A recent long-term writing contract is coming to an end and I have empty freelancing spots to fill – get ‘em while they’re hot! I am a freelance writer with experience writing about technology, parenting, pregnancy, food, politics and more.  I’m an expert at meeting deadlines and am extremely reliable.

Interested? Drop me a line at sarahATsarahscucinabella.com.

Last week, Carmen mentioned that she is really interested in improving her food photography. She mostly cooks and photographs at night, so it’s a big challenge to capture good colors and resolution in the artificial light. Boy, have I been there. Until recently, night time was my only opportunity to cook and photograph too. And it’s certainly a huge disappointment when you make a fantastic meal, but cannot capture a good shot.

Now – full disclosure – I am still learning about taking the best photos myself. But here are a few notes on photography to help you along.

Lighting

It goes without saying that natural lighting is always best. It brings out the richest colors. But, if you cannot use natural lighting, then a photo studio in a box is a good alternative for the beginning to intermediate photographer. The good thing about units like this is that you can pack them up and put them out of sight when you aren’t using them. Further, they provide even results every time.

If you aren’t ready to invest in a photo studio in a box though, some people simply use colored posterboard for background and prop it up on a laptop or books. This creates the same even background.

Avoid the Flash

Avoid using the flash that comes on most cameras. Notice how the indents and texture of the cupcakes above are white in the flash photo? The white of the flash catches on shiny surfaces like this and creates the glare and distortion that you see. It ends up being a lesser shot.

However, in this case, neither photo really worked since the no flash photo didn’t have enough light areas to help adjust it to delectable proportions. Sometimes, a shot just doesn’t work …

Take Lots of Photos

It’s also important and helpful to take many photos of your subject — in different lighting, with different backgrounds, etc, so that you can find the right shot. I typically snap between 15 and 25 shots per dish. That way, when a photo doesn’t work, you have others to choose from that may work.

A photo doesn’t have to be 100 percent perfect, either, even the best photographers use photo editors to help them get the best color and clarity.

Photo Editing

When professional photographers take photos for publications, the snap of the picture and download of the file isn’t the end of the process. Using a good photo editor can enhance a photo and make it tantalizing. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements, which has a lot of the benefits of Adobe Photoshop, which many professionals use, without the breathtaking price tag. It’s pretty easy to use and really does improve photos.

Here’s what some other food bloggers say about photo editing/styling:

• Cybele at Candyblog shows us her setup.
• Vegan Yum Yum just posted this amazingly comprehensive guide to photography.
• David Lebovitz shares his secrets to stunning photos.

Heck, the celebration of mothering is something that has been done for centuries. So, please, don’t malign this one. I happen to like it. Maybe it’s because I am a mother. Regardless, I think mothers do deserve their day after carrying their children in the womb for months and months, and then birthing them. Oh, the wonders of birthing . . . and the stories I could share.

The simple fact is that mothering isn’t easy. When your kids are young, they look to you for everything: nourishment, guidance, reassurance, and help. Then they get older and they still need you just as much, just in different ways. You put their needs before your own and do your best to give them the most wonderful life possible . . . and you don’t always succeed. That’s one of the hardest parts: understanding that you aren’t perfect and can’t make every moment perfect . . .

I really wish I could make every moment perfect . . .

I digress. The point is that mothers deserve the attention they should be getting on mothers day (and don’t forget: fathers have their own day in a month . . .).  They’ve earned it.
In case you want to buy a mom in your life a gift and are struggling, I thought I would interject my two cents on what would be a great gift this year . . .

Without further ado . . . Here are five gift ideas for all the moms in your life (or, just for me):

1. An ice cream maker – Summer. It’s ice cream time! The ice cream makers of yesterday that required gallons of ice and rock salt to work are over. Get an automatic one, and mom will thank you. And while you are at it, order David Lebovitz’s book, Perfect Scoop, to give her some recipe ideas.
2. Pearls. A nice strand that sits at the nape of the neck is a classic and beautiful thing . . .
3. A large tote bag like this or this, for the beach. Preferably with some extra thick and cozy beach towels to match . . .
4. A pink ultra-portable laptop like the Dell Inspiron or the Asus Eee (only about 2 lbs!).
5. A day out in the city . . . something like a good New York bagel and lox on the go, a visit to the Met or maybe a museum I am less familiar with like the Guggenheim or Whitney, lunch at ‘ino, some shopping downtown, a visit to the Union Square Greenmarket, back uptown for an early dinner at the Carnegie Deli, and then a show . . . maybe Mamma Mia or Wicked.

• Grilled Tilapia
• Light and Healthy Tilapia
• Fillo Clams Casino
• Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms
• Smoked Salmon and Brie Sandwich
• Seared Tuna with Sesame Soy Drizzle
• Baked Tilapia with Warm Tomato Relish
• Easy Sauteed Catfish
• Sauteed Tilapia with Lemon-Caper Pan Sauce
• Lobster Risotto
• Beer Steamed Clams

Here’s the details:

The Culinate Death by Chocolate Contest sends one reader, and one food blogger, on a trip for two Napa Valley to attend the Copia Center’s annual Death by Chocolate Festival on Feburary 23, 2008, featuring a day of chocolate and wine tasting, demonstrations by pastry chefs, and other sessions with chocolate aficionados and experts.

So, go here to VOTE FOR ME!!!! (Oops, I should tell you what I entered, right? It was my delicious Deconstructed Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies  — SO tasty.)

Oh, and the blog entries are being judged by the several esteemed people: pastry chef/blogger David Lebovitz, baking expert/blogger Dorie Greenspan, blogger Deb of Smitten Kitchen (winner of Culinate’s GrillMe contest in 2007), Chuck Siegel of Charles Chocolates, and members of the Copia and Culinate staffs).

