i have always thought swiss chard was so beautiful. the colours, the intricate web-like design on the leaves, the fun “bubbly” type texture… and i thought this one was particularly cool. for one, it kind of reminds me of an aspen leaf – the shape of it. and for two, look at the fun pink tip – it’s like a paintbrush…
nature’s paintbrush 😉
how beautiful and cool is that?! nature does it best. Continue reading
i have been wanting to try sunchokes {aka “jerusalem artichokes“} for a long time now. they are so interesting-looking {as most root vegetables are} and one time i bought a bag when i was doing a cleanse, but i didn’t get to cook them and unfortunately they spoiled.
so, when i was at the cutest little organic store in town the other day, i picked some up so i could fotograph and blog about them.
and of course – EAT THEM! 😀
tell me you’ve tried these before?! i’m pretty sure i’ve mentioned them at least once or twice on this here blog of mine… they are definitely a staple in my home! what’s better than colourful carbohydrates?!
i was a little surprised and way excited when i spotted this multi-coloured pack at the market. my favourite way to prepare them is to simply drizzle them with tons of olive oil and S&P and roast them in a 400 degree oven for about a half hour…
the finished product is a sheen, tender and sweet potato ready for poppin!
they make an excellent side dish, and are also great in soups.
i saw this somewhere on the web recently and i’ve been so eager to try it. i mean – isn’t is so apropo for food & foto? simple, easy, delicious, and healthy!
two ingredients: {3 if you decide to sprinkle cheese on top…}
– 1 ripe avocado
– 1 medium egg Continue reading
it’s a little sad for me to admit that i just haven’t been cooking as much lately. i lovelovelovelovelove my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… but it has been a bit of a challenge to fotograph my recipes in action within 180 square feet.
so, i’ve just had to change the way i do things a little. and that’s okay. i’m super forever inspired by one of my favourite bloggers – i mean she’s cute as a button, and she is into the same stuff i’m into regarding eating healthy and with the seasons. i love her style of fotography as well; so simple and elegant and she’s such a new yorker – so classy.
i’m still working out the kinks to finding the perfect way to fotograph inside the tiny home – but for now, here’s a simple recipe i made up this weekend that turned out delicious! Continue reading
after many years working in the organic food industry, i learned a lot about picking good produce. it’s hilarious to watch me at the market – i take my time when picking out my fruit and vegetables, mostly because i know i’ll be fotographing them. and hey – aesthetics matter! plus, food is outrageously expensive these days and i’ll be damned if i’m going to spend five dollars for a pineapple and not have it be incredible!
therefore, i browse the produce stands carefully when choosing what to buy. have you ever purchased something and it spoiled two days later or when you cut into it, the flesh was rotting or brown? not everything you pick up at the market is necessarily fresh and/or tasty at any given time – it’s another reason i prefer to buy and eat with the seasons… stuff just tastes better when it’s in season! i mean, wouldn’t you like to be picked during your prime?! 😉
speaking of which, do you know how to pick a good pineapple? the beginning of their season is just around the corner… and i’m already salivating thinking about them.
one thing to look for when picking out a pineapple – is how the leaves feel when pulled out from the top. if they remove easily with little force, it’s a pretty sure sign your pineapple is ripe. you also want to pay attention to the scent. i often sniff the bottom of the fruit, looking for a fresh scent that is strong enough to seep through. and finally, you want to look for a pineapple that is a little darker in colour… not quite brown, but just golden… Continue reading
so, i randomly and spontaneously my have potentially found my new favourite restaurant. the charming place is called town. and the period is part of the title, so don’t forget it. 😉 if the rumour that their menu changes up frequently is in fact accurate, i may make it official. in the meantime, here is what i had for lunch the other day with a friend.
maple-braised pork belly with caramelized onions, pear, and bacon bits on a bed of brussel sprout leaves… and my favourite thing we ordered — it was just heavenly!
rabbit tacos with some kind of amazing salsa and a creamy mild cheese… shredded carrots, pepitas, scallions, and some other deliciousness. and hey – don’t judge me.
shrimp po’ boy… done a little differently, but still good. shrimp was super tasty as well as the homemade sweet potato chips, and the perfectly dill/sweet combo pickles were also excellent.
i tell ya one thing – i cannot wait to go back for dinner!!!!!!! 😀
aaannnnd, i really want to take pictures of/for them!
soooo – the broncos lost the superbowl. yeah, in like a MAJOR WAY! *sigh*
i’ll leave the rants for the professionals – all i’m going to say is it’s a good thing i was surrounded with fun people and lots of delicious food.
it was a “soup-or-bowl” party – bring a soup or a bowl of salad. i brought maryland crab soup. so i thought i’d share the recipe 🙂
i had never made this before – though i remember eating it almost every day for lunch when i was living in aberdeen, maryland many years ago. my favourite little cafe on the side of the highway always had the biggest vat of it simmering all day and it smelled so amazing!
