What's Cooking

[Cheese]

Bagel with smoked salmon for breakfast.

Looks delicious. It's so bright red. All the smoked salmon I use has a more brownish cast to it. Like this. What's the difference?

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[GoingMyWay]

I looked up the "food" mode on the camera and it looks like the main difference is that you can select the color temperature of the picture.  It also adds a blur effect to blur out background items on the table, but I turn off the blur.

When I discovered that you can change the color temperature I moved the setting toward the blue side, but then couldn't remember exactly where it was before.  I think it was closer to the yellow side of the spectrum.  That's where I moved the slider back to for this picture.

This is smoked sockeye salmon from Costco - I think the fact that it's sockeye salmon is why it's so bright red.

 

[Cheese]

It also adds a blur effect to blur out background items on the table, but I turn off the blur.

When I discovered that you can change the color temperature I moved the setting toward the blue side, but then couldn't remember exactly where it was before.  I think it was closer to the yellow side of the spectrum.  That's where I moved the slider back to for this picture.

This is smoked sockeye salmon from Costco - I think the fact that it's sockeye salmon is why it's so bright red.

The blur effect is known as bokeh in the photography world. It's the reason people spend thousands of $$ on lenses just for the bokeh. When done right, the subject of the photo will pop even with a busy background.

The color of the food will determine the best light temperature to use. Raw steak looks better with cooler (temperature wise/red) light while cooked steak will look better with hotter (temperature wise/blue) light.

I'm going to check into smoked sockeye salmon. Thanks...  I do know that fresh Copper River is the reddest salmon I've seen.

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[GoingMyWay]

Oh yeah - I remember trying to get the bokeh effect with my 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.  Unfortunately the aperture was way too high (is that the correct way to describe it or would saying way too slow be more accurate?) to actually get the blur going.  I like that lens because it covers such a wide range of focal lengths.  Those Canon L lenses are really expensive!

I think this blur is just achieved with software.  The default circle to blur is too small.  It's rather finicky to try to adjust the blur area.

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Thanks for that tip on the color temperature.  I guess I can try playing around with it, but usually I'm so impatient I'll just very quickly snap a picture before eating - I'm in such a hurry that half the time the photo ends up being blurry.

Sometimes our Costco has fresh sockeye salmon.  We usually end up buying it since it's not always there and the really dark red color looks super appetizing.

 

[GoingMyWay]

Taco Tuesday tonight - really more like tostados, but I still call em tacos.  I learned this style from a friend's mom.  Before we'd always buy the taco kits that come with the hard and soft shells, taco seasoning, and taco sauce.  She fried her own corn tortillas flat, used mashed up black beans that were seasoned with cumin, and also used olives and white onions as toppings.  Tonight I just used ground beef because we end up with too much leftovers when I make both ground beef and the black beans.  As shocking as it may sound - I think I prefer the black beans to the ground beef.  This is our first time trying this salsa out.  It's got a little heat to it, but it's really lacking in salt.  Too bad - the last newsalsa we tried was really good, but I wanted to keep trying new brands.

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[Cheese]

Oh yeah - I remember trying to get the bokeh effect with my 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.  Unfortunately the aperture was way too high (is that the correct way to describe it or would saying way too slow be more accurate?) to actually get the blur going.  I like that lens because it covers such a wide range of focal lengths.  Those Canon L lenses are really expensive!

The best way to phrase it for a universal understanding of the condition is the aperture is too small or the lens is too slow. The bokeh thing starts to come on around 2.8 f or faster glass. Typically something in the 1.4 f to 2.0 f range and it's at those apertures that the glass gets very expensive very fast and very heavy.

The tacos look great...I haven't fixed them in a while. I usually make beef or chicken but I have a shrimp taco recipe that's to die for. Maybe I'll make some tonight, thanks for the idea. [smile]

Like the jalapeños on top...but where's the cilantro? [poke]

Raw white onion could impart a certain freshness.

Spanish rice?  Mexican rice?

Good choice on the Xochitl chips, that's my 2nd favorite brand. When I can't purchase El Burrito Mercado, I purchase Xochitl.  [big grin][attachimg=1]

 

[GoingMyWay]

I had a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens before.  I kinda forgot I had it when I sold my old camera including the bag and its contents.  In hindsight I probably should have actually kept that lens.  I should buy another prime lens, it's only like $125.  I think what I didn't like about it - was well the fact that it's a prime lens so I can't zoom, which is what I like doing the most.

Looking forward to hopefully seeing your taco pictures soon.

The pickled jalapenos give it a nice little kick.  I only buy Mrs. Renfro's brand.  They're the perfect balance of acidity and heat.  Not too spicy.  I've only been able to find them at Safeway.  I think one or two other grocery stores carry Mrs. Renfro's green salsa.  It always deceives me every time since the jars and the contents look very similar from afar.  I actually dislike cilantro (with the exception of the green spicy sauce you get with peruvian chicken).  I always have to request no cilantro when ordering pho.  It's usually sprinkled on top of Indian dishes too, but that's relatively easy to scrape off.

The raw white onion is a nice touch - only problem is it lingered on my breath the rest of the night.

The rice was Near East Rice Pilaf Spanish Rice.

