I once received a comment on a recipe post that said if I had used a different color plate it would have made the chicken look a lot more appetizing.
I was so thankful for the advice (NEVER would have even thought that the color of a plate contributes to food photography), but it made me terribly insecure for a few minutes about myself and my blog.
It is amazing to me that many bloggers have the gift of being crafty, being incredible at graphic design, cooking, looking cute, owning lots of different colored plates, AND being amazing photographers to boot.
Most of my blog photos are taken with my phone. I do try to pay attention to lighting and I know how to make a few edits on iPhoto, but that’s about it!
We are not wealthy, by any means – it’s why I love the Dollar Tree so much – so we do not have a million plate options for serving a meal. In fact, this particular recipe features the meal on a paper plate – our favorite plate option. 🙂
Most nights I am just proud of myself for remembering to take a photo of the food before the family jumps on top of it.
**Not to mention that the Happy Hubby is not a huge fan of me stealing his plate and running it outside for a quick photo shoot before the sun goes down. :-)**
So I eventually came to the conclusion that the mission of this blog is not to win photography awards or wow you with my collection of dishes, but to share with you what works for us.
And what works for us most often are paper plates and 2 minute photo shoots (before someone eats a chair leg out of desperation).
With the back to school season upon us, this recipe is sure to be a winner with your Happy Home because it is quick, easy, and so good.
Peachy Pork Picante
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless pork, cubed
- 1 (1.25-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
- 1 T vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup peach preserves
- 1 (8-ounce) jar mild salsa
- Hot cooked rice
Directions:
- Place pork in a large Ziploc bag and add the taco seasoning mix. Seal the bag, and shake to coat pork (this is a great way to include your Happy Buddies!).
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork; cook, stirring constantly, until browned on all sides.
- Stir in the preserves and salsa; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice on a paper plate.
- Run it outside before Happy Hubby realizes you’ve gone, take a photo of it with your phone, and then blog about it.
🙂
Happy Peachy Pork Picante-ing!
About Happy Home Fairy
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Reader Interactions
12 Comments
I love it that you are so very real!
to Liz Lacy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Liz Lacy'>reply to this comment
I think your paper plate design choice shows a lovely sense of style!
Used to get tons of blogs in my email but I recently pared down to just yours and Simple Mom…. appreciate what you are doing very much!!
This recipe sounds great, I will be trying this week- thanks.to Kourt" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kourt'>reply to this comment
Stevie S.Thank you for being real. THAT is why I follow your blog. Who cares about fancy plates, and lighting, etc… I am here for the Godly advice and delicious recipes!
Thanks!
to Stevie S." aria-label='reply to this comment to Stevie S.'>reply to this comment
- Kristi
That’s exactly the reason I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. It is real! You share real experiences! You are real and not putting on a show. I would say the majority of Americans don’t have many different colored plates unless the set came that way. I have good ol’ Corelle plates and realize not that Im a mom, the reason why we had them our whole life growing up. To this day my mom has the same dishes, the reason being they are quite durable. All that to say if I was a food blogger ALL of my pictures would be on my same colored yellow and white plates or paper too 🙂 Please never grow insecure of others opinion. The only thing a person should be insecure of is living their life without Jesus and it’s very evident He is the center of your life. So hold you head, your paper plates and your cell phone pics up high because God gave you the grace to be you, created perfectly in His image.
to Kristi" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kristi'>reply to this comment
- Cassie
I truly enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for sharing all that you do. Our family loves paper plates too:) Anything that helps make this busy life easier and gives us more time to spend together as a family. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
to Cassie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Cassie'>reply to this comment
- Gina Riley
I think your photos always look great! I’ m always in awe at how you do it! Enjoy your blog tremendously! Keep up the good work! Gina
to Gina Riley" aria-label='reply to this comment to Gina Riley'>reply to this comment
- Joyce
You are a sweet and sincere blogger and I am a BIG fan! That’s all that matters to me 🙂
to Joyce" aria-label='reply to this comment to Joyce'>reply to this comment
I love REAL. Paper plates is how we do life most of the time, too. I love looking at pretty food pictures, but my dishes never turn out looking remotely like the models. If it tastes good and gets eaten, though, I consider it a success!
to Jennifer Flanders" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jennifer Flanders'>reply to this comment
To be honest, I have wondered about the cute blue backgrounds in your pics. I have a blog– not a real blog with lots of readers like yours– (which is ok with me because I can hardly manage a post a week with my crew!). I have vowed to be real, too, but I’d be dishonest if I said I didn’t think a little bit about how the pictures and the blog look. 🙂 I like cute! I think our Lord is the perfect combination of orderliness and creativity and I struggle to balance the two! 🙂 I tend to like the creativity side better! I take all pics with my phone, too, because hey, I am a busy mom, and that is easy! I edit on pic monkey. I just wondered about the background… ??? Maybe you have a blue table? Thanks!
to i have no greater joy" aria-label='reply to this comment to i have no greater joy'>reply to this comment
- Happy Home Fairy
Hey girl!!!! It is a blue kid’s table from ikea. Don’t know what I’d do without it!!! Lol! Love your sweet heart!
Sent from my iPhone
to Happy Home Fairy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Happy Home Fairy'>reply to this comment
Well, it sure is cute! Thank you 🙂
to i have no greater joy" aria-label='reply to this comment to i have no greater joy'>reply to this comment
- Sandy
Thanks Julie, I made the pork this weekend and my family loved it!!! I am going to try it with chicken next time I bet it would be good as well. So easy 🙂
to Sandy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sandy'>reply to this comment
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