i just made it based on what i remembered and “winged” the rest… Continue reading
even though we have a ways to go yet before it’s in season…
i’m totally craving asparagus lately…
and sometimes i just take pictures of produce… in case you haven’t noticed 🙂
watching me at the grocery store in the produce section is pretty hilarious, no doubt. i take a long time to pick out my vegetables, mostly knowing that i’ll eventually have them in front of a camera… so i like them to be pretty 😉
happy wednesday!
i don’t eat a ton of red meat. however when i do, i prefer it be as local, organic, and grass-fed as possible.
have you ever had grass-fed beef? you may think to yourself, “what do you mean, don’t all cows eat grass?” when you think of a cow, you picture a field or pasture and you see them eating grass, right?! well, you may be surprised to know that most cows are actually fed a grain or corn-based diet – that stuff is in everything!… again, i encourage you to do your own research.
there is lots of fresh, organic, local, grass-fed beef where i live. and that makes me so happy! i have mentioned before that i don’t really subscribe to any “diet” per se – but if i had to pick a category to fall into, i would say my diet is totally intuitive and mostly organic. and it varies all along that spectrum. this time last year, i was totally vegan and coming off a major 2-week cleanse of only veggies, fruit, kombucha, and water. i remember around christmas, trying some of the ham at whole foods one day and i actually spit it out. and now, i can’t seem to eat enough meat! so i’m just listening to my body and rolling with it.
i recently bought this adorable little crock-pot, which is perfect for the tiny home, and it fits about a 2-pound roast just perfectly! it only has one setting – ON. but it totally does the trick!
i don’t care if it’s like, 5 years old and moreover, that it resembles an old-school polaroid foto. i’m sure there are way “cooler” apps out there now, but i still love the good ol’ shake-it app.
and here are some snapshots from my week :
i enjoyed this amazing burger from the best place in the valley…
i made myself these amazing crab legs for new year’s eve celebration…
then followed it with this mostly amazing tradition for lunch the on new year’s day… i say mostly because it was a little dry, but i ate it anyway. 😉 Continue reading
i like food you can consume without utensils 🙂
and there’s something about the word “artisan” that makes things more fun and enjoyable to eat 🙂
when i spotted this bag on sale at the market, i nabbed it up. it looked super fresh and crisp and i had some leftover polenta at home that i just knew would go great with it.
so i made a simple red sauce with the remains of a jar of marina i had in the fridge. then i tossed in some extra garlic, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and a little cheese, and boom! – i had a simple and delicious red sauce to pour over my polenta.
foodie side note : i only use organic corn products – corn is THE MOST genetically modified plant out there. and it’s in everything. do your own research, i highly encourage it 🙂 Continue reading
this is my third year making my vegan thumbprint cookies {AKA “vitamix breakfast cookies”} to give as gifts or to share at work… or eat all by yourself 😉
so, here’s the original recipe in case you missed it…
———
these are always always always a hit. i’m not much of a baker, but when i find something that is easy to make and that people like, i try to perfect it and make it my own. i have yet to quite create the perfect consistency for these {i’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to anything i make or do}, but i do think i found the right name for them. the ingredients are so simple and healthy that you could literally eat them for breakfast – and not feel at all guilty about it!! they are also great for holiday parties or after school snacks. a good source of dietary fiber and protein as well as healthy fats.
yields about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size variation.
as always, i’m a huge proponent for using as many organic products as possible when i cook or eat…
– 1 cup almonds or pecans or a mix of both
– 1 cup rolled oats {gluten-free works, too!}
– 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
– 1/2 cup maple syrup
– 1/2 cup canola or safflower oil {which i haven’t yet tried}
– 1/4 teaspoon salt {i believe this constitutes as a “pinch”}
– your favourite jam or conserve {i have wanted to try a savory jam like jalapeno berry or something}
begin by preheating your oven to about 400 degrees. Continue reading
nom nom… i just love this time of year. the holidays are also all about eating, right?! and sharing… 🙂
like this homemade peanut brittle from a friend’s mama in michigan and homemade caramels from my wonderful neighbours -50 yards away.
my goodness they are both SO AMAZING! i completely savoured each one, and still am. it’s that kind of treat – when someone takes time to make something so incredibly delicious like this and then shares it… THAT is the true meaning of the holidays… or, the nom-nom-idays. i think we should start making it more about food than “gifts”. afterall, i believe food is one of THE BEST gifts you can give… and receive 😉 Continue reading
hey friends.
