Borscht Pasta - doesn't it look yummy?

OK, so not all my photos are as horrific as the pasta borscht above. At least I hope not! I’ve come a long way since I started this blog back in 2009. My earliest posts were definitely cringe-worthy. Yet I know I have a long way to go.

Occasionally I get lucky. One of my favorite serendipitous shots was this one of hot cocoa:

In fact, at first my husband (DH) didn’t believe that I took it!

I can’t blame my bad shots on the camera. DH bought me an older Canon Rebel XT a couple of years ago. Any less-than-droolworthy photos are a result of operator error.

I’ve wanted to take a photography class for awhile now. So I was ecstatic when I was chosen by Collective Bias to participate in a free online food photography class. I had to commit to participating fully over the next six weeks. I’ll be learning about how to use my camera, lighting, props, and post production. Each week includes online readings,  a discussion forum, and assignments. Hopefully by the end you’ll see an improvement in the photos on my site.

I dream of the day that I take photos as well as some of my other favorite bloggers. It would also be nice not to get rejected all the time from the “food porn” site judges (who, I’ve been told, are dull and unsharp). Mostly, though, I want to share the beauty that is inherent in all the local, fresh produce that I feature on this site.

I’m sure I’ll keep you updated from time to time – meanwhile, hopefully you’ll notice an improvement in the quality of my photos!

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1. Top 10 Reasons to Take the Real Food for Rookies Class
2. Valentine’s Eve Cooking Class
3. Sign up for an online cooking class (before you leave for the weekend!)

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1. Soup Recipes Link Up
2. Salad Recipes Link Up!
3. Pasta Recipes Link Up

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OK so maybe I won’t see any doggie baby showers any time soon, but for many of us, pets are members of our family. So it makes sense to get them gifts, too!

I was asked to go shopping for a gift basket recently and report my experiences for a Collective Bias project. It occurred to me that if I didn’t have a dog, I’d have no idea what to get someone who was getting a new puppy. Just like I have no idea what human babies need so I normally get a gift card or go off their registry! Since puppy registries aren’t in vogue, here are some helpful hints:

1. DO find out what breed your friend is getting. Is it large? Small? Does it have hair? (it wouldn’t make sense to get a brush for an Italian Greyhound, for example–I never brush mine because their hair is extremely short)
2. DON’T buy clothes unless you get specific instructions on size. I am actually unable to get clothes at the regular store because the Italian Greyhound body is so unique – anything cut for regular dogs would fit very poorly.
3. DO buy bandanas – they are super cute and since they go around the neck they fit a much wider variety of sizes.
4. DON’T buy collars unless you are sure of the kind that they normally wear. Again, my Italian Greyhounds need a martingale collar since their heads are actually smaller than their necks and they would slip right out of a regular collar.
5. DO buy collar charms or barrettes (if it’s a female dog with long hair).
6. DON’T buy dog food. It is harmful for dogs to switch foods all the time, and most owners are picky about what they feed their furbabies.
7. DO buy treats – especially in the puppy stage when they are going to training classes, a wide assortment is needed.
8. DON’T buy toys with stuffing, unless you are sure that their dog is a light chewer. It’s the equivalent of buying a human child a drum set.
9. DO buy toys that are “stuffing free,” or hardy.
10. DO have fun! There are so many cute pet items available, it’s fun to shop for them.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias

This post shared at I’m Lovin’ It!

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With the holiday season approaching, many of us like to splurge on food items–whether using them to cook special meals, as gifts, or to treat ourselves. I’ve always been intrigued by olive oils, so I was glad when I had the chance to learn more about how to taste olive oil.

To taste olive oil properly, you need two things–good olive oil (like Carapelli–DH will tell you that the stuff from Costco is generally not the “good” stuff LOL) and a small, stemless blue glass. However, I didn’t have a stemless, blue glass, so I used a shot glass instead and just ignored the color of the oil (did you know it has no bearing on the flavor of the oil?)

Begin by warming the oil in your hands through the glass. Then, commence with The Four S’s–Swirl, Sniff, Slurp, and Swallow.

1. Swirl. When you swirl the olive oil in the glass, you release the aroma of the oil’s esters.
2. Sniff. Once the aromas are released, it’s time to sniff! I think it’s the first time I’ve ever actually smelled olive oil, and it was a bit stronger than I anticipated but made me hungry. I inhaled deeply as instructed. There’s a lot more going on there than you’d think.
3. Slurp. This is starting to remind me of wine and beer tasting! To slurp, sip the oil along with some air, which emulsifies the oil and helps spread it throughout your mouth. I did sense some peppery notes, although very faint.
4. Swallow. OK this is a bit tough, but I did swallow a little bit of it. I did not notice any peppery or stinging sensation, which was a question asked in the instructions.

Overall, the Carapelli oil was not objectionable. I’ve had a lot worse, that’s for sure! And, I was glad to find out that it’s 100% Italian, and organic! Now that I know how to taste oil, I can’t wait to try the ones that are in my cupboard, and I’ll also feel more confident when shopping at those fancy kitchen stores

If you’d like to try the Carapelli, the company is offering a $1.00 off coupon:

$1.00 OFF coupon at www.CarapelliUSA.com

This post shared at Kitchen Tip Tuesday

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Tailgating time is here, and Hass Avocados is celebrating by holding a Kick Off with Hass Avocados Recipe Contest! Even though avocados aren’t local to Michigan, I totally <3 them.

And not just for guacamole, although I do love the guac–especially on the Guacamole Cheeseburgers that DH made last summer for the burger cookoff. Avocados are great additions to sandwiches and salads since they are nutrient dense and add good fat to your diet. (Want even more ideas? Check out the Hass Avocados website for lots more avocado recipes.)

