eating | food & foto

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{roasted garlic & mushroom couscous}

hey 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!

Tags: batch-cooking, cooking, couscous, eating, food, food and foto, food blog, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography fotography, healthy eating, homemade, meal prepping, mushrooms, recipes, simple recipes

Comments 4 Comments
Categories blogging, food blog, food blogger, food photography, healthy eating, nutrition, the food, the foodie

{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??

Tags: blogging, clean-eating, dinner, DIY, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, healthy cooking, healthy eating, homemade, kiss, simple, what's for dinner

Comments 1 Comment
Categories audrey michelle, blogging, DIY, eat the rainbow, food blog, food blogger, food photography, healthy eating, the food

{savory split-pea soup}

19 Jan

this 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.

Tags: batch-cooking, eat with the seasons, eating, food, food and foto, food blogger, food blogging, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, homemade, I love soup, seasonal eating, simple recipes, soup, winter eating

Comments 2 Comments
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, nutrition, the food, the foodie

{blue cheese steak salad}

11 Jul

i love to enjoy food leftovers the very next day… and it’s even more fun when i create something different with the leftover item i’m using. for example, after making this meal, i use the steak the next day for a yummy salad with blue cheese. it’s one of my favourite go-to meals these days. light and refreshing, but still flavourful and filling. high in protein, and always a crowd-pleaser.

simple ingredients, as per usual {measuring with the heart and “some” of each :

leftover room-temp steak {i typically use grass-fed strip loin}
hard-boiled egg{s}
blue cheese crumbles
chopped crisp romaine lettuce
chopped scallions
blue cheese dressing
croutons {optional}
tomatoes {optional}

this is a staple in the food & foto household. it’s also a big hit at parties or gatherings and is packed with nutrients and flavour! it also makes a good lettuce wrap! i opt for grass-fed meats whenever possible… they are higher in nutrition and i believe they taste so much better!

Tags: blue cheese, easy meal prep, eating, food, food is good, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, grass-fed, healthy, healthy eating, meal prep, recipes, salads, sally salad, steak, yum

Comments 1 Comment
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, recipes, the food, the foodie, the foto

{inspired by : big salad, little steak}

4 Jul

oops, this email was accidentally sent out last month – my mistake… anyway, happy summer, y’all!

i found this recipe through an instagram account {@katherinewants} and i was inspired to try it.

it’s adorably called – “big salad, little steak.”

i have been eating this at least 1-2 times a week, lately. it satiates me in such a way, and it’s also easy to make {now that i’ve mastered it}. i used to be so intimidated by cooking steak… i would always overcook it and/or ruin the overall taste or quality. so i hadn’t tried making it in years. then i discovered this recipe and method for cooking steak, and i am proud to say i’ve been nailing it every time! i don’t have a grill, so using a cast iron pan is perfect for my apartment lifestyle.

i believe three key factors make the main difference in how this steak is prepared :

quality of steack
quality of butter
basting!!!

the best meals always start with some of the simplest ingredients :

grass-fed strip steak
garlic
shallots
rosemary & thyme
grass-fed butter
romain lettuce
parmigiano reggiano
caesar dressing

the best meals also start with some of the simplest techniques :

bring steak to room temperature
season steak liberally with salt & pepper
add steak to a very hot cast iron pan and sear on one side for approximately 2-3 minutes
turn steak on its side to render the fat
flip steak to other side and add butter, garlic, shallots, and herbs
baste, baste, baste – approximately another 2-3 minutes or until internal temp of 110
remove from heat and allow to rest

slice steak to your desired thickness. serve with caesar salad {croutons optional} and a glass of prosecco {maybe-not-so-optional ;)}. Continue reading →

Tags: big salad little steak, carnivore, eating, farm to table, food, food blogger, food blogs, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, grass-fed, healthy eating, inspired, instagram, it's ok to eat meat, katherinewants, photography, quality food, recipes, salad, simple cooking, steak

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Categories eat the rainbow, food, food blog, food blogger, food facts, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{diy dehydrated strawberries}

