tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831291896911034652024-02-20T03:51:13.831-08:00fotografia. foodie.musings of a photographer/cook who is traveling through life armed with a spatula and 50mm lens. beware.Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-61366583307646769832011-01-08T22:30:00.000-08:002011-01-08T22:30:48.056-08:00the birth of a new website.I've moved!
Do you love it when websites say that? I don't. I like my habitual blog reading, and it is quite bothersome to have them moved on me.
However, my poor blogger website just cannot sustain me anymore, so I have moved on to Wordpress.
Please come visit me at www.samanthalowe.com/blog. Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-56787113245906001442011-01-08T16:12:00.001-08:002011-01-08T16:12:21.792-08:00blueberry lemon poppy seed coffee cake: blue berries for breakfast and blue skies for lunch. I had an urge to create muffins last week. Small parcels of breakfast that could easily be carried up a mountain. Unfortunately, muffin tins are scarce in Whistler evidently, so I made do with what I could find in the cupboard. Blueberry lemon poppy seed muffins became blueberry lemon poppy seed coffee cake. A mouthful either way.
Slices from the cake became our Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-55784035503818606262011-01-07T01:13:00.000-08:002011-01-07T01:13:38.975-08:00blueberry buttermilk pancakes: supping for snowmobiling.Buttermilk blueberry pancakes. The epitome of a comforting breakfast for cold weather.
We ate blueberry buttermilk pancakes for the comfort, and meat and eggs for the protein.
We used that protein and comfort on the mountain as we went up and sledded through white, crisp powder.
We had two friends with us. They had plenty of fun on the top of the mountain. I don't even think they really Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-78367386436247092522011-01-06T02:21:00.000-08:002011-01-06T02:21:15.089-08:00prosciutto and herb rump roast: to gather all the wanderers around.Beef roast. I don't think there is anything that could tie both Aussies and Canadians together more, except for perhaps lamb.
Though the climate is evidently cold in Whistler, Australians come in droves. As I walk through the village I feel as if I am in an icy version of my dad's town of Bundaberg, Queensland. Going through the checkout at the supermarket is like walking through another Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-68636709673035648962011-01-04T21:29:00.000-08:002011-01-04T21:29:21.333-08:00moroccan chickpea soup: spicy preparation for the holidaysFor a while here, I'm going to be backtracking my posts. I took a month hiatus from blogging, but that does not mean I did not cook! Baking or basting or braising for me is like crack to an addict -- I just cannot get enough.Have steam and smells fill my apartment while I create presents for others is a balm to my soul.
The soup simmers. I create. Christmas carols sound. The world is perfect.
Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-32766703502875852742011-01-02T17:16:00.000-08:002011-01-02T21:07:37.557-08:00california roll sushi: a westcoast holiday welcome back.I know, I know. I've been off the grid for the past month, cooking yet not blogging. However, there was so much to do! I had to make a cookbook for Christmas presents (the one for everyone will be available soon!).I sold an art piece and had to ship it. And we had to go to Ziptrek before the Christmas holiday. T'was delightful.Then, exhausted from all our adventuring, we came back and made Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-55559837464532895922010-12-16T13:04:00.000-08:002010-12-16T13:04:35.378-08:00white chocolate cranberry almond biscotti: another year, another round of joyous giving.If you haven't been able to tell already, I love Christmas. I love the smells associated with it (mellow nutmeg, sweet cinnamon, spicy cloves), the music (Carol of the Bells - reminds me of singing in the Christmas choral show of my youth), the joy (when someone's eyes light up and crinkle into unending smiles when they recieve a thoughtful gift, or see a long lost friend or family member - Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-71013615769392631762010-12-15T00:18:00.000-08:002010-12-15T09:36:20.920-08:00apple streusel coffee cake: the perfect treat after a snowy day.The heady smells of cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted nuts and sweet apples floating through steamy air: there is nothing better than apple coffee cake on a cold winter morn. The scent seems to instinctually remind almost all who catch a waft of home and comfort.
