriac, and kohlrabi (all from my garden) into 2-inch chunks. He tossed them with some olive oil, spread them on a roasting pan, and seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper. He roasted the vegetables in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes. In another pan, he also roasted chicken thighs and legs seasoned with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, in a skillet with some olive oil, Pierre sautéed a couple of diced onions and crushed garlic, and then added some peeled chestnuts. He transferred all the vegetables to a large bowl and tossed them with chopped fresh parsley, chives, rosemary, and chervil. Then, he placed half of the vegetables in the bottom of the roasted pumpkin, followed by the roasted chicken pieces, and then the remainder of the vegetables. He returned the whole thing to the oven to heat through for about 20 minutes.

Pierre also made leek and potato soup that was so comforting and warming on a cold and dreary day. After the soup, we got to eat this most wonderful presentation. And because Pierre first roasted the pumpkin before filling it, the flesh of the potiron was so tender and wonderfully tasty.

    
   

   

   

Comments

[Kim Benn, Indiana]

That looks so delicious! I am loving your blog and look forward to your posts and pictures....especially of your "new" home....beautiful.

[Elizabeth]

Martha, love your blog, of course very informative and the pictures are wonderful. I have been listening to Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer for 2 years now and enjoy their blogs also!

[elle]

I LOVE your new blog!! It's my new favorite spot on the internet. The pictures are magnificent - a perfect compliment to your magazine/TV show. As always - everything is BEAUTIFUL and INSPIRATIONAL. You've changed so many things in my own life Martha - I just LOVE you - and now here is an entirely new platform to say, "Wow. I'm going to try that." I'm doing Pierre's pumpkin dish next weekend for sure. (P.S. I love the way everyone looked cold at the photo shoot except for Martha! She rocks!)

[Shaun, Minnesota]

I was pleased to come across your new blog. I really enjoy the crafty-cooking blogs that are springing up out there, and am glad to add this one to my list. I especially love the food pics!

[Janie]

What a beautiful presentation! This just screams fall and halloween time. I am so inspired by your ideas and look forward to the many avenues that you have layed out for us. (website, shows, books, blogs,) WOW! Thanks for the beautiful pix of your garden!

[Jon Walters]

Oh my gosh, I want to make this. It look insanely delicious!

[Finbar]

Martha,
What a beautiful lunch. I am enjoying reading your blog each day, thank you for sharing with us. I have a great idea for a contest, a lunch/dinner made by your chef!

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather

[jamaila]

Here's my dorky question: how on earth did Pierre transfer the pumpkin from the pan to a serving dish? It looks delicious, but awfully large and wobbly. ;)

[Claudine]

Roasted vegetables are one of my favorite things. There is nothing better when it first gets cold to make. Next time I may need to put it in the pumpkin. Maybe for Thanksgiving! Thanks for the behind the scenes pictures of the photo shoot.

[Chadwick Garner]

Martha,

Both the vegies in the dish and in your garden look amazing. A warm, healthy lunch is always preferable to a microwaved option. I would gladly eat the leftovers for dinner!!! My expereince with pumpkins this year has not been as good. The squirrels on my street ate both of my pumpkins and carted off my decorative gourds resting on the front steps. They did not like the gourds as much, though. They were left abadoned in the street. I love the blog, too!!!

[Andrew Ritchie]

I love little previews of articles to come! Now when I see it in the magazine I can say I saw 'behind the scenes' of that photo shoot.

Thank you for taking the time to share with us.

And that pumpkin concoction...oy vey!!...delicious!

-Andrew (Canada)

PS: I love that your farm has so many Canadian elements, from fences to horses!

[Chris]

Looking great!!! What an excellent blog!

[Darci]

That looks so delicious! You new blog is amazing...I look forward to reading it everyday!

[Christian]

Martha,
I am thoroughly enjoying your blog! Thank you for sharing these little details of your life with us, and for continuing to be the icon of hearth and home tempered with lighthearted fun for our society. I treasure and respect what you and the offerings of MSLO stand for.

[karen]

Hello Martha
What a delicious looking lunch. Wish I could share it with you. Any your garden is beautiful.
Enjoy!

[Nina]

Martha, your blog is perfection. My family thanks you. I'm making potato and leek soup this week and the pumpkin creation on the weekend.

[Carolyn]

What a great Garden!!!

The food looks awesome too!

Carolyn Barber

[Vera Milunovic]

Your blog is amazing, and i dont have words to explain what I feel about this food! Wowwwwwwwww!
Visit my blog
And thank you to sharing your life with us!!!!!!
A big hug

[ann wood]

Such beautiful inspiration from Pierre's pumpkin; put me into an autumnal frame of mind....can't wait to see what else Martha and Pierre "cook up" from Bedford.

[Jenna]

That Pierre is great. The pumpkin dish looks delicious. Thanks for including how he made it.

[Simone Smith]

It is such a treat to see what's behind garden photo shoots! Seeing all the work that goes into the beautiful pictures that end up in your magazines really adds to their value. Thank you for writing about it.

[Andrew]

That reminds me of the Turkey pot pie you created while doing your Ask Martha episode on Sirius Martha. I think this will be included in our Thanksgiving Dinner this year...
-Andrew

[Norine Molnar]

Martha,
I wrote you quite awhile ago and said that I wasn't sure if I liked your new show at first, but I felt you were really connecting more now to your audience. I have to tell you that this blog is another extension of you that endears all of us to you even more. You really are such a good teacher and the way you are extending yourself in new and exciting ways makes you an even better teacher! I wasn't sure you could become much better, but you have. You light up the screen - and now the internet - more and more each day. I thank you for this and more. You have changed my life in so many ways and I'm sure you'll continue to do so.

[Susan Stewart]

Glad to hear that your hip replacement went well. I have had 2. The first at age 27. Can you still ride horses as my doctor told me no?

[Toni Ferreira]

Martha, I adore your blog!

That pumpkin looks fabulous. Today (here in Boston) was the last Farmer's Market of the season, and I bought several squash varieties as well as parsnips, turnips, onions and carrots. I'm looking forward to roasting them tonight!