it’s been too rainy here to see the moon lately, so i’m sharing a picture i captured with my iPhone from the blue moon last month. 🙂
{HBD, J}
29 Sepi love this picture so much! i also love calendula flower so much! {that’s why i grew some this year!} 🙂
celebrating the birthday of a loved one today! ❤
and also celebrating the practice of letting go…
“the end” of something isn’t alway a bad thing… some things need to “die” in order for new growth to occur… i am pretty confident that we can all relate to that in some way…
not to say that loss is easy… but letting go is different.
plants are the best teachers that offer us the chance to channel the connection within the cyclical nature and patterns of life! they remind us that impermanence is part of essentially everything… they also remind us to be present in each now moment… to embrace and enjoy and relish in that which is before us, as we do our best to dance the dance we experience each passing day on this earth.
love those you love with all you have! but also remember – to love yourself first and foremost!
❤
{congratulations to d&m}
25 Augi recently had the utmost pleasure of fotographing these lovely humans on a warm sunny summer evening here in my hometown.
these two are so adorable!! my cousin {the handsome fellow} and his bride-to-be {the gorgeous lady} were so much fun to put my camera in front of! they were so laid-back and open and authentic. which, as we know, makes for the most wonderful images! it makes my job as a fotographer so easy and allows me to be fully immersed in the moment. when my “subjects” trust me and know they can just interact and be themselves, it offers space for me to do what i can do best –
CAPTURE INTIMATE & AUTHENTIC MOMENTS! 🙂 ❤
here are a few of my favourites from this special day!
i love you both dearly! ❤ ❤ ❤
p.s. – can’t wait for some baby pics!!! 😀
{this one goes out to judi}
21 Aughappy birthday, mama! ❤
i miss you so much! ❤
i miss you more as i get older – ardently, i just want to be able to take you to lunch or bring you flowers or treat us to a pedicure or meet for coffee or go for a walk or call you on the phone and complain about something that in the grand scheme of things is/was probably irrelevant or unnecessary but you would make it feel that much more important because you loved me so much and everything i cared about mattered to you. i also wish i could call you to talk about the hard things, too… and i just know you’d give the best advice and offer the best most loving support. i wish i could hear you say my name even just one more time.
not a day goes by that i don’t think about you… your love, your heart, your spirit, your mind, your energy, your humour, your kindness, your gentle nature, your hair, your eyes, your hands, your scent, your voice… the list goes on and on.i
i remember you had a tender and fragile heart of gold. i remember you could play the piano with such grace and ease. i remember you could read sheet music like it was a language to you… even songs you had never even heard before… if it was in front of you, you could read it and play it as if you’d been playing it forever! {anything by phil collins always comes to mind!} i remember it also was so crucial to you to teach us music – it was written in your soul. i remember you making funny faces on long car rides to entertain us… we called it the “bear face.” i remember you did this silly thing with your hand to crack me open and make me giggle when i was being stubborn or ornery. i remember you constantly encouraged me to write and to be creative {SO many days spent rearranging the furniture without asking you, and you would come home and praise me for it anyway!} i remember before you passed away, you sweetly requested to be buried with one of my stories that you had laminated and wire-bound for me. i remember you taught me how to use a typewriter and now i can type almost 90-words-per-minute on a computer. i remember nothing was as important to you as your children. i remember your favourite meal was stuffed shells {maybe i should make that today?!} i remember you were soft-spoken and understated, but also incredibly tenacious and resilient. i remember people noticed you, even though you didn’t want the attention. i remember that everyone remembers you. i remember that you left a remarkable impression on everyone you engaged with. i remember you had a quiet strength that i feel has been instilled in me because of you.
i remember that your very loving spirit and energy and influence are still present here, helping me every day to be better… and you leave me pennies… and you reconnect me with and/or bring people into my life that also remember you… those who share you with me… with whom i relate, connect, and learn from… and even those that never had the privilege of knowing you… the mothers in my life that give me motherly love… that accept me and honor me and show up for me… those who have “adopted me” ❤ !!!
