I’m still working my way through the Eating Well 25 Quick Vegetarian recipes. Last weekend, I made the Egyptian Edamame Stew.
I didn’t make any changes to the recipe besides adding a little bit of feta cheese to the top. When I first read this recipe, I wondered how stew like it would be since there was no broth. However, the juices from the canned tomatoes did make it stew-like. This was decent, but not wonderful. I probably won’t make it again. It was sort of bland.
I got home a little earlier tonight (7:30 as opposed to 8; I ran four miles instead of running and weight lifting) so I didn’t feel as rushed/famished as I did last night and I was able to make another recipe: the Southwestern Tofu Scramble.
I changed the recipe a little bit according to what I had on hand. Instead of corn, I used frozen peppers and instead of scallions, I used a quarter of an onion. I wasn’t sure if Jason would like this or not since he’s just sort of meh on tofu dishes, but we were both big fans. I would definitely make this again.
I have been struggling to find a good place to take pictures. For some reason, the white balance gets all wonky when I shoot at my dining room table so I’m constantly trying to find a better place. I decided that the dining room floor might work. Murphy did not understand that food on the floor does not equal food for Murphy.
(He didn’t get any. But maybe I should reconsider my photography setup anyway.)
I do the same thing. Usually the floor near my sliding glass doors is the best and I have 4 dogs and 2 kids to keep away from whatever I’m photographing
I had the same problem in our last place. There was one windowsill that had enough light to photograph on and the cats loved to jump up and sniff my food as I was trying to snap a picture. Now we have plenty of light, but there’s no door on my “office” so I have to put up baby gates to keep out the hungry vultures.
I’ve found that tweaking the settings on my camera really helps with evening pictures – if you have a manual setting on your camera (and a tripod really helps), there are a couple tricks I can share that I have learned. It was easier when it was light out late into the evening for sure!
Yeah, I should use the tripod more often. I use an external bounce flash a lot of the time. (I have the same camera as you do.)
What are your tricks?
I keep my ISO @ 800 indoors & at night. My 50mm lens allows me to make the F-stop really small, which really helps if you don’t mind a smaller focal point. I don’t know if you have under-counter lights on your cabinets, but I have been putting my food under those and the kitchen lights on – which seems to provide a lot more light in the right places.
I have that lens too but I don’t like how you have to be so far away from everything. I want to get a 35mm prime lens.
I don’t have under counter lights, but I sometimes do use the light under the range on my stove.
I know what you mean, but once you get used to it I think it does take beautiful pictures.
Love that picture of you and Murphy. Doesn’t he know his mom is a food blogger?
haha Murphyyyy!
I am impressed that you are still plowing through the book because I feel like you haven’t really loved anything you have made out it.
I liked the toasted bean and pita salad a lot, but you’re right, I haven’t really loved anything else. However, the tofu was good.
Aww that is so cute re: Murphy! He was probably thinking ‘score! a whole plate for me?! you’re too kind!’ The dinner looks delish!
Too bad the stew wasn’t great, it sounded promising. I’m meh on tofu too and get scared to buy it, but with a great review maybe I should try this.
Hahaha Murphy cracks me up! He is so cute. The tofu scramble does sound tasty!
I hate when a recipe sounds so good and then it’s bland.
I’m struggling with a good dinner picture taking spot myself!
I love Eating Well recipes! I’ve only had a tofu scramble once and wasn’t a huge fan, but I should give it another go.
I’ve pretty much given up on getting good pictures. I dropped my camera a few years ago and it’s been blurry ever since!
My dog, Scooter, doesn’t even understand the concept that food on the table is not food for Scooter. Turn your back on it — wherever it may be — and he considers it “game on!”
I actually love the eating well recipes!
Any of the photos that I take at night look crappy. And I’m usually too hungry to care. Actually, I rarely put in the effort to make my photos look super wonderful when taking them and always just figure I can tweak ‘em in Photoshop.