Tag Archives: nj food photographer

NJ Food Photographer | The Swiss Pastry Shoppe | Union County, NJ | Cookies!!!

I started this blog post writing about Seasonal Mood Disorder and how I hate the cold and darkness coming early, but what’s the point. HA! If that doesn’t show you how I feel about the cold Winter months, I don’t know what would.

So instead I’m going to jump right into it! I try to find things to boost my spirits in these times. Between COVID and the cold, I look for things that bring me joy. Sometimes it means looking forward to the next Holiday. Sometimes it is thinking about ways to help others. Sometimes it’s just taking a mental health day and resting and taking it easy. Sometimes all of those things come out to be the same thing.

I started the New Year jumping back into my keto diet. And yes, it was difficult to get back into the swing of it. Sometimes we do hard things, ya know? But I also still have 2 little boys and a love for food photography. And I don’t have that much love for actually cooking or baking things myself. This month I chose to purchase some baked goods from a local bakery, The Swiss Pastry Shoppe. This Scotch Plains bakery has been family owned and operated for the last THIRTY YEARS! Wow! And when you go inside and smell the delicious fresh baked aromas, you can understand why.

They have everything from fresh baked bagels to decadent blueberry tart pies. And I’m not kidding, the smells in here dance upon your old factory senses like a beautiful ballet. It took everything in me not to cheat my diet and buy one of everything. It also feels a bit like walking back in time. In fact, it actually reminds me of the bakery that Mr Rogers used to visit on his show. It’s nothing fancy, just the essentials needed to make delicious treats. And I mean…they are truly DEE-LISH-US.

This Valentine’s Day, consider supporting small businesses in your area. Small businesses are essential to our communities and with the big mega stores and Supermarkets, and now COVID, our small businesses need our support. Go to your local florist for those roses! Get those chocolates from the local bakery! Get a stuffed animal from that adorable little toy store! Plan ahead, place your order, and help our small businesses!

So anyway, here are some pics I took of the pretty little cookies I got for the kids. For my food photography loop this month and also because they were perfect for the Valentine’s Day theme I was going for.

NJ Food Photographer | Union County, NJ – Marshmallows!!!

It has been awhile since I last blogged. Today I’m here to share with you some delicious, dark, food photography! I don’t really have a ton of blah blah blah about what I did, or what this is, or my Great Aunt Dottie’s favorite marshmallow recipe. Is that something people want to read about? I’m guessing no. But maybe I’m wrong? Maybe you’d be interested in me sharing my set-ups with you? Do you want to see a behind the scenes shot?

What I do know is that this Holiday time seems to go hand in hand with Hot Chocolate. Truth be told, I am not a huge Hot Chocolate fan! Seriously! I spent most of my childhood into adulthood not “liking” chocolate. That includes Hot Cocoa. In fact I just gave in recently and ordered a Hot Chocolate because, December. Another thing I am not a huge fan of? Marshmallows…yeah, you heard that right! And we all know that there is a love affair going on between Hot Chocolate and Miss Marshmallow. Which makes me wonder…am I missing out on something amazing here?

Tell me – is it even Hot Chocolate without marshmallows? Do you need to have those puffy white clouds in your Hot Cocoa? Let me know!

So I took some time to do a little marshmallow photoshoot before tossing the last Hot Chocolate Bomb in the gar-baj. Yes, you heard me correctly. I threw the last Hot Chocolate Bomb in the trash. Don’t worry…it was melted and crushed and my kids have had MORE than enough sugar in the last 4 weeks!

NJ | NY | Food Photographer | Keto Peanut Butter Squares

As mentioned in my previous post, I have been following the Keto diet since around September.  HUGE lifestyle change.  I love carbs.  But I know that my body just can’t have unlimited breads, pastas, rice.  I can’t go to Dairy Queen once a week for a freakin’ awesome peanut butter cup blizzard.  So what’s a girl to do?  Well I will tell you…

Make your own Keto Peanut Butter Squares.  These things have been a lifesaver!  I look forward to this special treat at the end of the day.  And now I can even combine it with Rebel’s Keto ice-cream!  Thank the heavens for these simple little treats that make me feel like I’m not totally missing out!  So if you are thinking about, or following, the Keto diet, I HIGHLY recommend this recipe.  I double it and just keep them in my freezer and they last me awhile!  Here is the link and some pics of the batch I made last night…delish!

 

joan marie

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

908.312.1788 | info@joanmariephotography.com

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