13 Jun

speaking of strawberries… these are like nature’s candy!

i love to make dehydrated fruit of all kinds! one of my other favourite things to dehydrate is bananas. it’s a great way to preserve in-season foods and enjoy them later. it’s also easy and cost-effective.

strawberries are one of my top favourite fruits to enjoy when they are dehydrated. they are so sweet and so delicious! they curb my craving for gummy bears or gummy snacks, and obviously have way less sugar! the only issue is, they don’t last very long! 😉

Tags: dehydrated foods, dehydrated fruit, DIY, eating, food, food photography, foodandfoto, foodie, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, local, locally grown, photography, seasonal, seasonal eating, strawberries

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{crab and veggie frittata}

7 Nov

oh and speaking of crab recipes… i made this yummy crab and vegetable frittata over the weekend and it was SO yummy! i made two small batches and i reheat them in my air fryer {one of the best investments ever!}

i hadn’t really planned to blog about this, but as i started making it i grabbed my camera and snapped a few fotos to document. as per usual, i try to use what i already have in the kitchen and in this case it was mushrooms, peppers, and onion.

so i chopped them all up and added in my crab meat.

i added a little dried chives, old bay seasoning, salt and pepper, and nutritional yeast, then heated the mixture up in a pan with a pat of butter on low until slightly cooked…

then poured the mixture into these cute little tins, and baked for 15 minutes in a 360 degree oven…

finally, i let the frittata cool for a bit, popped it out of the tin, and put it in the fridge so i could have them for breakfast/brunch in the mornings.

i love a frittata!

Tags: breakfast, brunch, crab recipes, eating, food, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, frittata, recipes, simple recipes, yum

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{sunday (funday) snacks}

18 Jul

speaking of eating seasonally and such…

on sundays lately, i’ve been curating a platter fully of yummy and healthy snacks to eat in leiu of lunch or dinner. i’ll have it out while i am cooking or relaxing or whatever else and just kind of graze on the snacks… basically all day.

here are a couple of pics of how i spent my last 2 sundays :

chianti-wine aged salami, garlic-herb wafer crackers, fresh avocado, fresh pineapple, locally-grown cherries, blueberries, & peaches, super thin pretzels, roasted mixed nuts, truffle parmesan crisps, dehydrated apples, apricots, dates, various chocolate, and a homemade kombucha spritzer mocktail

homemade tuna salad, organic mini toasts, garlic-herb salami, smoked oysters, mixed nuts, homemade pickles, fermented radishes, locally-grown broccoli & cauliflower, fresh avocado, dates, apricots, locally-grown blackberries & peaches, and a ginger tonic mocktail

Tags: 100 mile diet, DIY, eating, flat lay, food, food is love, food stories, foodandfoto, foodie, foodnfoto, foodography, fun, locally grown, organic, photography, platters, relaxing, seasonal eating, seasonal food, seasons, snacks, snax, summer foods, summertime, sunday funday, sunday snacks

Comments 2 Comments
Categories audrey michelle, blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, food stories, fun, photography, recipes, the food, the foodie, whatever

{bodacious blood oranges}

14 Dec

i think it is so incredible how nature provides us with the right types of food for each season.

for example – blood oranges are in season from december to march. which is the perfect time to consume them for that extra vitamin c punch during the winter months!

and aren’t they just so magical?!

Tags: blood oranges, eat the rainbow, eat with the seasons, eating, food, food fotography, food photography, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, magical food, nature, nature knows best, nutrition, oranges, seasonal eating

Comments 1 Comment
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food facts, food photography, health, healthy eating, nature, nutrition, the food, the foodie, the foto

{simple (rainbow) pasta salad}

22 Sep

as you probably know by now, i like to eat with the seasons as much as i possibly can. i enjoy it for lots of reasons. i always look forward to eating whatever vegetables or fruit are best during that particular time of year… and it makes me appreciate them more.