{*** LP, PL, SJ – shout out to you… you know who you are, and i’m forever thankful to and for you! ***}
when someone compliments me in just about any way, i pretty much always say – “i got it from my mama.”
and another thing! — why does my cat remind me of you?! ha! one of my fondest memories since you’ve been gone is when we threw you a birthday tea party! i would love to do that for you again. the older i get, the more i look like you. lately, i keep my hair short – which i personally like for lots of reasons, but also mostly because it makes me look more like you. last week, i was treated to a dinner out for the first time in a long time, and i carried your denim purse with me… it’s so 80’s and it’s so fabulous! {still can’t believe all the fashion stuff eventually circles back around – haha!} there are lots of things that were yours that i kept for many years and eventually let go of… but some things i held on to, and i love that you find ways to remind me that you’re still with me, and within me. most of that comes with an intangible feeling in my heart and not from material things. ohhh, how i am continuouilsy so thankful for that!
i am so thankful that you were and are my mom and that i am your daughter! i will continue to celebrate you and all that you did and all that you showed me and all the ways i am like you! i love you, judi.
to my readers : thank you for having the space to allow me share these very personal and intimate thoughts about my beloved mom on this special day. thank you to those of you that have been on this journey with me all of these years. thank you to those who reach out and show me love through your thoughts, words, and actions.
to all of you : love the ones you love with all the love you have. always and forever…
{seasonal eating : braised cabbage}
7 Augit’s that time of year again – HARVEST SEASON!
it seems like everything is producing right now! in my garden, i have lots of herbs as well as tomatoes and cucumbers, which are slow-growing but i’m ok with that…
and at the farmers’ markets, the selections are vast! corn, peaches, berries, melons, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, squash, garlic… and cabbage! {and the list goes on!}
i am fascinated by the insides of vegetables… especially cabbage! isn’t it just so cool?! the way they grow and form… all those layers and intricate patterns… just so cool!! divine design. 😀
this particular cabbage was so tender!
i chopped up the cabbage, then added it to a super hot cast iron pan with a little bacon fat and diced vidalia onions. after searing for a couple of minutes, i added some water to the pan and covered it to let the liquid absorb and steam slightly… about 6 minutes, stirring once or twice.
{p.s. – how cute is my little pot handle cover – it’s a kitty!}
finally, i served it up with a filet of fish and… nom nom! 🙂
do you like cabbage? what are some of your favourite ways to prepare it?
{my mid-week meal : seared scallops with braised broccoli rabe}
25 Maywhat can i say?! – i just love alliteration. 😉
i also love anything seafood related… especially scallops! they are one of my all-time favourites! when i lived in NYC, i would make scallops about once a month for my lovely roommate and myself. we always looked forward to it, and she always appreciated it! sharing good food with good people is just one of THE BEST things in life!
i feel like i can confidently say that i have pretty much perfected the method in which scallops should be cooked… particularly fresh scallops. it’s best to treat them almost like a steak in the sense that you want them to be very dry to start, seasoned with good salt, and seared in a hot dry pan {cast iron is my choice.} they are delicate and tender, much like a good steak. i purchased these scallops from my favourite local market and they are locally-sourced and so so fresh! i patted them down with a clean paper towel and added them to a super hot pan for about 2-3 minutes on one side, until they were ready to flip… which is the key step in the process… they should gently and easily remove from the pan when ready to turn. then, the next key step is to add some yummy grass-fed butter {my choice} and baste, baste, baste… for another 2-3 minutes on high heat.
finally, remove from heat and allow to rest for about a minute or so… then use a fork to slice into that buttery sweet goodness with ease and oh my – enjoy every bite!
i served mine with braised broccoli rabe (aka “rapini”) for a complimentary savory/bitter component.
this meal was so divine and delicious!
nom nom!!
p.s. – if you don’t already, please follow me on instagram – @foodnfoto – to further the experience with all things food and foto related! 🙂
{spring is springing… again!}
16 Mayi was recently having a discussion with a dear friend the other day about rebirth and resurrection and cycles of life, etc. and i was thinking about how gardening is one of the most fascinating things for me because plants go through all of the cycles… birth through death and then rebirth… it’s fascinating and marvelous to witness. springtime is so incredible because we get to be renewed with LIFE again… each and every time.
it has been a simply marvelous spring season here in maryland! we have had lots of rain lately, so everything looks so lush and green and vibrant! i just can’t help but pause to admire all the beautiful blooms up and down the streets and in peoples yards and gardens! i snapped a few fotos with the iphone, and here are some images of the beautiful flowers i’ve been seeing lately on my nature walks… 🙂
{don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!}
i am so excited for the next round of blooms! 🙂 ❤
{roasted garlic & mushroom couscous}
25 Aprhey y’all.
i love this dish! it’s so easy to make, keeps well, and it’s delicious and filling!
couscous is one of my favourite grains. it’s so fluffy and fun and takes on the flavour of whatever you add to it. personally, i could eat mushrooms basically on the daily. i just LOVE mushrooms! this is one of the staples in the food and foto household. i make it ahead of time and eat it throughout the week. it’s easy to re-heat and the texture maintains throughout.
