Introducing my Food Photographer - Jennifer Jagusak

A few months ago I took a class at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC for a class on Food Styling and Photography. It was a weekend intensive course on the art of styling food with tips and tricks on how to make your food look mouth watering- when really, if you saw how food was made to look good, you would have to throw it away, unfortunately.


I met the creme de le creme of food photography Jamie Tiampo and James Peterson along with food stylist Laurie Knoop. With my Cannon digital Elph I muddled along to take quality photographs - well I tried to at least. Truth is after the class I am still struggling to take nice photos. Main problem is my digital Elph- I need to upgrade to a DSLR camera, the other issue is capturing natural lighting, and lastly props.


Since that weekend at ICE was so intense, I became friendly with the food stylist Laurie, who kindly suggested that I get a professional food photographer to take my photos for my cookbook. She probably saw there is little hope in my photo taking skills. She was fascinated by the concept of my cookbook- Silk Road Vegetarian Cooking made Modern.


Most of the recipes in my upcoming cookbook need to be photographed because very little is written- in the form of recipes about Central Asian Rice dishes. The rice dishes require prep time and planning and quite a number of steps, which is where a picture can help the home cook get an idea of what the end result should look like. Very important in a cookbook.

Asian Slaw on countertop

Laurie heard of a woman, Jennifer Jagusak who was looking to break into Food Photography. Lucky for me.... really lucky for me Jennifer lives in the next town over from me - Port Washington. I called her and she was enthusiastic to be a part of my cookbook on Vegetarian Silk Road Cooking. She never really heard much on that cuisine - let alone tasted it, so felt an interest to not only shoot the photos, but also learn about Silk Road cuisine.

Arranging a Beet Salad

A couple of months after that class at ICE, Jennifer came to my home on a Sunday morning with all her beautiful props that were perfect for the shoot. It was an assembly of bright vibrant color cloths, interesting shapes of bowls and plates all with a Asian vibe. It was perfect. Jennifer really understood what I was trying to get across. She also made sure to take photos of the inside of my home, which is an eclectic mix of African and Asian art objects and furniture.

Me and Flynn in my backyard. I know.... we both have so much hair, you can't even see us

On that Sunday, I prepared about 15 different dishes - focusing on the Appetizers and Salads. It was not an easy task at all! Although very exciting to see how Jennifer skillfully amped up the foods into cookbook quality photos.

Spinach Quiche

The photos presented here are the out takes and we don't intend to publish them in the cookbook. Wait till you see the mouth watering photos that will go into the cookbook. Stay tuned....

That's me

You will also find the link to the photos that we - the students at ICE took for our photography class. Take a look at the lineup of talent in my class.

Quinoa and Broccoli with Japanese Carrot-Ginger Dressing

I was in an epicurean culture shock when I first arrived in Tokyo at the age of nine to visit my grandfather, who had lived there for some twenty years as a rare pearl dealer. My parents wanted to expose me to Japanese culture, which included sushi, but I was not a fan of raw fish wrapped in lettuce of the ocean. I still remember looking down the street at rows and rows of restaurants in the Roppongi neighborhood, the epicenter of Tokyo nightlife, and spying not one Western eatery. Finally I succumbed to a Japanese restaurant and we ordered a carrot ginger salad. That was my first introduction to this delightful Japanese condiment. Years later, I discovered from Good Housekeeping magazine that this dressing, typically served on lettuce greens, fuses well with the South America grain, quinoa.

To save on time and pots, you can steam the broccoli in a steamer basket on top of the bubbling quinoa in a rice cooker. While you wait for those two to cook, a food processor or blender makes quick work for the warm orange colored dressing that clings so well to the quinoa. The sharp flavor of the ginger is rounded out by the toasted nutty sesame oil and soy sauce, and mellowed by the sweet ground carrot. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups quinoa

3 cups water

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 large head broccoli, cut into florets

2 carrots, chopped 

2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks

3-tablespoons vegetable oil

3-tablespoons rice vinegar

4-teaspoons gluten-free or regular soy sauce

3-teaspoons sesame oil

Directions

      1      Put the quinoa into a sieve and rinse it under cold running water. In a saucepan, combine the quinoa, 3 cups water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce the heat to low; cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl.

      2      Meanwhile, fill a medium-sized saucepan with enough water to come 2 inches from the bottom and set over medium-high heat.  Place the broccoli in a steamer basket, and when the water boils, set the steamer on top of the saucepan. Alternatively, place the broccoli directly into the nearly boiling water. Cook, covered, until the broccoli turns bright green and is crisp-tender. Add the broccoli to the quinoa.