that said, i often struggle with “transitional” times of year – such as the month of september. i find myself unsure about what to wear, what to eat, when to go to sleep. it’s kind of funny but it’s true. {this also applies in the month of may.}

anyway, because i find september to be a transitional month, i also find myself eating transitional foods. i made that term up, but my point is that i’m not ready to start eating soups and squash, but i’m also done with light foods like salads and such. during this transitional time, i usually prepare foods that can be enjoyed hot or cold. and pasta salad is one of those dishes i could enjoy every day during transitional months.

i also really love orzo and i don’t use it often enough.

i whipped up this simple {rainbow} pasta salad and made a huge batch to take to work for lunches.

it’s so easy and so i thought i’d share the recipe… even though i didn’t measure anything, as per usual… but it’s so simple – just chop and toss!

————————————

simple pasta salad :

cooked orzo
diced summer sausage
chopped tomatoes
sliced olives {black & green}
diced red onion
diced banana pepper
diced green pepper
diced cucumber
roasted garlic
crumbled parmigiano reggiano

homemade dressing :

olive oil
apple cider vinegar
spices :
- oregano
- sage
- parsley
- comfrey
- basil
- dill
- tarragon
- garlic
- onion
- salt
- pepper
- bit o’ parm reg

i like to serve mine at room temperature and i sprinkle crumbled italian breadsticks on top…

SO GOOD!

Tags: batch-cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food blogger, food blogs, food photography, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, in the kitchen, kiss, photography, recipes, seasonal, seasonal eating, simple

Comments 2 Comments
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, healthy eating, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{meatless monday : a flavourful riced cauliflower dish}

9 Jul

i made this delicious riced cauliflower one-pot make-ahead meal for lunch last week and it was so yummy, i just had to share the recipe! i love experimenting with random things in the fridge!

i’ve been really into using riced cauliflower as a replacement for grains and it does a wonderful job as an understudy. 😉

riced cauliflower has a great texture and maintains it well during the cooking process. i’ve purchased it both fresh and frozen and they both seem to hold up just fine.

i made this dish as i was trying to use up some leftover ingredients such as frozen asparagus from another recipe. i also had some frozen jalapeños that i grew last year and wanted to use.

so this is what i came up with {amounts are “ish”} :

16 oz. fresh riced cauliflower
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup sweet corn
1/2 cup diced asparagus {mine was frozen}
1 medium size jalapeño, diced {ribs and seeds removed}
2 tbsp hot sauce
1 tbsp cumin
salt & pepper to taste

heat some butter or oil of choice on medium heat and toss in riced cauiflower. cook slowly until al dente. add in asparagus and jalapeño, cook until slightly tender then throw in black beans and corn and cook for another minute or so. sprinkle in hot sauce and spices and toss together. keeps well in the fridge for a few days. can be frozen for future consumption.

organic chicken or grass-fed ground beef makes a nice addition to this recipe. i made this one vegan because i like to eat vegan at least once a week… not for any particular reason other than keeping things in balance 😉

and i just-so-happen to love cumin! it’s one of my favourite spices… do you like cumin?

Tags: cooking, cooking with audrey, easy recipes, eating, food, food and foto, food blog, food blogger, food blogging, food photography, foodnfoto, foodographer, foodography, fotography, healthy cooking, healthy eating, in the kitchen, photography, recipes, riced cauliflower, simple cooking, vegan

Comments 3 Comments
Categories blogging, food, food facts, food photography, food stories, health, healthy eating, recipes, the food, the foodie, the foto

{i am a ritualist}

12 Jun

what can i say?! … i am a creature of habit.

i believe i have always been this way, but i don’t believe i have always lived this way…

over the last couple of years i have been particularly adamant about creating a healthy routine in my life… i have found myself purposefully setting intentions of a grounding “ritual” in my daily life from which i could draw strength.

at the very core of those routines and rituals is my desire for overall well-being.

i’m talking about wellness – inside and out – a sense of harmony… and i do believe that all starts within.

