Nicely done Cliff.

I can see that cliff is, was, a pro photog . . .

Almond dressing recipe for Webb

3/4 cup almonds, skinned and toasted
2/3 cup dashi
7 tbsp rice vinegar
4 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp sugar
Stick it all it the food processor and whir to a sauce.

You can buy instant dashi, or make it
2 qt cold water
a few pieces of kelp, totaling about 20 inches
Kelp in cold water, bring slowly to almost boiling (bubbles coming from bottom of pot), hold there for 10 min or until kelp is soft
Remove kelp
Add 1/2 cup cold water
Add 3 cup bonito flakes
Bring back to boil, then turn heat off, wait until flakes sink to bottom (a couple minute), then strain stock (cheesecloth, chinois, etc) to remove flakes and get clear broth

You can scale down the dashi recipe, and you can also bugger all the subtlety and simply stick a handful of kelp and bonito flakes in water, bring to boil, off heat, let it sit for awhile and strain.

thx, jyl!

Yes, I think the ante has been upped. We will all have to plan our meals, cook them & now photograph them in 'Gourmet" style. Unfortunately, hot food is more important to me (maybe a tiny bit obsessively ;)) so you'll get the same old 'Quick Piks' shot . . .

Ian

Okey Dokey...

Before

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340410205.jpg

After

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340410247.jpg

More healthy stuff. Cauliflower, par boiled, drizzled w/ olive oil, melted butter, salt, pepper and lots of garlic, broil until just starts to blacken, then sprinkle with feta cheese, broil again until that just starts to blacken, add some pico de gallo for pretty.

<a href="http://s800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/jylmks/?action=view&current=64bf2bc8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy282/jylmks/64bf2bc8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

sorry..i have a degree in photography.

but i am using a regular point and shoot :)

hints: use natural light..north facing window would be EXCELLENT!! and dont center the food, stand back and zoom in. that's it.

Since I can't cook.... I'll give you a few photos of the places I've been on this trip to Destin FL for work...

Lunch Friday was a Pastrami on Rye under the 1.3MM Ceiling...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340513338.jpg
Mcguires Irish pub, 1 dollar bills hanging all over the walls and ceiling. They claim over 1.3 million of them....

Then on the gulf side place for a swordfish steak and veggies for dinner....
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340513467.jpg
And I'm secure enough in my manhood to admit that is definitely a Pina Colada next to the plate.... I felt it was fitting sitting on the beach... ;)

Then tonight was a garlic crusted grouper with half of a lobster tail....
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340513592.jpg
Had a corona while I was sitting on the beach waiting to go to dinner. Luckily we didn't have to wait near as long as the people that were waiting when we left...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340513696.jpg

Then I went out for an ice cream cone.... Key Lime pie ice cream on a good waffle cone.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340513772.jpg

You can now resume your regularly scheduled lunacy....

An internship isn't supposed to make you fat :)

You having a great time? Learning? Parent miss you?

Meat

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/0d155a60.jpg

Potatoes

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/461df8f8.jpg

Back to the health kick shortly.

Jezuz. How big is that steak? 2lb? Looks awesome! That table top is fantastic too.

Ha ha, it is illusion. The plate is small, like a little salad plate. The table is my cutting board. The steak was 0.85 lb when bought, but I left it unwrapped in the fridge for a few days to dry out, then straight from fridge to a hot cast iron pan to brown. I think the still-cold interior resists overcooking and let's you get the exterior browner. And - yes, yes, I'm smug - I only had 1/2 of it for dinner. Trying to make some progress on the weight loss challenge!

You guys are making me hungry!!!

I love steak. John , if you put that steak in the freezer for a little while, the dry interior will dehydrate the surface for a great sear. I do it backwards now. Dry it w paper towels. And cook it in a low oven. Then sear it. It gets crusty!

I've not jumped on a scale... But seeing how I clocked around 60hrs last week... I can pack away a few calories... ;)

The internship is pretty great, and I'm learning a ton. I think my mom is finally coping with me being gone, but I'll get to see them for a few hours this week, and then I'll be back home next week for a few days.

Light dinner last night...
 

Light dinner last night...


White bean salad, crudites (small slice of stale bread with stuff on them), peppers stuffed with basil and beans. Very nice little dinner!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340660793.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340660814.jpg

That looks good! Cool idea with the peppers.

Thanks! Beth is very creative in the kitchen. She can make an air sandwich taste good! The fresh herbs are from our backyard. We're growing Stevia and are planning on making our own Stevia extract to sweeten our coffee and tea since I don't (can't) use sugar.