      3      In a food processor, combine the carrot, ginger, oil, vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil and process until puréed. Add to the quinoa and broccoli and toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Cook’s Note - Another alternative is to combine the quinoa with water and salt in a rice cooker and use the steam basket that comes with the rice cooker for the broccoli.

Kohlrabi Salad in Fennel Seed dressing

What is that weird looking celery green vegetable that is the size of an apple- even crispy like an apple, but has stems growing from it? The Kohlrabi. The most coveted part of kohlrabi is the bulb-shaped stem, which is usually peeled, then sliced or cubed before being eaten raw or cooked. It is one of the most widely eaten vegetable in Kashmir, yet not known well in the West at all. In fact, in Asia it's eaten raw as a finger food, much in the same way that we eat baby carrots as an Hor D'Ouvres. I think the reason why it's not as well known here in the West is because it's an acquired taste. Kohlrabi has the taste of a cross between an asparagus and a broccoli stem. Sounds appetizing.... hmmm.

Well, I was with you on that up until recently.

Growing up in my Afghani home, kohlrabi was typically served peeled and cut up as Hor D'ourves and served as an aperitif before the main meal. As a child, I could not appreciate this foreign root vegetable that I could not pronounce.  Belonging to the CSA where there is a weekly surprise of vegetables, sometimes unfavorable, I received kohlrabi. I loved the challenge of creating a dish with a vegetable that I had an aversion to as a child. When I stumbled upon this recipe from Ivy Manning's Farm to Table Cookbook, I knew that this salad was going to change my view of this turnip. Kohlrabi, carrots and fennel are fused into a subtle salad that is refreshing and clean. The fennel seed and the sesame oil combine to mysterious effect, as you crunch your way through the salad. There's something about the dressing and the sweet crunchy vegetable batons that combine with the floral heat, creating a fanciful tingle on the tongue.


Serves 4

Ingredients

2 medium red or green kohlrabi bulbs


1 large carrot peeled


1 teaspoon fennel seed or 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel


2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar


2 tablespoons olive oil


1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil



1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste


1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


1 small garlic clove, pressed

1 California green chili (long green pepper) minced


Directions

      1      Peel the tough outer skin and cut the stems from the kohlrabi. Julienne the kohlrabi with a mandolin or in a food processor fitted with a julienned blade (you will have about 4 cups), and then julienne the carrot.

      2      If using whole fennel seed, toast the fennel seeds in a small dry sauté pan over medium heat until they begin to brown slightly and smell toasty. Transfer them to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and grind them into a coarse powder.

      3      In a small bowl, whisk the ground fennel seed, vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, salt, pepper, garlic and chili. Pour over the vegetables and toss to coat. 

Zucchini & Mushroom Salad in Chili Lime Dressing

Just came back from Europe- was in Amsterdam and Berlin. Amsterdam is a beautiful city with over 100 canals where homes- as old as from the 1600's were built on the canals. Amsterdam was not always a city of canals- it's reclaimed land from the ocean. To keep up with the growing demand of the ever growing population during the Golden Ages, Amsterdam had to build out.

Berlin..... is another story. Trying to encapsulate the feeling of Berlin is a bit difficult. It's not a particularly beautiful city- there is a certain dreary feeling. After WW II, the U.S. flattened most of the city. So what remains are some historical places- in German called PLATZ. The University where Albert Einstein went to college is still a sought after university. All the statues are still intact. Sadly, the largest synagogue in Germany was burnt down, but what does remain is the facade and inside in a museum of what was. Most of the city has been built up and parts of it look like a throw back to the 1950's.

So I came home this past Friday which is after my CSA delivery on Wednesday. When ever I go away, I make sure to arrange for my share to be donated. As I came home to no food from my summer crop, I had to scrape a meal together with the little food I had left in the fridge. The next day, I ran into a friend of mine- Phil who lives in Kings Point and has a large lush property with tennis courts and along the tennis courts he grows zucchini. If you have ever grown zucchini then you know when it comes in- it really come in. The garden gets taken over by these large yellow flowers that look like they have given birth to zucchinis. So Phil generously offered that I come by and do my shopping. That's where this salad comes in....

