A quick and simple Vegetable Rice/Pulao ( pressure cooker method )

Some-days back we friends Lubna, Satrupa, DeepaSri and me had a potluck at my place. I simply loved all the dishes cooked by them. While we were relaxing after our heavy lunch, we started discussing about the recipe cooked by all. When Deepa was telling about the dish made by her, i was quite impressed by the ingredients of vegetable rice. She explained that she added only vegetables and few spices to the rice and did not use any masala paste or masala powders to the rice and the rice used was Basmati one. I cant wait to try this. Because it's very very easy, simple and quick to make, more than that it was absolutely yummy. When we invited my hubby's friend and his wife for lunch on one sunday, i made this Vegetable rice and Dum aloo, it was a huge hit. I was happy and thanks to Deepa for the recipe.

Paneer Tikka

  Many of you especially kids like Paneer Tikka. In this recipe, the paneer pieces are marinated in spice mixture paste along with veggies, arranged in skewers and they are cooked either using oven, griller or in stove top method. You can prefer whatever method you like. The preparation method can be done in advance and stored in fridge. So when you throw a party at home this can be served as a starter. The tangy taste, enticing smoky flavour and the juiceiness of the paneer make this a wonderful and yummy dish. Serve this paneer tikka sprinkled with some chaat masala and mint chutney.
   Do check the GIVEAWAY in my blog. Like my Facebook page and win the Cookbook. For more details check the link here.

Food Styling tips : Guest Post By Lubna

  As someone who enjoys food and loves food photography, I always enjoy styling of the food. As I believe in expression, presentation says it all. Food styling is significant because food digested in eyes first. And good presentation of food brings people closer to food than ever. I consider in food photography, food styling is a divine art. Food/Recipes can be identical but styling of food is unique. Lastly the oo's and wow's of a photo rest in style of presenting. Style defines food more photogenic, interesting, elegant and complete.

  When i asked Lubna to do a guest post about food and prop styling for me, she immediately accepted my request and she has come with this fabulous post. I am sure, many of you know her, she is a famous food blogger in blogsphere and also very talented person. Her food photography series event is an inspiration for many food photographers who want to improve their food photography skills. She has an amazing blog called Yummy Food. She is one of my favourite food blogger and also whom i consider as a very good friend. I am so pleased that she is sharing some awesome tips about food styling with you today by this post......

When Valarmathi of Simple and Yummy Recipes asked me to do an guest post on food styling or rather say behind the scenes of food setup….I was little in doubt what I can come up with.  As she was in no hurry with the post…I took my time and came up with these points….Hope these are helpful and useful to take you to next level in food styling..

TO START WITH:

As you all know natural light, good backgrounds and related props when come in combo make the food look appetizing…..no matter what the food is…I always feel there must be an dedicated place for taking out photos….but it is not so possible for people living in compact houses and in the places where finding natural light is bliss. You know how many times I run from kitchen to prop displayed showcase to fridge to the door or window to capture the perfect food picture…To kitchen to cook or fill the plate or bowl…to check what props and background will go with the recipe and then where the light is coming depending on the time of the day and depending on the weather outside….If you think creating an recipe or cooking a recipe is a creative thing then plating and styling is more creative than this….When the food is plated and served it is first eaten with eyes…so, an appealing look of the food  drags the person to grab it….

According to me the food click you capture describes the person you are or the mood phase at that time you are going through or your inner reflection…I don’t say I don’t struck while clicking food pictures…lots of recipes make me numb…how to plate, what to use in the background, what props goes with the recipe, what’s the angle, how to cut the edges, how to set the props, how much light is needed for the related recipe, is light too hard for the recipe, etc…..

CRACKING STYLING:

Food styling…. is it easy or complex subject? Let’s solve this question with some simple examples, If I need to put it into simple words then as you slowly learn to master your camera you will slowly gain confidence in clicking good pictures….same as it…as time go by you will slowly master this art of propping, plating and styling.

Let’s start with this simple example of Drumstick-Raw Mango Curry. I started on a simple note like just filling the recipe in a white bowl and with blank mind like what goes in the background and what props go with it….I just used crinkled an brown paper and used it as background….

Then I felt something is missing, so I used wooden plank in the background along with a fresh coriander leaves in the side…just to add some color to the recipe…..and clicked some shots….

Giveaway on my Blog

I am very much delighted to announce my first giveaway on my blog Simple and Yummy Recipes. This is going to be a worldwide giveaway. There are two giveaways.

One cookbook is for the reader from India and other giveaway(will be decided later) is for the reader outside India, i will be ordering from Amazon.

Anyone ( Blogger and Non-bloggers ) can enter the giveaway.

Above pic from Amzon

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is

• Like Simple and Yummy Recipes page on Facebook *
• Follow my blog publicly using google friend connect.
• Share this on your Facebook Page
• Subscribe to my blog.
• Please leave a Comment on this post telling me, which is your favourite recipe. *
• The contest ends on October 28th and the winners will be announced on first week of November.

I will be using Random number generater to choose the winner, please do leave your comments once you are done, telling me liked FB page or tell your favourite recipe or both. You can leave multiple comments also, so you have more chance to win.

Thank you everyone :)

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Giveaway closed. The Winners are announced here.