**Don’t forget to signup for December’s YBR. December YBR Signup, Special Year-End Edition**
I’ve been going through my photo archives the last couple of days. Magically wishing that there would be decent photos to post along with some Christmas recipes. Tragically there aren’t any. The photos are horrible and they should really not be seen by anyone other than the trash icon on my desktop.
It seems the more food photos I take, the more practice and learning I do the more embarrassed I am about my older photos. Those of you that have been food bloggers for at least one year will probably relate to this. Yes, no ? But ego aside I will share these horrible photos and hope that you’ll quickly erase them from your memory. Even better hopefully the weird recipes will help you forget the photos.
You are probably wondering why I just don’t re-cook and reshoot everything. Nah! That would take too long and Christmas is practically here. So I’ll just share these horrible photos.
Our Christmas tradition is goose. Last year I made bagel stuffing to go with our Christmas goose. Yes, you read that right – bagel stuffing. It all happened by mistake when I forgot to buy bread for the stuffing. Frantically trying to figure something out I remembered the hard leftover bagels I made earlier in the week. Bagels as stuffing? Why not! Well let me tell you the bagels worked perfectly. The thick spongy bread really soaked up the spices. It tasted so good that the next day I snacked on leftover bagel stuffing. Nummy! Here’s how I made it :
Stale Bagel Stuffing
3 slightly stale bagels*
1 small carrot, shredded
1 large brown onion, finely chopped
1 small green onion, finely chopped
1 cup savoy cabbage or Kale, finely chopped
1 large handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp dried celery leaf
1 tbsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tbsp vegetal seasoning, check Amazon
1/4 cup whole fat milk**
1/4 cup vegetable broth, low-sodium & no MSG
* I used 2 plain and 1 was a flax seed bagel. Use plain and if you like add 1/2 tsp of flax seed to the mix.*
**Make it vegan by using all vegetable broth
1. Preheat oven to 392f or 200c and prepare a baking dish. In a large bowl gently toss the bagels, all chopped vegetables and spices until well combined. In a small bowl mix the milk and broth until well incorporated. Little by little pour the milk broth liquid over the bagel mix. Depending on how hard or soft your bagels are you may or may not use all of the liquid. It should be soft and moist but not soggy.
2. Add the stuffing to the baking dish and bake in center of oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
This was our pumpkin pie. I made it using Kuri Squash, aka Hokaido squash. I don’t have a recipe to share but you already know how to make pumpkin pie so just look at it, okay ;)
The day after Christmas instead of just eating roasted goose I decided to get creative. Using the leftover goose meat I made Curry Goose Pot Pie. I’m a curry addict what can I say. My hubby thought it was funny but was game to try out this curried goose pot pie. Truth is I’ve been waiting for a goose to enter my home so I can stuff it into a curry pot pie. It tasted really good. But best of all this is a super easy and fast recipe. Because no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen after being there for a whole week straight. If you do not have leftover Goose Turkey would also work great. Don’t trust me? Then make it for yourself.
Curry Goose Pot Pie
300 grams or 10.5 oz cooked goose meat, can also use leftover turkey meat
1 bag defrosted frozen vegetable mix (350 grams or 12.3 oz )*
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt adjust to taste
pinch black pepper
1 tbsp. mild yellow curry powder, adjust to taste
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 red chile or chile powder or chile flakes to taste
1 cup or 250 ml chicken broth
1 tbsp vegetable oil
store bought puff pastry or pie dough = 420 grams or 14.8 oz
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp. A.P. Flour
* You need enough for a bottom and top layer.
1. Preheat oven to 392F or 200C and prepare baking/pie dish. Roll out the pastry or pie dough and line the baking/pie dish, and save the remaining to cover the dish, store in the refrigerator. Heat a little bit of oil and saute onion until translucent, then add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Next add the goose meat, defrosted vegetables, and spices to the pan. Stir until well combined and pour the chicken broth . Leave uncovered and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
2. In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup of water with 2 tbsp flour. Mix until no lumps are left. Add this mixture to the pan and stir. Allow to simmer until the sauce has thickened. Turn heat off and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Once cooled, pour into baking/pie dish. Cover the dish with the top pastry/dough, pinching the edges to make a seal. Cut a small whole into the center of the pie. Bake in center of oven for 35-40 minutes, allow to cool before serving.