the more within myself i look, the more i realize that i absolutely THRIVE in routine. i believe part of that is because i recognize that all living things are in routine… and all living things exist by “obeying” certain laws of nature, many of which we as human beings are more removed from than i would prefer. nature is cyclical, and it is {for the most part} pretty predictable… therefore, nature also thrives in routine.

think about it…

all that to say, the more in touch with nature i’ve become, the more i’ve realized that i am as much a part of nature as nature itself. my body thrives in rhythm and routine, just as nature does.

one of the things i have been wanting to adopt as part of my healthy routine was including a daily vitamin supplement. although i generally eat a very well-balanced healthy diet, i’ve frequently struggled with finding a vitamin supplement that fit my desire for harmony and also fit my standards for well-being… which, i admit, are pretty high. 😉

and so it is with great enthusiasm that i say – I FOUND THAT!

which brings me to my purpose for creating this blogpost… my new best friend :

my ritual vitamins.

these wonderful vitamins came into my life serendipitously… as do most things that are “meant to be.” 🙂

as i said, i had already set the intent of finding a vitamin to add to my daily routine that would give me what i was looking for… an extension of my already healthy lifestyle choices, and SIMPLICITY.

what i love most about ritual is their simplicity. they have taken the guesswork out for us. instead of stuffing a tablet with unnecessary fillers and/or many of the nutrients that come from an already healthy diet, they’ve only included the 9 nutrients that most women lack or are deficient in… basically, it does what i have always believed a vitamin supplement should do… supplement, or as they say – “fill in the gaps”…

the 9 essential nutrients in ritual are :

vitamin K2
vitamin D3
vitamin B12
boron
iron
vitamin E
magnesium
folate
omega-3

so, instead of buying upwards of 4 or 5 bottles of different supplements, many of which include unnecessary fillers, you get all you need in 2 daily capsules. part of the allure for me is that it truly epitomizes the concept of “less is more.”

another reason i love ritual is the transparency – literally and figuratively speaking. the capsules are literally see-through… and the company is transparent by allowing the consumer to trace the source of each ingredient on their website.

ritual vitamins are made for women. they are non-gmo, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and the company was founded by a woman. these vitamins are designed specifically for women. for one dollar a day, you can invest in your health by supporting an outstanding company that is truly revolutionizing the vitamin industry. plus, you get bioavailable nutrients that help you look and feel your best.

i have chosen to be an ambassador for this incredible brand because i believe in their mission and i am an advocate for voting with your dollars, as in putting your money where it matters. the $30 a month investment is one that provides a wealth of health.

please visit this link to start your ritual today : food and foto loves ritual

and stay tuned for my personal review on how this vitamin supplement has affected my overall well-being.

Tags: abmassador, blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, dairy-free, eating, food, gluten-free, health, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, natural lifestyle, non-gmo, nutrition, opinion, photography, ritual ambassador, ritual review, ritual vitamin review, ritual vitamins, ritualist, sugar-free, thoughts, vegan

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Categories audrey michelle, blogging, food, food facts, food photography, food stories, health, healthy eating, nature, nutrition, the food, thoughts, whatever, writing

{foodie/foto/flashback friday – spring/garden fever}

9 Mar

seriously, though… is it time to garden, yet?! i am so eager to get out and play in the dirt!

i definitely want to grow some {organic} cabbage again this year!

here’s a little flashback friday for ya : to that ONE i grew last year and turned into delicious sauerkraut!

hope you have a great weekend!

