Signal Fall 2019 Newsletter

6 www.alliancecom.net 5 Tips for More Appetizing Food Photography Did you just make a new recipe that turned out great? Or were you served a beautifully plated meal at a new res- taurant? Naturally you’ll want to show images of these dishes to friends. But before you snap and share on social media, consider these tips for creating the best food photos: 1. Use natural light. Whenever pos- sible, snap your food outdoors or near a window. 2. Pick a great angle. Move your phone or camera around and take several shots to find the angle that best showcases the food. 3. Don’t go overboard. Try to capture just the food without too many other distracting elements (such as silverware) in the shot. 4. Follow the “rule of thirds.” Pretend there’s a grid consisting of nine equal squares on your screen and position your main elements along the lines. 5. Include a person– or not. Use people only to enhance the value of the food shot, such as making a toast with a well-garnished drink. Find Your Inner Chef with Online Cooking Lessons Whether you’re an accomplished cook or a novice, these online options are available to help you— in the words of chef Emeril Lagasse—“kick it up a notch!” Serious Eats (seriouseats.com ) More than just a recipe repository, this free site includes videos and articles with expert tips to help you become a better cook. Visit the Techniques section to learn about skills like braising or working with a knife. Handy ingredient guides help you pick just the right bottle of olive oil and more. Skillshare (skillshare.com/browse/cooking ) Great for beginners, this site offers dozens of videos about everything from cooking basics to homemade marshmal- lows to “make-ahead breakfasts that will change your day.” The friendly featured cooks take you through every- thing you need to know, step by step. Skillshare is a paid service, but you can get a month of use for free. America’s Test Kitchen ( onlinecookingschool.com) This site offers a wide range of cooking resources including courses, discussion boards, and instructors who help you understand not just the how but the why of each technique. ATK features over 200 cooking courses, and instructions are bro- ken down into manageable steps. ATK is a paid service with a 14-day free trial. Allrecipes Cooking School ( cookingschool.allrecipes.com/ p/overview) Allrecipes offers “a lifetime of cooking confidence.” This cooking school takes the Allrecipes recipe site several steps further with easy-to-follow lessons—tips and tricks that can make the difference between a good dish and a great one. Sign up for a free month and pay a low monthly fee for access after that. QUICK TIP: Smitten Kitchen (smittenkitchen.com ) offers ideas for comfort food with flair.