Why is it that I derive so much pleasure from looking at photos of food? I devote much of my day to this (usually at work, sshhh). I can't smell it or touch it and I sure as hell can't eat it. But I'm obviously not the only one, hence the popularity of cooking shows, magazines and blogs. I guess it's because food is a common ground for everyone. Whether or not you have the same level of food obsession as me it is still something that is essential in life. So, without further ado some more additions to my addiction:
Roast Pumpkin Satay Salad
Self explanatory, really. This was roast pumpkin with a broccoli, carrot, cabbage coleslaw topped with a spicy peanut dressing and loads of coriander.
Green smoothies. This one was orange, banana, bok choy, broccoli and pineapple. With a sprinkle of bee pollen and my first experiment with yacon syrup.
Big Bad Beige Soup
This easy soup is fast becoming a winter regular in our house. It's leek, cauliflower, parsnip, potato with cumin, garlic and chili. Saute. Simmer Blend.
When it's accompanied with fresh coriander, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil it's much tastier than it's bland appearance would suggest.
In progress it looks a little like this...
And the finished product (Note to self, cracked pepper doesn't look so good in photos)
And introducing a new favourite breakfast!
Almond milk banana smoothie, mixed with oats, chia, sunflower seeds, honey and raisins. And then if that wasn't enough, topped with gojis and some of these tasty little friends.
My test kitchen has produced many other treats that either got eaten before the camera even knew what had happened or just didn't photograph well. Which is a shame, because coconut yoghurt is beyond delicious.
Over the weekend I headed over to my lovely friend Connie's place for a day of raw food experiments. We had been talking about doing this for months and, finally, it happened. On the first day of the Raw Food Rehab initiative. Serendipitous, no? The day ended up not being what I expected and was less about the food and more about about us bonding. Of course, there was of course still plenty of food involved.
Like this delicious apple-banana-coconut pie with rich cashew cream. Which looked fabulous.
Until it came time to serve it up. Then it was just a mess, albeit a very tasty one.
I also tried Philip McCluskey's cauliflower popcorn. I have to say I was hesitant before trying this as I have mixed feelings about raw cauliflower. It surprised me by being totally delicious. It didn't keep well though.
And this morning's breakfast. A banana, pineapple, broccoli, silverbeet, blueberry mesquite smoothie.
I know you're delicious and you know you're delicious, but why do you have to be so freaking ugly? (And what is that green growth in the background! Photography fail!)
I also whipped up a little something to take to work for second lunch. (First lunch was leftovers of a spicy pumpkin, potato, cabbage capsicum mush. Not pictured. It was even less photogenic than the smoothie. Believe it.)
Grated carrot, zucchini and apple with pumpkin seeds and raisins. Topped off with a honey-lemon-ginger dressing, I'm calling it a grated carrot cake salad. It was sweet and spicy and refreshing and generally just grate!
And tonight I headed out for some baked spud goodness with my spudtastic friend Hannah. I'm still not ready to take my camera out in public with me just yet. But soon.
Right now I'm drinking herbal tea and getting ready to curl up in bed with season six of the X-Files and call it a day.
Goodnight!
I was struck by the realisation this morning that the only way I'm going to be able to take great photos is to start by taking crap photos. And lots of them. So, I began with my picturing my breakfast this morning.
A green(ish) smoothie. Banana, orange, blueberries, spinach, bok choy, mesquite and acai. (Ok, so it's a little out of focus. I have great respect for people who can photograph a smoothie in a jar and make it look fabulous)
It's good, see!
I bought some carob yesterday to see if I like it. Turns out I do. Very much. Especially when it's in the form of these tasty carob, tahini and oat balls.
Also featured is today's lunch:
Kelp noodles with a cashew cheese sauce, mushrooms, kale, tomato and capsicum. Leftover from dinner last night. And delicious! Somehow, even after all this faffing about I still ended up being less late to work than usual. Go figure.
On my lunch break I headed down to the market for some supplies and another opportunity to work on my photography skills.
(Hello my deliciously ugly little friends...)
So there it is. My first foray into food photography. Hopefully it can only get better! And hopefully soon. I've got big plans for my camera and I tomorrow. Oh the suspense!
It was a beautiful crisp clear day here in Melbourne and the sunshine was much appreciated after far too long of grey dreariness. And that's from someone who likes winter.
I arrived home feeling quite sprightly (perhaps because I don't have to work tomorrow?) to find this week's box of organic produce was waiting for me on the doorstep (hello there green beans, it's bean far too long...). Plus I picked up a giant (GIANT!) custard apple today that I can't wait to dive into. Simple pleasures.
I'm starting to get excited about the upcoming 11 Week Initiative at Raw Food Rehab that I've signed up for. Excited with a side of apprehension. Because it looks like I can't hide from change any longer. It's all starting this Saturday.
So what are my goals for the initiative? Well there are a few:
- To become more self aware
- To become more positive and recognise the power of my thoughts
- To be more grateful
- To make time for the things I love
- To stay high raw during the winter
- To buy a juicer!
- To put my newly renewed gym membership to good use
- To stop procastinating
- To relax and stop spending so much time in my head
- To start taking photos and make this little place a little prettier
Well, I think that's enough to keep a girl busy for the next three months!
Hello there internet. I thought that perhaps it was time that we met. I've been looking at you from a distance for quite a while but haven't approached you until now. I hope that you will let me have this little place of my own for musing and sharing and growing and learning. I think it will be good for me and in return I'll share with you the things I like, the things I experience, the things I find, the things I learn and the things I make.
So, internet, there it is. I hope that you and I can be friends.
Self explanatory, really. This was roast pumpkin with a broccoli, carrot, cabbage coleslaw topped with a spicy peanut dressing and loads of coriander.
