OK...I have a new found respect for food stylists and photographers like Ryannan at
Sotto il Monte....and well...
Just plain ole foodies like Jain from Once in a Blue Moon and Rachel from coconut and lime.
Recently I was asked to submit a recipe
and photos for a new
online magazine, Ofifteen.cool magazine...check em' out!
Sure....no problem. I cook. Actually I love to cook.
That, apparently is one part of the problem.
I don't measure. So trying to recreate and guesstimate amounts for a real live recipe
was a bigger challenge, that I have no doubt I fumbled.
I mean, is it copacetic to say a bunch of that and a handful of this??
And pictures...are you kidding??
Do you know how hard it is to get pictures of little pieces of chicken breast cooking in a pan
to look appealing?? Hmmmmm? I was NOT born with that gene...yet people do it time and time again. And beautifully. I bow to them.
Like I said. I have major gold star respect for these peeps now.
Thankfully, they only used a couple of the pics in their article...
But because I love you...and because I believe in full disclosure...
I give you the whole shebang....with pics of cooking chicken breast, to boot.
...for your viewing pleasure.
Pasta Parma Rosa...
Or as my 13 year old calls it pink chicken...
She's just not as photogenic...raw or cooked.
but we still love her.
It is important that chicken that will be in a recipe have good self esteem.
It is important that chicken that will be in a recipe have good self esteem.
They grow real veggies...In abundance. We, apparently, grow squirrels who eat veggies.
and cream from said friends cow, Bessie.
naw...just kiddin about the cream...it's straight from a box marked heavy cream
OK...the cooking chicken part. Raw breast (or you can choose thighs)
OK...the cooking chicken part. Raw breast (or you can choose thighs)
sliced across the grain and sauteed in some olive oil (you could add a bit of butter to make it brown a bit more, too)
and this ladies and gent is where I go off that slippery slope
of a little of this, or try some of that...and all the sudden we are making
chicken pot pies instead of parma rosa.
Remove the sauteed and beautifully cooked chicken to a separate plate,
and in the same oil add the onion...saute until it sweats and browns a bit.
Then add Ole Bessie's cream (about a pint...maybe less). Let it bubble and cook
(medium high heat) until it reduces to half of its amount and thickens.
sneak in some fresh ground pepper...some salt....
oh...and some vodka. A splash (maybe 2TBSP)...it'll really bubble now.
let it work it's magic.
Now....add that can of diced tomatoes that was waiting patiently.
...I won't even mention that they could be fresh chopped, or sun dried or even some
jarred tomato sauce...
Throw in a handful of grated Parmesan cheese. Then look at it, taste it
and add more...then some more vodka...then some more pepper...
see?
Chop those fresh scallions
the tomato is just hanging out making sure they are chopped
perfectly
cook some tortellini
my kids always called them tortellini bellybuttons...or maybe that was me.
I love to use the fresh kind...but in lieu of paying $6 bucks for a tiny
container of it I grabbed some dried tortellini. It was not half bad...for half price.
But, here I go, you could use any pasta you have around.
I personally like the squiggly ones that hold the sauce...just so.
I usually put the pasta on a big white tray...pour the chicken in it's lovely pink sauce
over top...then add a teensy bit more parm.
then scatter those fresh scallions all over.
Ta da.
Then, dig in, and that's where the pictures go downhill again...
fast
and that is where I really appreciate those food stylists.
It is tasty, though.
Try it...I dare ya.
34 comments:
oh yummy! It's going on next week's menu!
Looks great Linda! I think I will make this tomorrow...hopefully I won't eat the whole thing in one sitting...one of the downfalls of living alone :) Oooo...I'm going to pottery class w/ a friend tomorrow night...I think I will invite her here first...
And thanks for making me laugh alot...
You are so funny! Those a pinch here, and handful there sort of recipes are all we have in my house! I love vodka tomato cream sauce! I've never had it with chicken, and I am So going to try your recipe. I'm all for giving the chicky some more self esteem!
Congrats on your recipe being published!
xo Isa
Mmmm...looks soooo good. I'm going to make this very soon!
Oh that does sound delicious. I'll have to wait till my weight is gone to try it though. lol
What a sweetie! Thanks for the mention Linda. You do great work - I've already told all my editors that they just have to check out your blog site. You have a wonderful creative mind & the food looks delish.
I think you did a great job of styling! :) And wow, I am having serious stomach growling problems after seeing that food. Looks fantastic!
Linda!!! This looks so... good! The photos are super duper!! Enjoy!
This looks delicious! I'm definitely trying it.
So that's where my onion went... oh well, it was worth it. :-)
Dang that looks delicious! I can't wait to try making this!
you are so sweet to call me a foodie! fatty and gardener is more my true name...
i loved watching you cook, very fun! it looks delish, or is that the vodka talking! nothing like cocktail chicken~
another super pictorial, lip smacking good~
It looks wonderful Linda. I'll save the "recipe" and try it!
Hey you Linda - I love your style of cooking so much add a little of this and a dab of that is right up my alley. Ah that dish looks positively yummy!
Loved all the pictures Linda - I really enjoyed seeing the whole process of this dish coming together.
Blessings - Debbie
WOW, YUM! gonna try it!!!
Hey Linda - I think you're being too hard on yourself girl! You did a mighty fine job of the shopping, preparation, cooking, styling, photography, eating & cleaning up. Most food mags would have one person to do each of these chores, so bravo to you for your excellent multi-tasking! Although was that a touch of exhaustion I noted in your post!
Millie ^_^
Clean up??! Was I supposed to clean up too???
exhaustion? Nawwwwwwww. (snore)
You've got me starving over here. All I had for dinner was a bowl of cereal, now I might have to go to the grocery store:)
I think your food photo styling is pretty damn good! You should feature one recipe a week. It inspires me to cook!
yum recipe...i am a fan of the vodka splash myself!
That looks so good~ Enjoyed visitng your blog.
Bristol
LOL! That does sound delicious...
This post cracked me up.
Plus I betcha the other pic was totally photoshopped! LOL
oh mine, what a great post, step by step instructions? exactly what i need! and it looks so yummy, i'm drooling all over my keyboard now! ;)
YUMO!!
looks great and so delicious!
And such a lovely food photographer you turned out to be. Love the one of the liquid pouring into the onions! I wouldn't have thought of that!!
This looks fantastic! I'm in the process of cleaning out my pantry and all the pasta I seem to have collected. I'll have to try this next week.
Now,that looks scrumptious! Bet it is good.
Yummy! That looks amazing and.....sooooo easy :)
Linda- I came back to look at this again and to add it to my grocery list for next week!
Have a golden weekend my friend! xoxo
Looks delicious-pictures are great, when I saw the bottle of Vodka and the cream, I knew it was a killer recipe....gonna try it!
Man, why don't you live next door?!
xo xo
Hummmm....Delicious!
Wow! This looks great! You did a wonderful job with your photos- very impressive! And I'm thinking that's not easy to do with food!
Yum! This was dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thanks Linda.
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