When Nina Safar is not updating recipes on Kosher in the Kitch, she enjoys playing hostess. Never having too much time in the kitchen, she enjoys recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Browse through the site to find your next favorite dish!

To post some of your best recipes, email nina@kosherinthekitch.com

Please note that all original recipes submitted become the property of Kosher in the Kitch and can be used for other products relating to Kosher in the Kitch.

Don’t forget to send a photo when submitting the recipe. Happy Kosher Cookin!

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Top 5 tips for taking great food photos by Leah Koenig

1. Get a great digital camera.

As silly/obvious as this sounds, some cameras are
simply better for taking food photos than others - in
fact, some cameras even have a “food photo setting”
that help maximize the light in a room to take
flattering food photos.  I am by no means a camera
expert, but I would definitely recommend my camera - a
Lumix/Panasonic DMC-FS3.

2. Experiment with “plating.”

While it is easiest just to plunk a casserole dish or
pan down on the counter and take a picture, you’ll get
better shots if you take a few minutes to cut out a
small portion of the food, and put it on a beautiful
plate or serving dish.  (If you don’t have very many
options to choose from, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond
etc. sell serving dishes and attractive plates at a
reasonable cost.)

Try experimenting with color contrast, using the
plate, napkin etc. to pick up/highlight certain colors
in the food you’ve made.  Truly, the right plate can
make a world of difference!

3. Photograph during the day.

This might be the most important tip for good food
photography.  Daylight is a thousand times more
flattering to food shots than lightbulb light, and the
best shots take advantage of the daylight.  If you
tend to cook at night, save some of the food for the
next day and take photos then.

Experiment with the daylight - early morning and
mid-late afternoon sun has worked best for me, and
moving the food around to change up the direct
exposure to the sun has helped me figure out what
works best for different kinds of food (e.g. “wet
foods” like soups, cut oranges, etc. vs “dry food”
like bread.)

4. Take LOTS of shots.

This also seems obvious, but the more shots you take
from the more various angles, distances etc., the more
likely it is that you’ll end up with a few that you
*really* love.

5. Practice & checkout other food photographers!

The more you practice, the more intuitive all of this
advice will become.  You’ll find which angles work and
don’t work for you, and it will start to feel like
second nature.

It also really helps to keep looking at what other
great food photographers have done.  A wonderful site
to check out the ‘masters’ of food photography is
Tastespotting.  www.tastespotting.com - but beware,
this site is addictive!!

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Leah Koenig (www.leahkoenig.com) is a freelance writer
who’s work has appeared in the New York Times
Magazine, Lilith, Jewcy, Gastronomica, Jewish Living
and others.  She also edits The Jew & The Carrot: a
blog on Jews, food, and sustainability. (www.jcarrot.org)