This summer salad harmonizes sour and spicy flavors into a burst of freshness. The cilantro is aromatic and brightens the mild flavor of zucchini and mushrooms. An ideal and easy dish to prepare when there is a plethora of zucchini popping up in your local market, which is just about to come. Any leftovers can be refrigerated and enjoyed over the course of a day or two. This recipe comes from one of my most favorite vegetarian cookbooks, 15- Minute Vegetarian by Sasann Geiskpf-Hadler and Mindy Toomay.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

3 zucchinis
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
½ red onion, finely chopped
¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped

Dressing
¼ cup freshly squeezed limes (3 limes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
Ground Pepper to taste

Instructions

1 Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise, then cut the halves crosswise into ½ inch slices.
2 Place a steamer basket into a large saucepan. Fill the pot with enough water so that is just barely reaches the bottom of the steamer basket. Bring to boil over medium high heat. Once boiling, add zucchini and cover. Steam for 5 minutes or until tender crisp.
3 Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, chili powder, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper until emulsified.
4 In a medium bowl, place the mushrooms, zucchini, and onion, and toss. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables, sprinkle the cilantro and toss to combine.

Curried Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup

The most revered legume in Biblical times was the lentil, especially in the Jewish religion where lentils were eaten during mourning symbolizing the circle of life. Although viewed since ancient times as the poor mans food, in Arab culture it is considered an energizer and has flourished into many different dishes.

Preparing this soup transports me to my biblical and ancestral ties Lentils were part of the staple diet along the Spice Route; a region well known for its curry blends. Combining an ancient legume from the East with this orange fleshed potato creates a thick and hearty soup packed with spicy flavor. This soup uses the brown lentil, which has a bland flavor, however holds their shape well in cooking and so it's ideal for a soup stew. 

Servings 8

Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced

2 medium sweet potatoes (about 12 ounces each), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 large stalks celery, chopped
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 ¾ cup dry lentils, rinsed and picked through
6 cups water
2 teaspoon salt

Directions

      1      In a large saucepot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until the onions start to soften. Add the sweet potatoes and celery, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes turn a bright orange, about 10 minutes.

      2      Add curry powder, fresh ginger, cumin, coriander and ground red pepper; cook, stirring for 1 minute.

      3      Pour in vegetable broth, lentils, and water; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Add salt and adjust as necessary.

Cumin Spiced Green Beans

For Father's Day my husbands children- Michelle and Jonathan decided it would be a nice idea to take their father out to wine country on the Gold Coast of Long Island. It's not too bad of a drive from where we live- about 45 minutes to Riverhead which is where you will find the first of many wineries that stretch out to Greenport- the tip of Long Island.

Washing Green Beans in the Strainer

The weather was perfect to drive with our moonroof open and all the windows down as the cool fresh air swooshed through the car. Along the way, we stopped and just watched in awe birds protecting their nests, cows grazing and even horses galloping.

Nestled through the various wineries are farm stands where you can pick up fresh strawberries, rhubarb, onions, and green beans. Now since I already belong to a CSA, I did not want to buy too many things, but I could not resist out of all things- the green beans. I love the fresh snapping sound of green beans.

Cut Green Beans

So I came home late last night and prepared a quick green bean dish with a side of basmati in my rice cooker. If you love Indian food- you will love the earthy and warming feeling that cumin imbues to these beans. These bright green and crunchy beans have sweet pods that combine artfully with the distinctive taste of cumin.  Quick to make, yet full of an eastern aromatic flavor.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1-pound fresh green beans, trimmed and sliced diagonally 2 inches

Serves 4-6

Directions

      1      Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring to make sure it does not brown.

      2      Add cumin and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add beans. Bring to simmer and cook, covered, for 7 minutes or string beans turn to a darken green. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.

      3      Transfer to a bowl and serve.

Raw Beet Salad with Carrot and Ginger (Vegan, Gluten Free)

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The sweet, earthy, and delightful crunchy salad is a powerhouse for flavor and nutrients. The lime awakens your palate to the gentle undertone of ginger that carries you away to the Far East. Beets, originally cultivated in the Mediterranean is available in my summer crop share of my CSA. A wonderful jeweled root vegetable, much like the carrot, just needs to be shredded to release it's sweet flavor. What’s especially nice about this salad as well is that you can put it through the food processor for a quick salad. This recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman‘s How to Cook Everything who is an expert on getting the most flavors with the simplest ingredients.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/2 pound small beets without their greens, peeled

1/2 pound carrots, peeled

2 large shallots, finely chopped

1 tablespoon minced ginger

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Dressing

2 tablespoons lime juice

1-tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Instructions

      1      Grate the beets and the carrots by hand or use a food processor fitted with a grating disk.

      2      Combine the grated beets and carrots with the shallots and ginger in a bowl.

      3      Season salad with salt and pepper.

      4      Whisk together the limejuice, oil and mustard in a small bowl and pour into salad.  Toss salad and taste seasonings. Adjust the seasoning as necessary.

      5      Toss in the cilantro and serve.