We really like Xochitl chips.  I'm always in search for some what I'll call "artisan chips."  These are the best that I've found so far.  I'm always looking for something like you'd get in a Mexican restaurant, same for the salsa.  That being a very thin chip and the salsa being kinda on the thin and watery side, but with a fresh taste.  Unfortunately I think none of those characteristics are conducive to a commercially sold product.  The chips can't be that thin or they'll end up broken up and you'd have a bag of chip crumbs.  The salsa must also have to be cooked in the canning/jarring process to keep it shelf stable.  Those El Burrito Mercado chips look like they're on the thick side is that the case?  I don't think I've ever seen that brand in the grocery stores around here.

 

[Sparktrician]

Clint's Chipotle Salsa is quite good with the smoky character.  [smile]

 

[GoingMyWay]

Thanks for that suggestion.  I'm not a fan of the smokey flavor.  I bought a bottle of the Chipotle Tabasco sauce and didn't like it.

Speaking of hot sauces - I finally caved in and bought the Truff Hot Sauce after I kept seeing the ads for it on Facebook. 

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I'm not really sure why I saw so many rave reviews for the hot sauce.  I didn't care for it that much.  The taste of truffles was too overwhelming and the hot sauce was too sweet.  Sriracha is far better and so much cheaper.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I like tortilla chips and I’ve tried many brands but my favorite are the cheap ($2 for 11 oz) Wise chips from the grocery store. They’re pretty low sodium so the corn flavor is clear and they don’t compete with the salsa. The only problem with them is the extreme fragility. Typically only about half the chips in the bag are whole so the bags always look half full/empty. The crumbs still tase good...

 

[GoingMyWay]

Dinner tonight was steak and cheese with baked seasoned crinkle cut fries.

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[peter halle]

Dinner tonight was steak and cheese with baked seasoned crinkle cut fries.

Seeing your images reminded me of something.  The brine from both the peppers and any pickles can help out with heat related cramps pretty quickly.  As someone who endures the nasty humid hot outdoor work this works for me.

Peter

 

[GoingMyWay]

That's a new one by me.  Do you just drink the brine to eliminate the cramps?

 

[Cheese]

Nice photos...are you using different lighting or different camera modes?

Everything looks more realistic with the end result..............of everything looking more scrumptious.

That Coors Light can however just keeps interjecting itself in the photos... is that kept at the ready to extinguish any errant flames?  Or is it kept around to use as a grenade to deter any unwanted property intrusions?

 

[GoingMyWay]

The lighting is pretty much the same.  All of the pictures with the exception of the last one were taken in the kitchen.  All of the pictures were also taken in food mode.  I did move the color temperature of the final picture more toward the blue spectrum.

I guess the food mode does make the food look all the better.

LOL someone finally pointed out the all too common Coors Light can [eek].  You're not a fan of domestic light beers I take it?  That's mostly all that I drink.  Usually Coors Light, but also Miller Lite or Bud Light.  Lately I've been buying the Coors Light from Amazon Prime Now.  The delivered price with a $5 tip is about the same as the grocery store, if not cheaper when it's not on sale.  I also have grown to like Guinness Draft cans and also porters/stouts in general.  When traveling I will try to make it a point to drink local beers if possible.

 

[Cheese]

Actually I used to be a huge fan of Coors. Those were the days when Coors was not sold nationally and we'd arrange 900 mile road trips to Colorado to pick up 25-30 cases at a time.  [big grin]

I cooked the shrimp tacos last night and I'll post photos after I figure out why I can't send photos from my phone to my computer. [mad] [mad] [mad]

 

[GoingMyWay]

Wow!  Talk about tapping the Rockies!

 

[six-point socket II]

Did I hear Coors?  [scared] [scared] [scared] [scared]  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Super happy that there are multiple sources in Germany that import it, usually buy it at a small "American Food" store in the city.

Love Coors, but don't say no to Miller either ... Then there are stores that occasionally import from US micro breweries, so I sometimes snag a bottle there too ... But I don't "follow" that cult, sometimes its a good beer ...

This was prior to a Super Bowl

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[semenza]

LOL someone finally pointed out the all too common Coors Light can [eek].  You're not a fan of domestic light beers I take it?  That's mostly all that I drink.  Usually Coors Light, but also Miller Lite or Bud Light.  Lately I've been buying the Coors Light from Amazon Prime Now.  The delivered price with a $5 tip is about the same as the grocery store, if not cheaper when it's not on sale.  I also have grown to like Guinness Draft cans and also porters/stouts in general.  When traveling I will try to make it a point to drink local beers if possible.

Those Guinness draft cans are quite effective at getting a nice pour and "texture"  to the brew.

Mmmmm, porters and stouts ........... my favorite.

I fear I will be taking the what's cooking thread in a different direction  [big grin]

Seth

 

[semenza]

Actually I used to be a huge fan of Coors. Those were the days when Coors was not sold nationally and we'd arrange 900 mile road trips to Colorado to pick up 25-30 cases at a time.  [big grin]

I cooked the shrimp tacos last night and I'll post photos after I figure out why I can't send photos from my phone to my computer. [mad] [mad] [mad]

About 30 - 35 years ago getting Coors (not light at first) was something special in the eastern USA. Not so much anymore.

Seth