- caramelized onions
- sautéed garlic
- crimini mushrooms
- 1 cup couscous
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup water
- parsley, to taste
- S&P, to taste
the ratio for couscous is 1:1.
i used a combination of homemade chicken bone broth and water for this recipe. simply bring liquid to a boil then toss in couscous. remove from heat, cover, and allow to “steam” for about 6-8 minutes, fluffing with a fork half way through cook time. this grain is so fine and delicate that it cooks rather quickly. finally, add in other ingredients and enjoy! it’s also really good with fresh peas!
nom nom!
{“hobo hands”}
15 Mari have some of the best friends ever! mainly because they are TRUE FRIENDS, but also because they give me the best gifts. many of which are homemade and/or handmade and/or practical and/or purposeful… all the things i appreciate… always given with love and thought behind it. true treasures, just like the friends and people that they are!
case and point : these fabulous fingerless gloves that a dear friend sent me for christmas last year. her sister made them and i think they are just fantastic! coincidentally, i had recently been looking for a pair of fingerless gloves to replace the pair i had for decades that finally unraveled. then these appeared and – !!!!!! they are so much better than anything else i was finding in my search!!! 😀
AND! they are in my food and foto colour! 😀
even though spring is approaching, i still wear these often because they keep my wrists nice and cozy!
THANK YOU, S & K!!
{pretty persimmon}
27 Febi can’t believe i had not yet written about this wonderful fruit!
i just love love love persimmons! they are so interesting and different and beautiful and they are excellent when dehydrated!
they are delicious when perfectly ripe and also yummy in smoothies!
aren’t they so pretty?!
have you ever had persimmons?
{colorful and hearty winter greens}
24 Febspeaking of salads and such, sometimes i just want a huge bowl of healthy and tender winter greens – lightly sautéed and wilted in garlic and olive oil… so colourful and vibrant and good for you!!
before and after…
{audrey and venus and jupiter, oh my!}
21 Feband the awesome crescent moon… lookin’ like the cheshire cat smile!!!
🙂
p.s. i love how you can see the outline of the moon, too!
both venus and jupiter will be visible through the end of february! so, make sure to look up! ❤
and don’t forget to get out in nature! it’s so healing!!!
{they call me sally salad}
20 Febevery time there’s a party or gathering and i need to bring a dish, i almost always bring the salad. my family lovingly refers to me as “sally salad” for that reason. i pretty much eat a salad just about every day, even in the winter.
and this is that time of year where we all promise to “eat better” or “eat less” …
{how’s that working out for you? it’s not working for me – haha!}
i made this particular salad way back at the end of harvest season last year… it’s loaded with lots of garden veggies like two different kinds of homegrown lettuce, tender baby kale, shaved brussel sprouts, flavourful celery leaves, gently bitter radicchio, teeny tomatoes, my famous pickling cucumbers, and i think i even threw in some fresh corn… nom nom!
{what’s for dinner?}
9 Feb
pan-seared mahi mahi – crusted with old bay and lemon juice, served with homemade roasted corn and shishito pepper succotash, and a glass of miller high life – ‘cuz we fancy. 😉
what are YOU having for dinner??
{savory split-pea soup}
19 Janthis is a dish that i find myself craving during cold winter months. it is full of healthy protein and fiber, it is super comforting, and it is loaded with flavour. this can be made vegetarian or even vegan, but i added some ham to mine and simmered in my home-made chicken bone broth. it is so simply delicious!
savory split-pea soup…
i used a dried soup mix that i had in the pantry with split green and yellow peas, red lentils, dehydrated veggies, and a spice blend. i also used about equal parts homemade broth/water and seasoned to taste. i didn’t use a lot of extra spices in this soup because i honestly just love the flavour of the peas after they’ve been simmering in the broth and with the ham and hints from the bacon fat permeating throughout. although i did add in some dried parsley and of course S&P.
you could easily just use dried split peas for this recipe, and add in whatever veggies you want, chopped or frozen… typically a mirepoix mix provides the most aromatics, and that is my go-to.
i sautéed a diced onion in some bacon fat {i know!} until tender, then i deglazed with a little white wine vinegar… {typically i would use a dry white wine but i didn’t have any at the time.}
to the stock pan, i added the liquid mixture of about 2 quarts chicken broth and 2 quarts water and brought to a boil, then added in about 2 cups of the split pea mixture. i cooked the peas down for about 15 minutes on high heat, tossed in some ham, then simmered on low-medium heat until i found the consistency i wanted…about another 30 minutes.
i added in some diced ham at the last minute, because it was already cooked and thinly sliced… then simmered again on low for an additional 5-10 minutes. this made about 3-4 quarts of soup in total. i shared some with a friend and also canned a couple of pints for the future.
it totally hit the spot! i have been eating it for 2 days and will probably have some more tonight! it’s also one of those soups that gets better the next day! 🙂
before and after 🙂
nom nom, slurp slurp.