A simple recipe, it is easy to whip up in the a.m. and impress those around until the p.m. (when the likelihood increases that itSamanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-39277515934744506142010-12-10T14:20:00.000-08:002010-12-10T14:20:36.976-08:00korean ddukguk (rice cake soup): an adventurous christmas night. I love visiting small grocery stores run by those whose culture is different from my own. Yesterday, I found myself meandering around a Korean store, 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' over the variety of ingredients so different from the ones I usually cook with (I also gave a small squeal of delight when I purchased a rib-steak, one quite large and fresh, for only two dollars!).
I love Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-17332180799780323492010-12-08T16:11:00.000-08:002010-12-08T16:11:57.027-08:00chili con carne: spicy reconnections.It was a spicy night on Tuesday. Between training someone to take over my hectic job and getting Christmas presents ready during my lunch hours, I was running as if I had flames egging me on. After such a day, I needed spiciness to keep me going, as I had guests coming over. Chili seemed the answer to my peppiness problems.
I love cilantro. I am sure there are many of you 'booing' me out Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-56587211287216792122010-12-06T22:36:00.000-08:002010-12-06T22:36:48.579-08:00carnitas tacos: and a very mexican christmas to you too.Caroling. The word conjurers up innocent children, pure faces pointed to the sky, eyes shut, their mouths in a perfect circular 'O'.Our version of that was slightly different. Boisterous and loud, we traversed West 4th Street for two hours, bringing off-key joy to the neighborhood.
Delight and stares of amusement filled the air as we traipsed through Capers and Safeway, stalled outside of severalSamanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-16941804493630387922010-11-27T20:33:00.000-08:002010-11-27T20:33:15.369-08:00chicken phyllo cups with spicy roasted tomato sauce: be merry and eat savory morsels.
I love playing around with recipes. These cups were originally supposed to be wraps, however I thought they would look better in circular form, able to hold sauce rather than drizzling it over the side.
The snowflakes hanging in my window inspired others to make their own.
Kat's was gorgeous.
Brendan's was done, well, blindfolded.
There were several steps in the process of making these. Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-78475167396344401962010-11-24T15:39:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:34:54.842-08:00chicken breast simmered in red wine and tomatoes: roommate bonding fills the air.Last night was a mellow evening, filled with smells of simmering concoctions and laughter due to an old Steve Martin movie - The Jerk.
Nights where both Jacqui and I are home are a precious treat, and one that should not be easily discarded. If my lovely roomie is home, I try my hardest to be around.
I used the leftovers in our freezer to whip up a hearty and rich meal.
T'was delightful. And Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-1117631867651393312010-11-23T20:26:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:37:42.519-08:00curry cook-off: thai curry for the community. Sundays really are a blessed day.
I was able to wake up, go for coffee with my friend and their mom, hear a great message at church (and consequently get a worship song stuck in my head for the rest of the day), play random games while eating Christmas oranges, and finally have a curry cook off with Adrian. I literally could not be more blessed.
One of the loveliest parts of my day Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-74310053678491684052010-11-21T22:41:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:37:53.963-08:00ethiopian wat: cold snowflakes combined with hot african food.It has been too long since I had a culinary gathering. So, we rallied the Powell River troops on Friday to come over and transport their mouths to Ethiopia.
I was planning on making injira (the traditional Ethiopian sourdough flatbread) to go with the wat, as it is usually served in that manner. However, I would have had to provide several more hours of crafts in order to have contented Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-90482511984859806472010-11-16T22:06:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:36:30.496-08:00san francisco clam chowder: tasty memories of a lovely road trip.Have you ever wanted to travel, to get away, to just keep driving? Have you ever talked about such things, such feelings, such ideas, and never acted on them? I know I have. Until this past weekend.
17 hours of driving. 3400 kilometers. Several mishaps. Growing girth the further South we went.
This past weekend, I drove to San Francisco.
The photos speak for themselves.
Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-52388106514897639212010-11-13T22:21:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:36:59.716-08:00butternut squash pork roast with thyme: the relaxing-zomibe end to an upbeat weekend.It was a long day of driving back from Whistler last Sunday. But I knew I was coming home to zombies and friends. So, on the way home, I checked out the meat specials. A bone-in haunch of pork was the meat of choice, as it was cheap and easy. However, while we struggled with the size of the cut of meat, the others watched the zombie tales rapturously. I planned on a stew with Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-18540415029873402192010-11-11T12:09:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:37:49.218-08:00roasted pork butt with apple stuffing and gravy: one hundred posts and a whistling whistler weekend.This is the one hundred, the hallmark, the goal of blog posts. One hundred recipes, one hundred ways of delighting your taste buds and convincing friends to come to your table.
It was my friend's birthday, and so we all drove the long, yet stunningly beautiful, drive up to Whistler. It created a longing for home in me, the place where there was no ugly glow from street lamps, you weren't afraid Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-72960897166100148442010-11-09T14:18:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:38:25.746-08:00feta crusted chicken breast with greek orzo salad: a fuse-d culinary art pieceThere is something about olives, and any dish that incorporates them. Using the overbearingly salty, briny and yet slightly sweet and savory fruit produces fantastic effects in meals if properly mixed with more subtle flavors.
I decided that olives were in order on Friday. A pseudo-Greek salad to be exact. But we also needed protien for the night to come, one that had us running throughout an Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-28074403735303469632010-11-04T13:57:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:38:56.107-08:00roasted asparagus and beet salad with smoked salmon and goat cheese coulis: skipping through the day.It is November. Yes, the cold month. The month where the ski hills open and Christmas decorations show up abnormally early in stores. Yet yesterday due to, of all things, weather, I felt the urge to make a warm salad.
There is something about the air in Autumn. It is crisp, clear, and seems to enhance colours in a way that warm hazy summer never can.It is well-timed air, for when will youSamanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-25306688876807360302010-11-02T14:13:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:39:17.645-08:00fettuccine alfredo: so thick you could coat a ghost with it.The real Halloween, since it fell on a Sunday, was anticlimactic. Saturday was my 'Sunday'. So the real day of All Hallows Eve became a mellow one with adorable children running around in the cutest outfits.
Stel and I meandered (we didn't have to hurry or huddle because it was sunny!) down to church on Granville Island. It was a lovely, warm morning, filled with kids in frilly silly clothes Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-5241580423822212352010-11-01T22:48:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:39:36.531-08:00thai spiced pumpkin soup: a ghoulish brew for halloween madness.Oh spooks. Oh ghosts. Oh creepiness. How I am scared of thee.
Roasted pumpkin represents Fall, and is the epitome of all things warming, comforting, and celebratory of the season.
But yet I revel in thee every year. Stelna and I made our Halloween costumes on Saturday -- I sewed her tutu whileshe created our feather clumps for our outfits. We were the epitome of good and evil, dark and light, Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-71273569674357431562010-10-29T14:23:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:39:58.107-08:00creamy pumpkin soup: a jack-o-lantern in a bowl.Pumpkins are one of the cheapest vegetables yet they can be blended to make one of the heartiest soups. One that reminds you of ghosts and cornucopias in the same mouthful.
A pot of pumpkin percolating (try saying that fast ten times) is a delight which creates savory steam that fills my apartment. I love soups - not only for the warm creaminess that saturates every crevice of your mouth and Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-41023009926238630122010-10-27T21:33:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:40:30.493-08:00thai lemongrass basil stir-fry: i love sundays.It was a productive day on Sunday. I worshiped God, met up with a lovely friend for coffee (well, tea for me), and then walked a few blocks over to my favorite Thai grocery store on Broadway right near Kingsway. I also realized that I was considering taking an apartment right beside the store -- that would have been dangerous.
I brought my treasures back home and decided to do something Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283129189691103465.post-84000127503720370322010-10-25T23:00:00.000-07:002010-11-27T15:41:06.942-08:00tomato baked baby-backed ribs: one for every friend.Ribs. Not only for anchorman.
My Saturday morning began with revisiting my childhood, facilitated by the physical visitation of Powell River friends.
And just like a child, as we drove down to Bellingham to go to my favorite grocery store (Trader Joe's!), I let my mind wander. We traveled past mountains and wooded hills. My imagination flew in a way it hadn't in years -- through trees, fields, Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01056534002856157948noreply@blogger.com0