Tags: community garden, cooking, DIY, eating, farm to table, flashback friday, food, food photography, foodie friday, foodography, foto friday, fotography, garden to table, gardener, gardening, gardens, grow your own, homegrown, life, love, organic, organic gardening, photography, recipes

Comments 3 Comments
Categories audrey michelle, blogging, food, food photography, food stories, fun, garden, north carolina, organic, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{seriously obsessed with spices}

5 Feb

everyone knows i love to cook.

for the most part, i keep it super simple when making meals. and my philosophy is :

quality in = quality out.

in other words – if you start with good ingredients, you generally end with a good meal…

i have only recently begun experimenting with spices in my cooking. i have been collecting spice jars over the last few years, as i was gypsy-ing around the country… and when i settled in a place i feel at home in, i felt super excited to finally display my spice jars.

i received these cool 3-tiered bamboo spice racks as a christmas gift, and i was so eager to get my spice jars out of the cabinet and onto the counter.

it’s the little things, right?!

something about seeing this beautiful rainbow collection of spices just makes me feel so happy inside. and it’s really been fun to experiment with the different aromas/flavours.

of course, in true audrey michelle form, i alphabetized my spices.

here’s what is in my collection :

some kind of awesome spice my friend brought me from argentina
all-spice
bay leaves
celery seed
chives
cilantro {homegrown and dried}
cinnamon
comfrey
coriander
cumin
curry powder
dill {homegrown and dried}
garlic
ginger
herbs de province
kelp
lemon peel
marjoram
nutmeg
old bay seasoning (can’t live without it)
onion
oregano
parsley
paprika
pickling spices
rosemary
sage
sesame seed (black)
salt (black)
tarragon (LOVE THIS STUFF!)
turmeric
saffron
vanilla

Tags: audrey michelle, blogging, collections, cook, cooking, details, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, foodnfoto, foodographer, foodography, fotography, healthy cooking, healthy eating, in the kitchen, life, organic, organics, photography, photos, spices

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Categories audrey michelle, blogging, details, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, food stories, fun, healthy eating, life, nutrition, organic, the food, the foodie, the foto

{foodie friday : vegetarian buffalo cauliflower bites}

2 Feb

i kind of made these by accident… as in, i-got-super-hungry-and-didn’t-have-much-in-the-fridge-to-eat-but-got-creative-and made-these-buffalo-cauliflower-bites-which-accidentally-turned-out-to-be-ahhhmazing!

…and so i just had to share the recipe. these {veggie} buffalo cauliflower bites would make a great game-day snack for superbowl sunday! and they are a great vegetarian alternative to the classic buffalo wing. {i would devour both!}

i was inspired to make this dish because i was scrolling through instagram and spotted a recipe for cauliflower florets that were battered & fried, and served with buffalo sauce and ranch – like a chicken wing! and i was thinking, “that’s probably sooooo delicious!”

then i remembered that i had frozen riced cauliflower, and i created my own version based on what i had in the fridge…

very simple ingredients :

frozen riced cauliflower
chopped celery hearts
buffalo sauce {i opt for franks!}
ranch dressing {i use brianna’s!}

i began by chopping the celery into approximately 1-inch pieces…

next, i sautéed the cauliflower with a little butter over medium to high heat, adding a little water as i went along to soften the cauliflower a bit more…

then, i added in some buffalo sauce to taste, and cooked until almost al dente…

finally, i scooped some of the cauliflower mixture into the celery bites and drizzled a little ranch dressing on top. it can be a little messy, but that’s what buffalo sauce is all about, right?! 😉

these little buffalo cauliflower bites are soooooo yummy and i will definitely be making them on game-day! it’s always funny to me when i cook something on the fly and it turns out to be my new favourite thing ever.

this was one of those recipes. 🙂

by the way, i didn’t watch one single football game this season, and i could care less about the patriots or the eagles… but it should still be a fun day full of snacks and silliness!

Tags: blogging, buffalo cauliflower bites, cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food blogger, food blogs, food photography, foodography, football, healthy cooking, healthy eating, in the kitchen, photography, recipes, simple, simple recipes, snacks, superbowl, vegetarian

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Categories audrey michelle, blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, healthy eating, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{what’s in my refrigerator}

28 Jan

on sundays i like to do my meal-prepping for the week. i have lots of containers and jars for storing my dry goods as well as my make-ahead meals.

here’s what i created to eat last week :

raw spinach salad
hard-boiled eggs
sautéed veggies for an asian-inspired dish
blanched broccoli
citrus baked salmon
roasted garlic israeli cous-cous
my famous mashed potatoes
raw celery sticks
curried lentils with ham and veggies
sauerkraut (not homemade)
garlic dill pickles (homegrown and homemade)
roasted tomato soup
homemade beef bone broth
potstickers (to go with asian dish)
turmeric tea w/ coconut milk

do you like to make your meals ahead of time? batch-cooking has been something i’ve adopted into my lifestyle over the last few years and it’s really helped me save money and keep my diet in check.

