Anja's Food 4 Thought: June 2009

Press & Media

Foodgawker
I submit my best food images to Foodgawker. Check my images on Foodgawker here.

Awards & Mentionings

Live Gourmet Blog, January 2012

Food Blog of the Week, 17 January 2012

Ahlan Gourmet magazine, January 2012

The UAE's Best Food Blogs in The National, 1 Dec 2010

The Kitchn, 4 August 2011

The Kitchn, 30 August 2011
The Kitchn, 29 September 2011

The Pioneer Woman, May 2011

DMBLGiT September 2011, Originality Category Winner

Copyright / Contact Me

You may not use my work for any republishing purposes without my written permission. Please send me an email for any requests.

I am grateful for any sort of comment, input, criticism, ideas. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Please contact me over the comment function on each post or via email:

anjasfood4thought (at) gmail (dot) com

I have been working in the photography business for about 15 years as a photo editor. My job as an editor was the reason why I never felt inclined to take pictures myself. The fact that I was surrounded by really good photos all day long, discouraged me to try it myself as the results would most certainly be meager compared to the professional images I looked at every day.

However, by editing photos over such a long time, I got to know exactly what makes a good image, when it comes to lighting, composition, colors, etc. I think I need to mention that in all these years I never dealt with food photography. In fact, I once turned down a job in a food image library as I found it incredibly boring.

When I started this food blog, I used the camera of my husband who is a photographer. Last Christmas, Santa brought me a Nikon D90 which I really enjoy. I am learning with every single shoot, as I feel I start right from scratch. I am often not happy with the results, but I love to experiment with backgrounds, compositions and light. I see a development in my pictures, when comparing my first attempts and more recent shots.

Taking food pictures is time-consuming. I have two small children (3 and 5) at home with me. I admit I sometimes sacrifice a tidy living room or kitchen cupboards in neat order, when I need some 15 minutes to shoot my food and leave my kids to what's the most fun: doing things that are "not allowed".

I don't really feel in the position yet to share my food photography experiences yet. But that might come at a later stage. For now just one advice: NEVER SHOOT FOOD WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY!

Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography & Styling

Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera

Working the Plate: The Art of Food Presentation

About Food

Photo: © Sukaina Rajabali/Sips and Spoonfuls

At the beginning of 2008, I started looking more after my diet. The eye-opener was when I finally realized that the amounts of sweets and chocolates that I had at night after dinner very regularly were not doing any good to me. I felt lame in the morning, my appetite would not come until lunchtime, I'd eat healthy at lunchtime and dinner but would have another craving for food later at night which I again satisfied with chocolate and sweets.

I started looking for sugar alternatives, switched from refined grains to whole grains, refined flours to wholemeal flours. I started experimenting with spices. In fact I started enjoying cooking. I basically took over the kitchen department completely in our house.

In June 2009, in my never-ending search for new and exciting recipes, I came across Heidi Swanson's 101 cookbooks food blog which made a huge impression on me, with both the recipes and the food photography. And I thought, I can do this too (or at least try): posting recipes, writing a little story that goes along them and take some pictures.

Now here we are: welcome to my little but ever expanding personal food journal and cookbook. Join me exploring new ways of healthy eating, "healthy" being based on mostly natural ingredients. We are carnivores, but I take a special interest in exploring vegetarian, vegan and raw foods as I find them incredibly inventive and tasty.

This blog is a learning thing for me, I learn about good foods and new foods, I learn how to cook and I keep myself open to inspiration and knowledge. I hope to pass this passion on to people who enjoy my foods and with this blog, pass it on to people who have the same interest in good and healthy foods.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

Super Natural Cooking: Five Delicious Ways to Incorporate Whole and Natural Foods into Your Cooking

Good to the Grain: Baking with Whole-Grain Flours

Raw Food: A Complete Guide for Every Meal of the Day

Sweet Treats

No Added Sugar

I have listed all recipes here that have no refined or raw sugar added. However, I have listed recipes that contain honey in its raw form, uncooked.

Breakfast