Unfortunately, avocados can be a bit expensive. Fortunately, you can win a box of Hass Avocados just by “liking” them on Facebook. They are giving away one box a week from Sept. 5 until Dec. 9, 2011. 

Feeling creative? You can also submit your best avocado recipe for a chance to win the grand prize pack.

PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

(i)Rose Bowl Game® Welcome Reception.
(ii) two (2) standard hotel rooms (based on double occupancy) for four (4) nights Dec 30 to Jan 3
(iii) buffet style breakfast each morning during the hotel stay
(iv) admission for four (4) to the behind-the-scene Rose Bowl Parade® decorating site
(v) prize winner’s choice of attending the Bandfest Event or the Huntington Museum
(vi) photo opportunity at the Rose Bowl® Stadium
(vii) Pasadena, California sightseeing, which may include deluxe air-conditioned motor coach transportation and a professional tour guide
(viii) admission for four (4) to the Tournament of Roses® Parade (grandstand seating)
(ix) admission for four (4) to the Rose Bowl Game® (reserved corner end zone seating), which will be held on January 2, 2012
(x) Rose Bowl Parade® post parade float viewing January 3, 2012
(xi) official Rose Bowl Parade® and Rose Bowl Game® programs
(xii) souvenir name badge.

Seriously, how cool is that? Make sure you check out the official Kick Off with Hass Avocados Recipe Contest page for details (and get your submission in before November 4, 2011).

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One of the reasons people often give for not eating locally is the cost. Slow Food USA is hosting a campaign to help show that it IS possible to eat healthfully on a budget.

On Sept. 17, the campaign will launch with a Day of Action where people can attend any one of  the hundreds of slow food gatherings nationwide. To participate in The $5 Challenge, all one has to do is pledge to cook a slow food meal for five dollars or less, or attend a local event. These events and meals can take any form: some people will host potlucks where they bring food that costs them less than five dollars to prepare. Some people will cook for a crowd and charge five dollars or less at the door. Some people will cook for themselves or their family. The only thing meals need to have in common is to reflect slow food values and to cost no more than five dollars per person. Those taking the challenge are also encouraged to register their events and to share their stories at SlowFoodUSA.org/5Challenge.

What are YOUR tips for eating well on a budget?

This post shared at Frugal Friday and Fight Back Friday

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Hello! It’s my last day in Uganda and I finally have a few minutes to breathe. It has been an incredible experience, although I’m ready to see my husband and my two dogs again.

The first week we were here, we visited with the pastors of PAG in Uganda in the Kabale area. During the day we saw their various ministries, including HIV and AIDS support groups. At night we would get together at one of the pastor’s houses and have a delicious meal. It was a time of excellent fellowship.

Both Sundays we worshiped at the local PAG church. When I get back to the states and have access to faster internet I will post video!

This past week was spent saying goodbyes, and also visiting Queen Elizabeth Park. It was a very nice resort compared to the guest houses we’d been staying in. Everyone loved the consistent electricity and hot showers. We also got lucky and saw tons of animals on our game drive, including a leopard, a lion, and a hyena, which is not common to see on one trip. We also saw lots of cape buffalo, elephants, baboons, birds of various kinds, water bucks, Ugandan kob (kind of like a deer with cooler horns), hippos, and crocodiles. On the way back we saw zebras.

Hope to post more next week.

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1. Uganda, Days 6 & 7: Joy Comes to the Widows and Orphans of Uganda
2. Uganda, Day 5: Lake Bunyonyi
3. One Month Until I Leave for Uganda!

Packing, working, unplugging for now. Hope to check in from time to time. Will be back by August 5. In the meantime, be sure to check out some of my favorite summer recipes.

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It’s funny now our North American assumptions pop up when we least expect it. For example, I arranged to borrow a wireless modem for my laptop from the Uganda main office. “Great,” I thought. “I’ll be able to blog from the field!” Except there’s a limit on the amount of GBs I can use. I have no idea how much GBs use. Does it make a difference how many photos I upload? Do I need to scale them down? Hmmm. Then, when I mentioned to my boss that I’d have the modem so I could be reached by email, he said “oh, yeah, it will be agonizingly slow since we’re used to DSL in the office. And sometimes you have to go to a different town in order to get service.”

And then, yesterday I received this note from our field office:

“The Uganda power situation has suddenly deteriorated since July 4 when several large generators were shut down over back payments due from government. Since no one is taking the blame (someone else is at fault it seems) it is hard to know how long the situation will continue. Maybe you were already planning to come with flashlights but this development reminded me to remind everyone in the group to carry a flashlight for those times when the power is out at night and no backup is available.”

The things I take for granted!

Be assured, I will do my best to blog from the road. I’ll figure it out. If not, I’ll catch you up when I come back.

Top 10 Tips for Traveling Overseas

1. Remember, it’s not weird or bad, just “different to me.”
2. Pack a toothbrush and Cottonelle wipes on your carry on.
3. Dr. Bronner’s is a great multitasker: great for shampoo, body wash, and cleaning clothes in the sink. I hear you can even brush your teeth with it, though I’ve not tried.
4. Eye drops are great for the dry airplane air.
5. Pack protein bars or powders – just in case.
6. Melatonin can help with jet lag.
7. Pack light.
8. Keep your plane ticket, passport, and credit card in a safety pouch. As long as you have that, you can at least get home!
9. Try local foods.
10. Pepto Bismol is more gentle on your stomach/system than Immodium.

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1. The Traveling Omnivore’s Dilemma: Eating Healthy on the Road
2. Uganda, Days 6 & 7: Joy Comes to the Widows and Orphans of Uganda
3. Uganda, Day 1: Arrival