Meal makeovers You’ve seen in the magazines and adverts how models or homes are transformed with make up and makeovers but we never get to see before and after shots of food! So I’ve decided to dedicate the next few weeks at the cooking school to photographing the food we are making during the class and taking before and after shots to show how ‘bling’ can make the same meal sing. Last night we did our Rustic Italian Culinary Adventure and on the menu is my famous sweet potato and speck ravioli with burnt sage butter sauce. That’s the basic recipe outline and of course I always teach how to add that something extra to make the meal sing and shine and get that round of applause! Have a look at these photo’s and see how bland the ravioli looks just with the sauce and the butter-fried sage. Tastes delicious but just lacks the punch that a little more detail would deliver. So then we added Pecorino ‘snow’ and some Proscuitto ‘bark’, some micro herb and sorrel and voila…we have lift off! I’ve been teaching lately that even a week night meal after an hour spent in traffic or getting late home from work can also be ‘blinged’ up with minimal effort! Think about an easy point of difference to the standard Mac Cheese…add a Chorizo and parsley ‘dust’ and this meal will sing! I food process chorizo into a chorizo mince and then fry it up hot and fast until it is bursting with colour and flavour and personality. Remove from heat and then drain on paper towel. Add a big handful of finely chopped parsley and then combine with the Chorizo. Use as a sprinkle over the likes of Mac Cheese, Bolognese and other family favourites. What other meals do you need help with? Let me know and we can help you bling up the meal! I look forward to hearing from you. Yours in culinary bling Mel The Vanilla Zulu
Ravioli before shot
Ravioli – after shot with bling