Click on image for a photoset of 9 additional images (including one shot taken with my point and shoot camera)

I’ve also used peaches the same way - the firmer ones work well. Just cut your peach or your nectarine into thin wedges or thick slices - and add them to your beef stir fry.

As in most of my stir fry recipes, this recipe for Stir Fried Beef and Nectarines will instruct you to fry the beef first, then removing it from the pan and then adding it back in later. This helps give the beef room to fry (too many ingredients in the wok and you’ll end up steaming your beef, not frying) and to give it a nice sear without overcooking it. If you use flank steak, make sure you slice ACROSS the grain to get tender meat.

Hmmm…I bet canned lychees would be great in this recipe too! Read the full story

(click on the above for 11 more step-by-step food photography shots of the Broccoli Beef Recipe)

After moving out of the dorms in college, I found an apartment to share with 3 others. My job was to cook, and as long as what I put out on the dinner table was better than instant ramen, I didn’t have to clean the kitchen or vacuum. A mighty fine trade of labor, if you ask me! But then pretty soon, friends of roommates discovered my cooking talent and would conveniently drop by at around 7pm….(read the rest plus my Broccoli Beef recipe over at Simply Recipes where I’m a monthly guest writer)

But if you’re interested in food photography, I’ve posted 11 more photos of the Broccoli Beef- you’ll see how important white balance is and also different light source.

Oh and I have a big WTF bone to pick about my local election ballot…

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When Elise asked me to be a guest writer for Simply Recipes, we decided to take Chinese favorites and make them better, lighter and easier to cook at home. So, I grabbed a take-out menu from the local Chinese restaurant and I will be working my way around those recipes for you. The first dish that popped out was Sweet and Sour Chicken.

If there’s one thing that I detest, it’s greasy fried food covered in goopy Chinese take-out sauce. Okay, so sometimes I like that stuff, but it usually those cravings come at 3 o’clock a.m. during a certain time of the month.

But, I digress.

This recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken doesn’t deep fry, but instead uses a method for creating a delicate, smooth and succulent chicken that goes perfectly with a lighter sweet and sour sauce. The secret is in the chicken marinade, specifically using egg white and cornstarch, which creates a super-light coating all around the chicken. It won’t be a crunchy, deep fried coating, but I think it’s a nice alternative, both texture-wise and weight-wise! Read the full story