Baby Connor

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My photog friend Beth got some new lights and a new nephew she can adore through her lens. I had to share some of the great photos she took recently - I really love the light, the textures and the sweet sleeping poses. That said, newborns are probably my least favorite stage of childhood. I just don't think that most newbies are that cute. So I say very obvious and stupid things like, "Oh, look! You have a baby!" My second least favorite age is when they have buck teeth bigger than their faces, like awkward beavers. To all my mommy friends, I'm sorry, but it's my truth. I will love them all dearly when they are at least 9-months-old and can look me in the eye and smile and gurgle. As for Connor, the mouth puckering one was pretty stinkin' adorable.

All photos used with permission, Elizabeth Cook Photography.

pho

Styled by Linh Trieu / Photographed by Elizabeth Cook
for Cooking with an Accent: An Immigration Lawyer's Cookbook

My mom is making pho today. I can't wait to have some later! Pho brings to mind an intense, long and stressful project I worked on years ago with an immigration attorney. She was my husband's immigration lawyer, she was my client, and not only did we help produce the cookbook, we were even a part of it. Cooking with an Accent featured her immigration clients, favorite recipes from their homeland and each person's immigration story. I chose pho, which I had never made, but loved to eat. My mom made it for me and I just brought over all the ingredients, put it in a bowl, then styled and shot it. Totally cheated of course. But I have to say it was more effort than the other Vietnamese client who made grilled hot dogs. While neither of us cooked anything, I still felt superior. :)

I now know how to make pho, but I don't use the recipe in this cookbook. My mom gave me directions but she cooks from memory. Her directions were long, her measurements were eyeballed and I was thoroughly confused. I use this recipe instead and although not as good as my mom's (of course), it's still amazing.

The following images are from the cookbook Beth and I worked on for free. We were young, we were dumb and we almost blew our heads off working on this project. But we gained A LOT of experience and I'm still proud of working on it. I was the project planner, designer, art director, food stylist and editor. Beth was the photographer and we scheduled and styled the shoots together. George came up with the title and also did some major editing. Would I ever do something like this again? Yes, definitely, but for free? Never in a million years, not for all the experience in the world. You can buy one for yourself here but I cannot guarantee that all the recipes work (see above where I mentioned my mom's pho recipe). Click on the images for a better view.

Hummingbirds

My friend Beth took the most amazing hummingbird pictures this morning. I'm so glad she shared these with me. I heart birdies so much.

Cooking with an Accent

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to work with immigration lawyer, Mira Mdivani, on a cookbook. Mira asked her clients to contribute a recipe and invited us over to her house to cook and photograph each dish. The result is collection of recipes from all over the world with everyone's personal immigration stories, many of which turned out to be stories of love and family, not the trials and tribulations of the immigration process. Food is always about love, isn't it?

Beth and I had never worked on a project of this scope before. I art directed and designed the cookbook, Beth shot all the photography and we worked together styling all the food. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone involved. We were all so proud to share our favorite dishes. A bonus about working on a cookbook? You get to taste everything!

The following photos are some of my favorites from the book.

Mira's Summer Salad » recipe by Mira Mdivani

This is the perfect time of year for this salad

and like Mira likes to say, serve it with

"some good bread."

Calamari Salad » recipe by Marwan Chebaro

Shrimp Kebabs with Pineapple Fried Rice

» recipe by Simran and Michael Nutter

Beef & Guinness Stew » recipe by George Vial

Not only does he provide recipes and cook

yummy food, George also came up with

the title of the cookbook!

Brigadeiros » recipe by Monica Mingucci

Fondant au Chocolat » recipe by Laurent and Kathy Denis

Laurent and Kathy publish

The Kansas City Restaurant Guide.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of the Cooking with an Accent: An Immigration Lawyer's Cookbook, click here. And if you need a top-notch immigration attorney who ends up being your friend and family, call Mira. You can contact her here.

All photography by Elizabeth Cook.

Photography...

Some of my favorite shots from Elizabeth Cook, a talented photographer and my best friend.

A view of the ocean...I want to go there.

Children of the Dominican Republic.

Montana - I have this view hanging above my bed.

My mom's pho recipe, captured in a gorgeous photo. Beth and I worked on a cookbook together (details in my next post).