Don’t let the ugly photography mislead you. Remember these photos were shot last year when I had less practice and knowledge then I do today. I assure you everything in these hideous photos tasted great.
P.S.
I am guest posting today at Katie’s gorgeous blog, Epicurean Mom. Please stop by for my easy Thai Curried Fried Rice with Fish recipe.
I love that you made use of the stale bagels in the stuffing-very creative. I must try that recipe. While I have never made a pot pie before, your recipe looks like something I could tackle in the kitchen. The spices on your ingredient list tells me that your pot pies were delicious.
The worst thing about pictures is the picture you had in your mind vs actual. I try not to picture things in my mind because they never come close to that.
Thank you Tina. The stuffing really did work well with the bagels. Believe me if I made pot pie anyone can :)
You are so right about the pictures. I get really frustrated when I can’t get the images I imagined. Only thing to do in that case is keep shooting.
Very interesting recipe,sound really Yummy,i love these pictures :)
Thank you!
Ahhh…I’m so relieved to see that you’re human like the rest of us, although your ‘bad’ pictures look miles better than many of my worst ones! These two beautiful recipes are definitely out of the ordinary for Christmastime, so in that respect, you are still above us in creativity!
Maya you are too funny :) Of course I’m human but it is best not to show you all of my bad photos, wouldn’t want to give you a bad opinion. Lol! Hope you are well. Hugs!
They dont look that bad! u r too criticall about yourself or I am blind. I dont think so the last one. Besides u made me fell hungry with your recipes. I have realized too that my photographie was getting better and improved a lots since I ave started. u learn along the way, right? =)
Thank you Helene you are much too kind ;) You are correct as you go and keep shooting more and more you pick up tips along the way. We learn from our mistakes and next time know how to avoid them.
I love a good pot pie, and your goose & bagel stuffing sounds delicious!
I’m glad you put aside your ego and not afraid to show everyone how much you have progressed, I’m totally inspired by you. True, the more I practice, my photos start to get better and sometimes i do cringed at my older photos, and the same time feel so proud how much I have improved.
Hi Shannon, Thank you :) That is a great way of looking at it, the progress I mean. We should all feel proud of how much we learn everyday!
Oh these look great!For someone who only started blogging a month ago,these pics are amazing!!I’m still trying to get the hang of it.Nowhere close to these so far :(
Hi Soni, Thank you:) Just keep practicing and things will start clicking in place. Welcome to the food blogging world :)
They don’t look bad, I think they are superb. Maybe at your photography level, you might think it is bad. I can’t see it, haha. I’m still at the bottom of the learning curve. You have been my big source of inspiration for food photography.
The curry goose sounds so divine. I should try making a curry-based pot pie. Happy Holidays!
Hi Victor, Thank you so much :) Keep working and you’ll soon be exactly where you want to be. Happy Holidays to you as well!
Your pictures are great…I too have seen my progress but I still have a ways to go…but practice will get me there I know! Also great Christmas recipe! thanks for sharing.
Hi Dana, Thank you :) You are absolutely correct, practice will get everyone to the level they desire. You have the correct attitude.
Okay. O*kay*. I will not try to eat my screen.
That pot pie looks dauntingly tasty, and curry goose filling? Man. I’d sell my soul!
You crack me up Kiri :)!
Now this is really something that I could enjoy eating every single day:)) and I have to say I love your photos..c’mon, don’t be hard on yourself!!! Have a beautiful weekend!!
Thank you Sandra :) You too have a great weekend!
The photos are not horrible…your a silly goose ;) I love this stuffing and a curry pot pie sounds like a wonderful way to use up holiday left overs…from one curry addict to another :)
I will go check out your guest post…
You are my friend so you have to say that, lol :) Thanks Alisha!
Great idea using stale bagels. Even your horrible photos look terrific!
Lol, thanks Ann :)
omg, your early photos are SO much better than my early ones … I wish I could go back and reshoot every single thing from the first year of my blog, it’s truly cringe worthy. I really have my eye on that pot pie, yum.
You are too kind Trix :) I also wish I could go back and re-shoot everything. I even feel that about recent photos, never happy I guess, lol.