Artichoke Spinach Dip.

My culinary mentor was a man named Flanny. He was a large, bald, diabetic, Irish man. Flanny was the chef that took me under his wing, and taught me almost everything I know about the culinary world. I worked with him in a kitchen that specialized in different kinds of game, we made Elk, Veal, Bison, Venison, any kind of game you could imagine. I worked with him for years, and when I go home to Ohio, I have to go to the restaurant and visit him. He is an incredible man, and I owe this recipe to him.

I am going to share my (Flanny's) Artichoke dip recipe. Every time I make this dip, it is a hit of the party. It is not the most typical Artichoke dip, that you normally see at parties. I add a few different things into it, and I don't puree the ingredients. I like to see and feel what I am eating. I used to have to make bin after bin of this dip at the restaurant I worked at. On a daily basis, I would be up to my elbows in this dip, it was that popular. I add crab to it sometimes, or spinach, it all depends on my mood, and my budget. But I typically make the artichoke the star of the show, because they are so buttery and delicious. I really believe they give a very distinct taste, that is unachievable by any other ingredient. Along with the Artichokes, DO NOT leave out the Cumin. The cumin is the spice that everybody will be asking you at your party, saying "what is that deep flavor in the end". I typically don't tell people, ha, it is my secret (not so much anymore) ingredient.

So here is my extra special Artichoke dip...


ARTICHOKE DIP

Ingredients.
1 cup Mayo
1 cup Sour Cream
1t. Cumin
1t. Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 small yellow onion
1 Can Artichoke Hearts
1 box frozen chopped spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Handful of Breadcrumbs.

Process.
1. Mix Sour Cream, May, Cumin, Onion Powder, and Salt and Pepper together in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Chop kinda small, the onion, add to the Mayo mix.
3. Chop the Red Bell Pepper in small pieces. Place Red Bell Peppers in a paper towel and squeeze the juices out. You don't want the dip to be too soupy. Add to mix.
4. Chop Artichokes, not too small, make them the star! Add to the mix.
5. Thaw frozen Spinach, and ring out in towel, add to the mix.
6. Add Parmesan Cheese, and mix everything together.
7. Place in oven proof dish, add Breadcrumbs on top. Place in preheated oven at 350' for 15 minutes, or until bubbly.
8. Add Chips, Pitas, veggies, Serve. Enjoy!

I promise you, you will be the hit of the party if you take this dip with you.

FOOD IS ART IS LIFE

Holga

When I was in college, almost every year our professors would challenge us and get us away from the expensive equipment, and tell us to make a strong image with a $15 toy camera. This was always one of my favorite assignments. My favorite toy camera is the Holga. It literally is a plastic camera, but the cool thing about it is, that it takes medium format film. Yes. Film. The entire back of the camera comes off to insert the film, and in doing that it sometimes has light leaks, which create cool effects on your images. This camera is also awesome because it is all totally manual. You can forward the film yourself, which really means that you can do panoramic images, double exposures, and whatever your silly mind can think of. I could seriously talk for hours about this camera. I used to work in a camera store, and a co worker of mine called me the "Holga girl" because whenever I sold one, I would talk forever to the customer about it. I almost always keep my Holga in my purse, when my friends aren't borrowing it, and the image above is a recent image I took in my kitchen when I was cooking. I got some really fun images out of the few rolls of film I took.

Recently, I have noticed that it is "hip" to be a photographer. I know it is "hip", I am a self proclaimed awesome "hip" photographer. Insert sly ego comment here... All in all though, I have noticed that these toy cameras are being sold in clothing stores, that are marketing to the hipster, indie, too cool for school generation. The funniest part about it, these stores are selling these cameras, literally for 7x the normal cost. I think it is silly, but at the same time, I wish I was that smart to up sell my stuff. Odd.

I think I will stick to my $15 camera, and my own "hip" creativity.

Food is Art is Life

From my head down to my legs...I love Eggs.

I typically do not have a very strict schedule in the mornings. Although, when it comes to the weekends, I do try to always have at least one, if not two morning meals. My favorite breakfast delight is simple with my eggs over easy, there needs to be bacon involved, a sort of bread for dipping, and my favorite breakfast potatoes. I could eat that breakfast everyday without a problem. Although my mornings tend to be ever changing, so I do not get to indulge as often as dreamed. But eggs are such a staple in the culinary world, they are used for baking, frying, scrambling, deviling, poaching, pretty much everything. I am always impressed when I am shown a different way of approaching the egg.
I am constantly surrounded by people who are intrigued about food, and want to share new things with me. One of my best friends, recently was on the quest for the best deviled egg recipe, and she nailed it! Yum. Another wanted to have a scramble, a Tofu scramble, sans egg. But that was still delicious. A very unique one is going to be the recipe I share today. It is a super simple Salsa Egg.


Sexy Salsa Eggs.
Ingredients.
2 eggs
1 cup. Salsa (any variety...verde..mild..hot.)

Directions.

1. Use a non stick saute pan, and pour the salsa in the pan, over medium heat. Let it warm up.
2. Crack eggs directly on top of salsa. As if you were going to fry the egg on top. Cover the pan, and let it cook. By covering it, it will essentially steam the egg, to leave you with a nicely cooked spicy egg.
3. Eat!