Va: You are one of the most driven people I know.
Me: Thanks. … But I am actually disappointed that I didn’t do more when I was younger before I was married or had kids. Chalk it up to finding myself, I guess.
Va: A lot of people would disagree with you on that.

A good friend and I had that conversation this week . . . I made an offhanded, but serious, comment about being a millionaire by 30 and needing my book to hurry up and come out. I know I am harder on myself than anyone else is on me, but I have very high expectations of myself. I have a lot of goals.

This past year has been a whirlwind. It seems like just yesterday I was in Miami, enjoying the sights, tastes and sounds and taking in my first-ever professional football game in the rain (how awesome is it to have the Super Bowl be my first?!?). In the months that followed, I signed to write a cookbook, got pregnant, wrote that cookbook, my office moved, my son turned two, I learned how to save and had that baby. As far as I am concerned, 2007 went way too fast and I didn’t get a chance to stop and enjoy it enough. The holidays — St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas — all flew by in one great big blur. And summer was over before I realized.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this post and how to say what it is I want to say best. When I sit down to write it, it just doesn’t seem to come out right. So, I am going to say it in the simplest way possible and hope it makes sense to everyone else.

The New Year is more of a symbolic thing than an actual change. Still, it gives us a chance to let go of all the things that annoyed us, pissed us off and hurt us. It’s a chance to start over with a fresh, unburdened outlook on life and to be a better person. So, that is exactly what I will be doing this New Year. I am letting go of the past and forging ahead with a renewed drive to tackle my goals and live every day to its fullest. If there is anything we can learn from all the death and destruction around us, it’s that life is too short to get caught up on things that don’t matter. And it’s too short to keep yourself surrounded by people who don’t bring any value to your life . . .

So, I am starting 2008 surrounded by people who are important to me with a clear conscience and a happy heart. I hope you do the same.

Coincidentally, have I ever told you about my 100 Things list? It’s a list of things — goals really — that I want to achieve in my lifetime. Unfortunately, although I started the list a few years ago, I have only checked one off so far . . . This is the year to tick away more though. Forgive me for the poorly worded entries.

100 Things
(I want to do)

1. Walk down the red carpet at a movie premiere
2. Be a best selling author
3. Publish an adult novel
4. Publish a children’s novel
5. Publish non-fiction
6. Write a recurring column
7. Appear on the Today Show
8. Be recognized
9. Visit Mayan pyramids
10. See Italy’s countryside
11. Eat sushi in Japan
12. Buy a home in Manhattan
13. Live in London, England
14. See Africa
15. Get my PhD
16. Get an MFA in Creative Writing
17. Go to J-school at Columbia
18. Teach a writing class
19. Be a professor
20. Give a commencement address
21. Sit on a Board of Trustees
22. Buy a bigger house
23. Pay for my children’s college education
24. Be a millionaire
25. Invest in real estate
26. Take a road trip with friends
27. Have lunch with Anna Quindlin
28. Have a clean house
29. Learn how to keep a clean house
30. Be in a movie
31. Make a difference
32. Be known
33. Write a cookbook
34. Be published in a consumer magazine
35. Help others
36. Move back to New York
37. Have my own cooking show
38. Sit on the other side of the interviewing table (as in get interviewed myself)
39. Be an editor – Accomplished Sept. 2006
40. Have a successful freelance career
41. Learn to enjoy wine
42. …………………..to be continued

But then a close friend gave me the most thoughtful of birthday gifts recently(no, my birthday wasn’t recent, but we don’t get to see each other as much as we like): specialty salts from Bella Cucina.

She gave me three varieties: Wild Oregano and Sage, Citrus and Fennel, and Rosemary and Lavender. My husband and I almost immediately broke open the Wild Oregano and Sage and rubbed it on a steak we were making. Mmmm, was it good. I cannot wait to sample the other flavors (and have been playing with ways to incorporate these Bella Cucina Aromatic Savory Salts into recipes). There is also a new Tuscan Rose and Pink Peppercorn variety on the Bella Cucina site that looks yummy.

I think this Cucina Bella blogger may have been instantly turned into a Bella Cucina junkie – lol.

So anyway, if you are here looking for Bella Cucina, you have come to the wrong place. But do stick around and check out my recipes, writing and food facts. Click one of the salt links above to go to the Bella Cucina website.

Oh, and I just had to show off these adorable little bowls she gave me. I have all sorts of ideas for how to use them (mixing herbs and rubs, dipping bowls, mini ice cream bowls, etc).

Thanks, Rhian! I love this stuff!!!

As a little girl, I used to go strawberry picking with my grandmother every year. It was among my favorite activities. I remember teeming with anticipation, waiting for the little sign to appear and point the way toward the pick-your-own farm near where we lived. Then, I would start asking when we would go. Incessantly. When we finally went, I would eat as many strawberries as I picked and ultimately leave covered from head to toe in red strawberry stains. One year in particular, there was intolerable heat under the bright sun . . . but that didn’t stop me. And when we’d get home, the first thing on my mind was eating more berries.

Special thanks to VF for the great pictures – of course I left my camera in the car! Isn’t that always the way? And a double thanks for carrying my gigundo box of strawberries all the way so I could carry Will.

2. Place in a flat layer on a baking sheet or in a freezer safe container.

Can anyone help me out? The baby needs coffee cake (it’s all I’ve been able to think about for two days).

And click around, you will find a wealth of yummy (and usually good for you) recipes from my cucina bella to make this year a healthy year. With a nice dose of babies thrown in for good measure.