Food Photo Styling Workshop - Make Your Food Look as Good as it Tastes, or Better

Months ago, I was lucky to attend a photo styling workshop with the fabulous, talented, and funny Clare Barboza and Becky Selengut.  I offered my skills as a dishwasher (aka kitchen manager) and in turn was graciously offered a space in the workshop.  I definitely got the better end of the bargain!

I have to admit, I was the only one among the students with the point-and-shoot camera, and might have experienced a bit of camera envy and camera inadequacy.  But I carried through and had a fantastic time.

Here are my favorite and, in my opinion, most successful photos from the shoot.

Thanks ladies!

Good morning - all inclusive breakfast in Lisbon, Portugal

You probably don't want to be too hungry while looking at these photos.  I snapped a few shots from our breakfast at the Internacional Design hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.  Mimosas, cold cuts, quiche, pastries, and coffee!  Makes me one happy girl, and perhaps just a bit tired and hoping for a nap that is not going to happen.  Notice the orange accents at the bar.  I have to say, I haven't seen that much orange everywhere in a long time.  It makes me feel right at home.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays with Cookie Decorating

I might not be Martha Stewart, as much as I might want to be, but I do know a thing or two about cookie decorating.  In time that it took a bunch of 5th graders decorate dozens of cookies, smearing icing everywhere in sight, and sneaking in an occasional chocolate chip or two, I decorated six cookies.

Which one is your favorite?

These cookies were decorated at Allrecipes for the Cookies Across America project.

Back to the blog

Project "You Buy, I Cook" ~ For the Love of Orange

A mother should not admit to having a favorite child.  I should not admit to having a favorite You Buy, I Cook  project. But if I did, this one would be it!  It all started with an article claiming that orange is the color of 2012. Orange, just happens to be my favorite color, ever, no doubt!  After an impromptu facebook chat with my friend Angie, I decided to host a special edition of You Buy, I Cook - For the Love of Orange.


The lovely ladies (in order of appearance) Alla, Angie, Anna, and Kellie came to my kitchen with orange, and other color goodies and we set to cook!

Scroll down to see what we had on the menu.  Interested in a particular "recipe"? Let me know!

Homemade Holiday Gifts Baked to Order: Biscotti

The holidays are just around the corner! If you want to gift your family and friends with delicious, freshly baked biscotti, but don't have the time, I am here to help!  


Select from several varieties, or pick your personal favorite combination of dried fruit and nuts

*Cranberry and Walnut
*Orange, Cranberry and Pistachios 
*Raisin and Pecan
*Apricot and Walnut
*Poppy Seed and Lemon
*Ginger and Almond
*Chocolate Chip and Walnut
*Clean Your Pantry: combination of dried fruit and nuts

You will get a dozen of biscotti cookies per order, baked to order. Each biscotti is approximately 4-5" in length, and 1/2" in width. $15/dozen plus shipping.


Order through the blog or place your order on etsy.


Back to the blog

Cookies Across America with Allrecipes and Nestlé Toll House

I am so excited to take part of Cookies Across America with Allrecipes and Nestlé Toll House tomorrow!   I will be joining Allrecipes staff and a group of Seattle food bloggers to decorate cookies that will be later donated to Pikes Place Senior Center.


For those of you who can't make it tomorrow but still want to participate, please pledge to bake cookies during this holiday season and share them with those in need.

Happy holidays!

Back to the blog

Toad in a Hole Meets Pancake

We all have heard about toad in a hole - a fun breakfast idea where the egg is pan fried inside a piece of toast.  The trick to the dish is to make sure that your bread is toasted and crusty on the outside, the egg white is perfectly set, and the egg yolk is soft and gooey. It can be quite challenging, but when done correctly, totally satisfying.

I normally do not have bread in my kitchen, making toad in a hole an unlikely occurrence.  This morning, craving an egg, I opened my refrigerator and was reminded of the leftover batter from Apple and Bacon Pancakes.  "Why not an egg in a pancake?" I thought.  I pulled out my skillet and got cooking.

Project "You Buy, I Cook" ~ Apple and Bacon Pancakes

The third installment of "You Buy, I Cook" is here!  Last time, I made a Salad with Pomegranate and Asian Pear with Priya. This time, my friend Anna came over for a night of Breakfast for Dinner and a movie.  The movie never happened, but we did play a fantastic game of Scrabble.


Just a quick reminder of how this project works - you bring groceries, I cook (you have a chance to cook and learn with me, if you wish), we eat, you do the dishes.


Back to Breakfast for Dinner.  Eggs, bacon, and pancakes came immediately to mind.  Then I had the idea to combine the bacon and pancakes, throw in an apple – and, voila, Apple and Bacon Pancakes were born. We also devoured a plate of sunny side up eggs and roasted potatoes.

Culinary Adventures in Portland, Oregon

We left the turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing behind, packed our bags and headed out to Portland for a post-Thanksgiving weekend away.

Magically, after days of never-ending pouring rain in Seattle, the sky cleared up, the sun made its much appreciated appearance, and the traffic cooperated nicely.

On the way to Portland, we made a stop in Olympia, Washington to pay our respects to the Washington state capital and walk around.  Not wanting to leave right away, we drove to the downtown area and missed it.  That's right - the downtown is literally just a few blocks in length.

Looking for fuel in the form of caffeine, we stopped at Bonjour Cupcakes bakery.  The bakery had an old charming feel and decor, with scattered cupcake-related merchandise.

We chose two mini cupcakes: red velvet and chocolate mocha, adorned with a chocolate covered coffee bean. While I can't vouch for the red velvet cupcake (someone is still learning how to share), the chocolate mocha cupcake was a perfect two-bite delight.