{i just want to preface this by taking a moment to express my gratitude to the Universe for being ALIVE and well. i had quite a scare last week and it has given me a whole new perspective on life…}
as you may have noticed, i haven’t been writing as much over the last few weeks. i plan to update you on my life very soon… there have been even more changes 😉 but i haven’t been creating as many recipes lately. for a few reasons, really… but fret not, creating and cooking and fotographing will recommence very soon.
part of it is becoming acclimated in my new mini kitchen. as a reminder, this is what i’m working with :
i LOVE my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… i’m just trying to find my niche and the best way to cook as i fotograph… it is somewhat of a challenge right now. a few final changes are coming together in the kitchen, i just need to start coming up with recipes again. Continue reading
the holidays are officially here!
here are a few of my favourite recipes from 2013… any and all of which celebrate the true meaning of this season – EATING! 😀
—
buffalo chicken wraps {perfect for the game!}
pasta primavera with fresh-grated parmigiano reggiano
grilled leek and shitake mushroom risotto
pomegranate smoothie {it IS pomegranate season!}
egg nog… please.
my goodness do i love scallops!
pan-seared in some amazing butter… click here to see the best and only cooking method one should use to make these decadent sea-dwellers. like most good things in life, it should be done low and slow.
and i also love asparagus!
i usually do my best to eat with the seasons… which means i wouldn’t normally be eating asparagus right now, but hey – i’m the birthday girl, i can do whatever i want, right?! 😉
my birthday {which is tomorrow, actually} is always so close to thanksgiving {it was ON thanksgiving last year and the year i was born}, but i admit i’m happy that it falls in an entirely different week this year! i haven’t really been thinking of the holidays as much this year since i switched jobs {that’s a whole big, long blogpost or BOOK waiting to happen} so it’s been nice to really focus my energy on ME. i do have to work tomorrow, which is kind of a bummer – but i’m celebrating today and tonight with this amazing food and drink.
i like to spoil myself on my birthday. i started this morning with my favourite americano from my favourite coffee shop and a sinful pastry they call an “apple jesus” – can’t wait to try that! and i plan to have peach-wood-smoked salmon for lunch, followed by the above amazing meal for dinner… swallowed down gently with this :
la fin du monde – french, which translates to “the end of the world”
it is a triple-fermented golden ale that is high in alcohol content {9% : i tried to finish the whole bottle once – not a good idea for this 110-pound lass} la fin du monde is full of wonderful champagne-like bubbles which deliver hints of honey and fruit, accompanied by floral notes that linger pleasantly and round-out with a smooth, dry finish.
i have one every year on my birthday… and i always cook myself a super nice meal, usually consisting of seafood, since it’s my ultimate fav. i am already salivating, just thinking about my day full of amazing food…
happy birthday to me! 🙂
hey friends! a while back i wrote about hilary’s eat well veggie burgers… they have quickly become a staple in my tiny home. i love the burgers, but i must admit that after trying the bites, they are definitely my favourite. i like “bite-sized” things anyway and hilary’s doesn’t disappoint.
you can read all about the company in my last blogpost – here. hilary’s eat well foods is a transparent company that is locally-owned and operated and they are also part of the non-gmo project – those are two of my favourite things about them. i’m such a fan and supporter and since i’ve collaborated with hilary’s eat well, i now have the fun opportunity of offering a giveaway!
all you have to do is go to hilary’s eat well facebook page and “like” them. then comment below telling me you did so, and i’ll enter your name in the drawing! Continue reading
green is good!
we all know how much i love kale. i’ve also been known to eat copious amounts of swiss chard. and i never turn away spinach, especially in a smoothie… and sometimes, nothing satisfies like a gigantic bowl of fresh-chopped salad mix…
i know we are heading into winter, but don’t forget to eat a lot of colour during this season!
a simple salad is a fantastic and delicious way to get raw, dense nutrients into your system. while i do find myself “craving” salad a little less during the winter months, i recognize how important it is to eat a salad as often as possible. in the summer i have one every day, but in the colder months, i typically want warm food {like most of us.} salads are a great way to absorb nutrients through healthy fats {add avocado, for example} and to get extra fiber in your diet. Continue reading
not quite broccoli, not quite cabbage, not quite cauliflower… romanesco is in a category all its own.
i’ve written a few times about romanesco… it’s one of my favourite things ever. you can probably still find romanesco at some supermarkets and specialty produce departments…
when i found this super awesome-looking and wonderfully-coloured one, i nabbed it up just so i could have a foto-session with it. i just find their fractal-nature so fascinating!!! “roman” and i had a lot of fun with the camera… i talk to my food – so what! and i hadn’t really seen one like this before – with the variation in colour. i am of the mentality that anything with natural colour is good for you… and the more, the better.
i just like to saute my romanesco in some yummy EVOO or butter and eat it up! it’s also really good just raw in a salad. the flavour is amazing, and i don’t know what it is about eating a “fractal”, but it just makes me happy.
food & foto 