We’re huge fans of our local farmers markets. Our food stylists buy from them regularly on shoot days, the produce is so much more beautiful and organic looking than from the regular super market. For example, you’ll rarely see carrots with those gorgeous long leafy stems at the grocery store. Our favorite farmers market is here in Culver City on Tuesday evenings, they have some delicious food vendors there as well. If you’d like to know where your local farmers market is, click HERE. We’ve also just recently signed up for a CSA basket to be delivered every week, so if you don’t have time to make it to the farmers market, this is a great alternative. We love Farm Fresh to You because you can pick and choose which vegetables you prefer. They have some great recipes on their website as well. Not only do these locally grown vegetables look amazing in photos, they are also so much better for you, so go shopping!
There’s no better time like the heat of the summer to cool off with some refreshing lemonade. We have a little garden outside our studio, and the mint is growing like crazy. We also have a little lemon tree, and tons of strawberries. It’s so rewarding to make fruit or herb infused drinks with items from our garden. Here are two of our favorite lemonade recipes and of course what would a photography blog be without some pretty pictures? We hope you enjoy!
Mint Lemonade
Ingredients
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup mint leaves
2 cups sugar
6 cups water
I make the simple syrup first by putting the sugar and 2 cups of water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Make sure to stir the sugar until it is dissolved and let it cool. Put the lemon juice in a pitcher, add the remaining 4 cups of water and 1 cup of the simple syrup, you can add more if you like it extra sweet like we do. Stir in the mint and refrigerate. Serve over ice.
Strawberry Lemonade
Ingredients
1/2 lb strawberries trimmed and halved
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
3 cups cold water
Purée strawberries with 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a blender until smooth, then force through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove seeds. Stir together strawberry purée, remaining lemon juice, 1 cup sugar, and water in a large pitcher until sugar is dissolved. Taste, then add more sugar if desired. Serve over ice.
