Food Photography

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RECIPE: Thyme & Lemon Shortbread Cookies for Houweling’s

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RECIPE
Thyme & Lemon Shortbread Cookies 
 for Houweling’s


INGREDIENTS 
- 1 cup softened butter (salted or unsalted) 
- ¼ cup granulated sugar  
- ¼ cup powdered sugar 
- zest from 2 lemons  
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice  
- 2 cups all-purpose flour  
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme  
- ½ tsp kosher salt  

Optional: 
- 2 tbsp sugar 
- 1 tsp lemon zest 
- thyme leaves for garnish 
 
INSTRUCTIONS 
Either in a stand mixer with a paddle or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter and both granulated sugar and powdered sugar, as well as the salt, and lemon juice. 
 
Carefully mix in the flour, in small batches, scraping down the sides as you go. When flour is incorporated fully, mix in the thyme, and 2-3 tablespoons of lemon zest until just combined. 
 
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours. 
 
Preheat oven to 350F. 

Remove the dough and place on a floured surface, cut dough in half or quarters to make rolling the chilled dough easier. Roll to about ¼ to ½ an inch high, making sure the dough is even. 
 
Dip your cookie cutter in flour and cut out cookies, placing them on a parchment lined baking sheet. 
Optionally, you can combine lemon zest and sugar, mixing together, and then sprinkle on top of the cut-out cookies before baking or immediately afterwards. 
 
Repeat rolling dough and cutting out cookies until the dough is fully used. 
 
Bake the cookies for 15minutes (or more) until the edges begin to brown. 
Cool on a wire rack, and sprinkle with thyme leaves to serve. 
 
Keep in a covered container. 

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RECIPE: Queso Fresco (Cheese) From Scratch for BC Living

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Queso Fresco (Cheese)
for BC Living
November 2022

Did you know that you can make homemade cheese with just 3 ingredients? I am kicking myself for not attempting this sooner, and now I want to try out other cheeses to make at home.

I did this with the intention of sprinkling it on some tacos (refried bean recipe coming in the future!), but you could spread it on toast, put it on eggs, in a salad, you name it.

INGREDIENTS

- 4L of whole milk
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup fresh juice from about 5 lemons, or lime or white vinegar
- Kosher salt

Other Required Items
- cheese cloth


INSTRUCTIONS

In a pot large enough to hold the liquids, pour in the milk and begin to heat over low-medium, stirring throughout. The key here is to not burn the bottom of the pot, and gradually heat the milk before it boils.

When it’s at a pre-boil/gradual simmer stage (approx. 15-20 minutes) pour in the acid of choice (I used lemon juice) and stir. You will see the milk separating and curds starting to form.

When this process has begun, remove from heat, cover and let sit for about 20-30 minutes.

After this, line a colander with the cheese cloth and pour the mixture through both.
You can discard the whey (the liquid) or save it as there are several uses for it, including making other cheese!

Carefully, as the curds will still be warm, squeeze the cheesecloth to help drain more of the liquid out.
You can twist the curds in the cloth and place some weight on top to help this along – the longer you let the cheese drain, the firmer it will be in the end.

Once it’s drained, place the curds in a bowl, sprinkle in the salt, and mix well. Taste to see if you’d like more salt, and if so, add it in.

Find a container with a tight-fitting lid, and pack the cheese in to help mold the desired shape, and then place in the refrigerator to chill.

It should last for a week, if you don’t eat it all with a spoon right away.

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PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY: Uno Gelato

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Uno Gelato
Product Photography
November 2022

This month, I got the chance to photograph some delicious gelato from Vancouver company Uno Gelato. They wanted to promote their holiday delivery packages with some Christmas, and winter, themed food photos of their different packaging and flavours. My favourite photo would be the one I spliced together of my hands giving and receiving the gelato from each other.
Always fun to do some creative work and food styling!

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