Homemade granola – Photography #1 – 2013
Homemade granola
Boy did I have a hard time coming up with the first challenge for this year! You probably guessed that too since I am way over the date it normally gets published. But that is not such a big deal as the bonus is that the deadline for this challenge is much later then the usual. Ok…. so what is the challenge?
The challenge theme for the month of January and February is HOMEMADE. I thought it would be fun to do a challenge that kind of incorporates the theme of eating healthy, managing your budget and still eating great food. Now as an example I am giving you a simple recipe for granola, but think about – for instance – homemade curry paste, homemade bread, wine, cheese or even something basic like a good chickenstock. But it has to be an item you use to create something else. Making your own meal at home, which is technically also homemade, does not count. It has to be a condiment of sorts or something you use together with other food to make a dish. I’m giving you a list of examples as it might be a little confusing;
Allowed are:
Currypaste, vanilla-essence, granola, bread, cheese, harissa, spice mixes, stock. But also if you make your own wine or your own beer that would be ok too.
Not allowed are: any regular (finished) dishes you made as a meal. (so not bowl of spaghetti, risotto, ovendishes and such) I hope I am making sense but if not please feel free to ask me if the dish you have in mind is ok to send in… 
The tricky part with dishes like this is to make it look good with limited options. While a curry paste might be delicious, it is not necessarily the easiest dish to take a photo of. Same with cheese. Try making your own mascarpone or ricotta and make that look good in the picture. Bread would be an exception as that can be very pretty.. But it is up to you how difficult or how easy you want to make it. And because this is such a varied challenge there is really no reason not to participate right?
Keep in mind a few things when shooting condiments in general;
- They can be quite shiny as some of them contain large quantities of oil. You don’t want to eliminate all shine but you do want to keep it under control. Tracing paper or other things that filter the light can be a real bonus here. Try various options and see which one you like best.
- While granola – for instance – might be very brown and unappealing, you will have to use your props to make it look good. Use a pretty bowl or a nice little jar to present something rather then just plonking it on a plate.
And as usual here are the rules:
- Theme of the month is HOMEMADE.
- It can be vegan, vegetarian, glutenfree, diary free or whatever else you can come up with.
- Use whatever props you have at your disposal
- Pick whatever recipe you think will work with this theme as long as it falls within the Homemade theme
- Post before the deadline of February 28th.
- Enter your link through the Linky Tool shown below and make sure to link back to this post in your blog entry
- If you do not have a blog you can still enter your photo for the challenge, as long as you make sure we can view your photo online somewhere
- Once you have entered please send me an email at
Junglefrog with the name of your blog, your own name, the link to your post and your entry photo in the size of 500 px wide max.
Our judging panel consists of the lovely and talented ladies mentioned below and we will do our very best to post the end result of the challenge the first or second of the next month. No guarantees though! (and because I will be away on holiday it might be slightly later too)
Meeta from What’s for lunch Honey
Jenn from Jenncuisine
Kay from kayotickitchen
Appetizer
Asian
Bread
Breakfast
Desserts & other sweets
Healthy
A wonderful granola and great challenge. Can one also submit the picture of a paste/spread? I might be able to take part in the event…
Cheers,
Rosa
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Would you believe that I just made granola for the first time a few days ago? Unfortunately I added a nut and dried fruit mix and learned that dried fruit doesn’t do well in the oven and should be added after the granola has been baked. Once you pick out the burnt bits of dried fruit it tastes great
Sounds like a fun challenge, I’ll have to think of something other than granola.
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Homemade granola has been on my mind for the last few days… I think I will have to enter this challenge!
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OK, I’m going to try to participate this time, those kinds of do it yourself condiments etc are some of my absolute favorite things to make.
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Oh, that’s a cool theme for a challenge!
And believe it or not, but this morning I already published on my blog a recipe for Indian ghee because I have started a new column about basic ingredients and what you can do with it. Nevertheless I guess, for this challenge I will do another homemade item
) as it is just so much fun!
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Hi Simone, great challenge. I like granola for a healthy breakfast and yours looks really good. I think I might have a hard time coming up with what I might like to enter this time…we will see. I give it a try. And hey, lots of time while your relaxing in the sunshine ;o).
Love, Jasmin
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I like this challenge and I’ll give some thought as to whether I can take a photo worthy of submitting.
I’ve been saying I was going to make homemade granola for more than a year. I must get off my bum and do it. I’m afraid I’ll just sit at my desk and eat it.
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Oh great challenge and I have something I already made (well, with husband) that I’ve not posted yet that is perfect for this! Great!
And I think I must be the only food blogger who has never yet made homemade granola! Wowee! And I love the stuff, too. Yours looks perfect and now I think I must make it!
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I love granola and it is really something in which homemade is so much better than store-bought! Yours looks wonderful! Great theme!
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A great challenge Simone! Let’s see if I can take part – preparing my first sourdough – cross your fingers
Hugs,
Sandy
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Ok! Back on board and since the snow and ice are keeping me house-bound, it’s a great challenge to link to of may favourite activities: photography and cooking!
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I love this challenge
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Interesting challenge. Lots of ideas and plenty of time. So you’re allowing home-made bread?
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Simone (junglefrog) — January 21st, 2013 at 10:09
He Aparna!
yes homemade bread is allowed!
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I am interested to participate. I have a homemade ingredient in mind
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And I just did a post about home made mayonnaise, pâtè, and pickles! Bummer!
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Beautiful granola! And what a great challenge! Your photos are stunning.
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I love granola…this is sooo good. Love your pictures….wud try and participate:)
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I like this challenge
I might finally give it a go this time.
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Loving this challenge and I am looking forward to all the entries! I have something in my mind for this so let’s see how I manage!
Hugs!
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Simone (junglefrog) — February 1st, 2013 at 07:33
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
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Delicious looking granola and a fabulous challenge! Will have to see what I can whip up to (finally) enter one of your editions!
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Hi Simone, this is my first time joining you and I am excited to be a part! Our family loves granola and eaten with milk from our family milk cow, Buttercup, it is a wonderful meal – not just for breakfast!
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Love this challenge Simone as homemade is always close to my heart! Also this challenge is a reminder of how simple some homemade products are to make… but so worth the effort and homemade granola is one of them!
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