{happy holidays and happy new year!}
5 Jangreetings!
happy holidays and happy new year! {also – happy mercury retrograde for all you astrology fans out there!}
i hope you all are doing well! also, i wanted to welcome my new readers to this tiny little space on the world wide web. thank you for taking time to subscribe and follow along – i truly hope you enjoy the time you spend here at food and foto dot com.
as a personal goal, i am working to post new blogs at least once or twice a month… but ideally, my aim is to post once a week. as usual, you can expect the topics to include all things food and foto related – as well as the great outdoors, cool people and places, occasional astrology jargon, and general musings/ramblings from yours truly.
for example :
even though our temps have been in the mid 50s all week, this morning i was thinking about the weather and how i really never liked winter… this became particularly true when i lived in the high country in colorado and worked at 12,000 feet elevation {brrrr!}. i don’t enjoy the cold, although i do know that some people really do! the winter season is just not my favourite. however, i have recently learned to embrace each season for different reasons.
as humans, we are just as much a part of nature as nature itself. i sometimes feel we have really lost that connection and we often forget that we, too, have seasons. whether it be the “aging” process, or a relationship, or a job, or relocating/moving, or any other variables in life, we all go through seasons. and i believe that the winter season is a time to relax, reflect, and regain strength for spring. it’s a time to hibernate and go within, and most importantly – a time to REST!
personally, i {now} enjoy the downtime that winter has to offer more than I ever did in the past. of course – a lot has changed in my life which has offered me new perspective on this time of year… but nevertheless, i have certainly learned to embrace this season in a different way. plus, {in true introvert form} i enjoy working on a lot of puzzles this time of year – one of my favourite hobbies. 😉
also, i am not really big on “resolutions” – but i did make a short list of things i want to do more of this year. that includes :
- practice my piano/keyboard
- learn how to use {and use!} my sewing machine
- spend less time on social media and more time on my blog
- grow a vegetable and flower garden closer to my home
- get back into my exercise routine
- volunteer somewhere in my local community
- welcome more ways to sell my greeting cards
do you have any resolutions or goals this year?
{final tomato harvest of 2022}
14 Octthis foto captures only a fraction of the amount of tomatoes i harvested a couple of weeks ago…
easily, upwards of 10 pounds of tomatoes were on the plants before i decided to pull them up. i lovingly called them “jelly bean tomatoes” and to be honest, i think they may have been a self-seed/rogue plant. they are so prolific and delicious! i am going to save some seeds in hopes of planting them again next year…
since so many of them were still green, i pickled some for the first time ever. and i also made some sauce with a blend of both. 🙂
{inspired by : stracciatella}
1 Octthis simplistically yummy soup was inspired by the same instagram account i mentioned in a previous post {see recipe here} which i stumbled onto one night while scrolling and searching for recipe inspiration. i had never heard of this dish, but then i did some research and found out that it is derived from roman culture and the word stracciatella actually translates to “little rags” – which i think is both adorable and poignant. it was created to use up kitchen scraps… as {in my humble opinion} some of the best meals always are!
this soup is so simple and easy to make. the chicken stock is the most time-consuming part of this recipe. sure, you can buy it… but homemade is best! in my kitchen, i tend to make chicken stock about once a week. i use it for everything and i sip on the bone broth a lot during cold winter months and/or freeze or can it for future use. and now that we are officially in the autumn season, and the weather is cooling down, i am truly enjoying this soup even more. although, i tend to enjoy soup year round.
as you know, we appreciate simplicity around here at food and foto. quality in = quality out. simple, healthy, clean ingredients lay the foundation and make for the most enjoyable meals.
this is one of my new favourite soups! so soothing, so comforting, so simple, and so delicious.
- 8-12 oz chicken stock
- 1-2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup parmigiana reggiana
- 1/4-1/2 cup fresh spinach
- S&P to taste
- parsley, optional
a crumbled up parmigiano reggiano swirl via stovetop sauté pan – also optional. {but adds some great flavour and crunch!}
method :
heat stock on medium to high and wilt in spinach. drop in the egg{s}. stir in grated cheese and season as desired.
#sipsip #nomnom
i am audrey michelle
i am a minimalist
food & foto 