whatever it looks like

congee

gosh, i can't even quite remember when these photos were taken, but just the fact that i can't speaks to how long it's been since i've picked up my camera, and more so, since i've had the time to photograph food. i suppose it's not really time as much as good lighting, or good fresh seasonal food, or the desire to sit down and write about it. well, daylight savings time begins in two weeks, and spring officially starts a week after that, so it's time to unveil myself from this tragedy of a winter then. not tragic, just lethargic, filled with the promise of too little and the actuality of too much. vague, yes, but now that i've settled into some bright ideas for the future, all of that humor and ease and desire to take pretty pictures is back.

bountiful

there was no recipe to this particular morning; i was awoken by the sharp twang of rocks on my window and giggling. my beautiful friends flipped me from my dreams so i could enjoy the soft saturday morning light, which is about the only perfect light in my kitchen. whole, fresh fruits from harvest, accompanied by a myriad of flavor enhancers: nut butters (almond, peanut, and tahini), raspberry and apricot jams, cracked peppercorns, pink sea salt, honey, and fresh herb cheese spread, in any and all combinations. apples, oranges, bananas, grapefruit, radishes, sourdough, soft-boiled eggs, hazelnuts (albeit burnt), cut up and used as plates. there was little cooking done here, rather replaced by a whole lot of sampling. the only bit of stove-top work was a quick congee i dashed off with some white rice, millet, yams, and scallion: fresh, light, mildly spicy, and pleasantly flavorful.

my beautiful friends

the rest of the sunlight was not wasted of course.