I am sorry to report that the USB for my camera is MIA, so today's post is picture-less. But of course I promise that next time my post will only be pictures, so no complaining. I've been up to all sorts of things lately. In the kitchen I feel like I haven't been too creative, mostly because it is HOT.
In an effort to avoid the stove, I purchased "Ani's Raw Food Desserts," a raw food cookbook. Everything is vegan, gluten free, and sugar free, and they recipes look amazing! I can't believe just about everything in "Ani's" is made of nuts and dates. My experiments with the raw will begin soon, because I picked up some pitted California dates and a huge bag of raisins (and some chocolate chips), so I am ready!
As always I was craving chocolate last night, and luckily before I started baking I stumbled across a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe. I used the recipe from Dreena Burton's website (the author of "Vive le Vegan"). And they turned out fantastic!
Like her non gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, these were a one bowl recipe. (My favorite thing). She uses unrefined sugar and maple syrup as sweeteners. The dough is made of brown rice flour, which as first taste is very, very grainy. I actually was so anxious to try one of the cookies I took one right off the baking sheet, while it was still hot. It crumbled in my mouth but I didn't like the texture, and I was scared that gluten-free just wasn't for me.
...but I waited, and I let all the cookies cool before diving in again. Oh what a difference ten minutes makes! Once cooled, these cookies were delicious! I even brought them over for my friends to try, and they received five stars.
So now I'm on a gluten-free kick! I'm snacking on brown rice pasta with marinara sauce at the moment, and it is spectacular. Although I can tolerate (mostly) gluten, I love the idea of being gluten-free, because it truly does make me feel better. The only downsides being it takes a little more effort, and costs a little more money.
Other than all that, it's been lazy days here (except for working days). Tonight may bring raw carrot cupcakes...we'll see. =]
<3K
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Phood Photography
I am awful at photographing food. I was lucky for my birthday my parent's bought me my first digital camera, a cute little Nikon Coolpix. You can imagine my excitement as I fooled around with the different settings and discovered, a food setting! Specifically meant to photograph food. I admire the wonderful images of beautifully arranged plates and decorated cakes I see all over the web and in books, but I have never been able to recreate a wonderful picture of food. Maybe my food is just ugly? Or shy. Or not photogenic.
One thing that is cool about the "food setting" on my camera is that it can focus in on something up close, and leave the background to sort of blur. Example:
That is a chocolate chip cookie. I got yet another recipe from the Rice Dream Vanilla carton. Rice Dream recently started selling their vanilla flavored rice milk in the refrigerated section, like Silk. On the back of the carton is a recipe for sugarless chocolate chip cookies! They were tasty, and simple to make. Despite the lack of sugar, I enjoyed them because I knew they were "healthy" (Okay not really.) They were extremely cakey and moist, which I liked. They won't win any "cookie of the year award," but Rice Dream cookies weren't half bad. If your in a pinch, they're great because I guarantee you'll already have all the ingredients.
Random pancakes:
Seriously someone help me out with food images. I need pointers. (Above is a "Banana Bliss" pancake from Vive le Vegan)
And I promised pictures of vegan pizza:
Homemade crust from The Student's Go Vegan Cookbook.
As mentioned before, I love Daiya cheese. I used the cheddar flavor to make mac'n'cheese, and it was quite heavenly. It was comfort food I needed, although I am now craving the vegan mac and cheese from Dreena (Vive le Vegan author), who posted a recipe on her site using cashews. There are quite a few vegan mac'n cheese recipes that instead of using a fake cheese product, use nuts, nutritional yeast, or even soft tofu.
For my father's birthday a few days ago I did attempt my first pie. I was so intimidated. My dad is the pie man, not me. I am cake girl. However we did end up with an edible blueberry pie, and I am eager to learn more from the pie-world. Sorry no pie picture!
Last night I also discovered two of my new favorite things: chocolate covered espresso beans, and pineapple salsa. I still am excited for summer, and for creating delicious summer food, so don't worry. Of course I'll still use the oven, even though sometimes I throw a fit at baking and just want cakes to make themselves. Whatever the case, happy 4th. =]
<3 K
One thing that is cool about the "food setting" on my camera is that it can focus in on something up close, and leave the background to sort of blur. Example:
That is a chocolate chip cookie. I got yet another recipe from the Rice Dream Vanilla carton. Rice Dream recently started selling their vanilla flavored rice milk in the refrigerated section, like Silk. On the back of the carton is a recipe for sugarless chocolate chip cookies! They were tasty, and simple to make. Despite the lack of sugar, I enjoyed them because I knew they were "healthy" (Okay not really.) They were extremely cakey and moist, which I liked. They won't win any "cookie of the year award," but Rice Dream cookies weren't half bad. If your in a pinch, they're great because I guarantee you'll already have all the ingredients.
Random pancakes:
Seriously someone help me out with food images. I need pointers. (Above is a "Banana Bliss" pancake from Vive le Vegan)
And I promised pictures of vegan pizza:
Homemade crust from The Student's Go Vegan Cookbook.
As mentioned before, I love Daiya cheese. I used the cheddar flavor to make mac'n'cheese, and it was quite heavenly. It was comfort food I needed, although I am now craving the vegan mac and cheese from Dreena (Vive le Vegan author), who posted a recipe on her site using cashews. There are quite a few vegan mac'n cheese recipes that instead of using a fake cheese product, use nuts, nutritional yeast, or even soft tofu.
For my father's birthday a few days ago I did attempt my first pie. I was so intimidated. My dad is the pie man, not me. I am cake girl. However we did end up with an edible blueberry pie, and I am eager to learn more from the pie-world. Sorry no pie picture!
Last night I also discovered two of my new favorite things: chocolate covered espresso beans, and pineapple salsa. I still am excited for summer, and for creating delicious summer food, so don't worry. Of course I'll still use the oven, even though sometimes I throw a fit at baking and just want cakes to make themselves. Whatever the case, happy 4th. =]
<3 K
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