Tags: audrey michelle, batch-cooking, blogging, cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, eating on a budget, food, food and foto, food photography, foodie, foodnfoto, foodography, fotographer, fotography, healthy eating, in the kitchen, meal prepping, photography, recipes, what's in my refrigerator

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Categories audrey michelle, blogging, eat the rainbow, food, fun, health, healthy eating, nutrition, organic, recipes, the food, the foodie, the foto

{the most delicious holiday chocolate!}

18 Dec

i am so grateful for fellow foodie friends who get me! and who send me delicious treats like these decadent holiday-inspired chocolates… that look like logs for a cozy christmas fire! aren’t the beautiful?!

and my goodness they were delicious!

i’m not certain, but i believe the flavours were :

dark chocolate almond
dark chocolate w/ sea salt and peppermint filling
milk chocolate w/ peanut butter filling

needless to say, they didn’t last too long…

Tags: audrey michelle, chocolate, christmas, eating, food, food photography, foodie, foodography, fotographer, fotography, friends, gifts, life, love, photography, snacks, yum

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Categories audrey michelle, blogging, colorado, denver, food, food photography, food stories, fun, holidays, life, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto, whatever

{brunch!}

30 Jul

a perfect cortado paired with a yummy nutella crepe.

nom nom!

Tags: brunch, cafe, cortado, crepe, eating, food, food photography, foodie, foodographer, foodography, fun, nom nom, north carolina, photography, treat yourself, weekends, yum

Comments 1 Comment
Categories food, food photography, fun, north carolina, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto, whatever

{homemade relish with my homegrown cucumbers!}

11 Jul

so, as i mentioned in my last blog – i have harvested well over 200 cucumbers this year from my garden! i wish i would’ve been weighing my harvests, to get more of an idea of yields. however, looking back through the fotos i snapped every time i harvest – it’s safe to say that number is pretty accurate. crazy, right?

anyway, on top of sharing my harvests with neighbors, and consuming a cucumber a day, i also enjoy making pickles and relish with my cucumbers! that’s why i specifically grow the pickling cucumbers. that, and i just think they taste better.

i will share my pickle recipe soon, but for now i want to share this super yummy relish recipe that a good friend of mine passed along to me last year. i love it because it’s very simple and does not have added sugar. the only sweetener is honey and i think it is so well-balanced in flavour. i love add my relish to egg salad or tuna salad. it’s also just good right out of the jar!

homemade pickle relish recipe :

1.5 pounds {pickling} cucumbers, finely diced {mine was homegrown}
1 small onion, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1.5 cup distilled white vinegar
6 tbsp honey
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill {mine was homegrown! 🙂}
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp kosher salt {i used himalayan pink salt}
1 tsp celery ceeds
1.5 cornstarch

directions :

in large saucepan, combine all ingredients except cornstarch. simmer over medium-high head until vegetables are tender – about 8-10 minutes.
in small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2-3 tbsp of the cooking liquid until smooth. add to pan and let cook another 3-5 minutes. cool.
use canning method to preserve, or store in airtight container, chilled, up to 1 month. also freezes well.

i made a lot more than what is pictured – this jar i gave to my neighbours. 🙂

i also tasted mine before adding the cornstarch. if i needed to increase any of the ingredients, i did. i think i added a little extra honey and vinegar to mine because i had a little more than 1.5 pounds of cucumbers. the key is to start with small amounts… you can always add more. i love the colour it turns out – that’s largely due to the turmeric.

i hope you enjoy this recipe and please do let me know if you ever try it out!

thanks for reading! 🙂