A friend of mine showed me how to do this, and I was very impressed by the different technique. By cooking the egg in the salsa, it adds a tremendous amount of flavor to the egg, and the entire meal. You could add some tortilla chips on the side, and maybe an avocado on top. That is the fun in cooking, make it your own!

Food is Art is Life

Animal Food???

Some people say that I talk to my cat Kaedella too much. I tend to agree with them, but I believe it comes with the self employed studio at my apartment territory. I am absolutely fine with my relationship with my cat, I saved her life...and she is slowly saving mine, by listening to me. Which gets me to my point of this entry. I have often heard that people tend to look, act, and relate to their animals. If that is the case, I am a tired, multi colored, crazy, bitchy, passionate, stubborn, loyal person. So be it. So I decided to make a photo project out of animals, people, and food. Starting with my Kaedella, who tends to not like her picture taken. I figure I will photograph the animal, the owner, and the typical foods that coincide. Combining all my favorite things in life.

Chicago is a very animal friendly city. Every where you look you see a cat in the window, a dog playing in the park, and the occasional unique animal. So I am now on a mission to capture the animal and the owner. I think it could lead to a fun exploration of Chicago, and her pets.

Test Shoot

Recently I have been playing in the studio, doing test shoots to fill up my time. I went to my favorite produce market Stanley's the other day and saw that they had some White Asparagus. So I figured, that could be a fun challenge. And a challenge it was! Turns out the thought of photographing white asparagus sounds like a good idea, but it is white, which makes it hard to make it interesting with contrast and what not. So I added some other elements, like some wild rice, and a cutting board under, to add some more texture and color. So here is the final product.

Inspiration.

Recently, I have been overwhelmed with events that have completely inspired me. For starters, I have never felt so hopeful and inspired by a presidential inauguration than this one today. For my entire life, I have been immersed in politics, through my father. I begrudgingly would help his judicial campaign after campaign, but this past year his congressional campaign was different. I really enjoyed being apart of what was happening in our country, and I still do. I can't wait for what is to come for our country. Horray! New President Obama!

Another recent inspiration I witnessed was my brother. My brother called me a few weeks ago telling me that he was going to be in Ft. Wayne Indiana for a basketball tournament. So, me, being the best sister in the world went to Indiana to see the tournament. My brother is part of the Wheelchair Cleveland Cavalier basketball team, and it was absolutely inspirational. I have seen my brother play basketball before, but at this game, he made his first basket, and I was there taking pictures. It is fun! I am always amazed by what people can accomplish when they put their minds to it. My brother makes me smile, and motivates and inspires me on a daily basis. It was only two years ago that he had his dirt biking accident that left him paralyzed, and he is out there every day working, and exploring new adventures.

So today is about inspiration. We learn, we grow, and we stand up, brush ourselves off, and try again.

Food is Art is Life

Spring is on my mind.

Remember when it was warm outside? Remember meeting friends after work at your favorite watering hole, to sit and sip on the sidewalk, or in the beer garden? Yea me too, I was thinking about spring at the same time I was thinking that 24 degrees was warm. It has been a hard and cold winter! While I was thinking of my new self promo, all I could think of was spring. So, I figure, I should attempt to get people excited about warm weather. I don't think it will be hard, I know there are many people here that were ready for Spring when the first snow flakes fell.

Work has been a bit slow for me lately, so I have decided to dive head first into my studio. Cook...shoot...conceptualize....shoot....continue on.

My girlfriend also told me today, that I have stopped posting recipes, and she is right. I have been a bit behind on cooking lately, so I will make something delicious in honor of Mary, and have a juicy recipe in the close future. It may not be Vegan though Mary...but we will see.

Oh yea! On a side note, My alma mater Ohio University, is none only than Barack Obama's new white house photographer's former employer. I am rather proud to say that I went to the same school, as Pete Souza was teaching at. Granted, he was not my professor, but we know whats up...that's all that I am saying :P OU...Oh Yea!

Food is Art is Life

I officially have a studio!

The new equipment has arrived in full, and is all set up in the basement of my building! (Shhh don't tell my landlord) But my new camera, shooting table, lights, softboxes...and everything are ready to play. I haven't felt this motivated, and inspired in a while. I immediately ran to my kitchen, and put together a mini photo shoot. Clearly, I still have some leftover Christmas things, so my shoot was of some Mint Hot Cocoa. It is still winter, and in the latest issue of Food and Wine, they had an entire section on Hot Cocoa. I think it is great, it is snowy and cold outside, so lets stay warm with Cocoa.

I am excited, motivated and inspired...be expecting more images to come!

Food is Art is Life

2009 is on my side!

Today is a great day. I just got home from a very successful interview at a wedding studio, to get some new fresh side work. I believe that it went well...and I may have my foot in the door. They are checking my background, so I figure that is a good sign. I also had a fabulous time helping on a photo shoot with a very talented photographer that I respect and look up to last night. She is doing a new project with Burlesque dancers, and everyday things. It was really fun! I also got my reciept for my new studio lights in the mail today, so that means they are close behind. Horray! I am so excited for the new year....new adventures....new happiness!

Food is Art is Life

2009 is Here to stay!

Happy New Year to all! 2008 was a year to remember in the photography world. This past year challenged every single photographer, not to mention everybody else. I have made some investments into some new equipment, and I have decided "to go big, or go home". Incredibly cliche, but I am going to keep moving forward. To start the new year, I am going to have a print sale....so keep your eyes peeled. Details to follow soon!