I was so excited to open the mail and find Matt Armendariz of Matt Bites new cookbook, On a Stick, waiting for me!
When I did my Real Food Styling & Photography Workshop with Matt and his husband, Adam, a few months back I saw the advance copy of it in their studio.
I even saw some of the dishes in their studio that appear in various shots in the book.
Everything in the book is On a Stick. Hence the title.
Some more “common” foods are featured on a stick like tofu on a stick, caprese salad on a stick, and popcorn balls on a stick.
Caramel popcorn balls? Yes please! And I should try one of my tofu recipes on a stick.
The book also suggests foods you may never have thought to put on a stick like Fish Balls.
Or Pizza Skewers
How creative and fun!
And then there are recipes and ingredients that are new-to-me such as Dak Sanjuk.
And then there are some more interesting combos like Spam & Pineapple Skewers.
I’ve never had Spam other than the computer kind. But I’ve got that all fixed now. Whew.
I can’t wait to make something from this awesome book. Like maybe Cake Pops!
The photography is, of course, stellar and top shelf and makes me not only want to make food on a stick, but take more beautiful food pictures, too.
Matt is an amazing human being. I said this in my recap of the food styling and photography workshop post, but he is just phenomenal. He is kind, funny, gracious, patient, always smiling, easy going, and has a great sense of humor.
And obviously is a brilliant photographer, cook, and now author.
The day I spent with him and Adam changed the course of my life. Not being melodramatic, but it really did.
I came away with Career Fantasties & Inspiration and know that photography will be a part of my future. As will food and writing. Not sure how things will fall into place with these career goals and dreams, but they will and I owe Matt and Adam for opening my eyes and getting my wheels turning. And now I owe Matt for this awesome new book of his, On a Stick!
From my last post, Snack Boxes, I’m glad you enjoyed my snack food reviews and it was fun to hear what you’ve been snacking on lately, especially now that it’s summertime!
Questions:
1. What’s your favorite food to eat on a stick?
I admit, it’s been years since I’ve eaten much of anything on a stick except for Tootsie Pop suckers or Blow-Pop suckers. I love to suck on some yummy HFCS and Red Dye #40, clearly.
But as a kid I used to eat Orange-Sherbet Popsicle-brand “Push-Ups” on a stick
Cotton candy at fairs and festivals on a stick
I was never much of a corndog eater
But I was a Girl Scout and roasting marshmallows on a stick and making smores are fun memories.
Did I mention my love of marshmallows? I think all those campfires and marshmallows on a stick helped shape my love of marshmallow desserts!
Like Rice Krispie Treats with Vegan Chocolate Frosting (Vegan, GF)
or
GF Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars with Vegan Chocolate Frosting
Please excuse the photography. The recipes still work taste great even if the pictures need massive help.
2. Any favorite cookbooks in your arsenal or any you’d like to have? Or any great book finds lately or books you’d like to have?
I recently reviewed Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks new book in this post.
Amazing recipes and photography in that book!
And I’d like to get my hands on Helene Dujardin of Tartlette’s new book, From Plate to Pixel
I have a compilation post of 25+ cookbook reviews if you’re interested in my thoughts and take-away message on various cookbooks, that’s the post for you. I’m adding this cookbook to the review post, too.
Have a great day!
What a cute cookbook! One of my clients recently made the cake pops like the ones Starbucks sells :)
Looks like a great book, wonderful pics. Would be all over popcorn on a stick too!
1. Probably mango on a stick, my favorite fair food now.
2. Still all the Ani books I have, I find I use those the most too.
I have always wanted to make cake pops. I think I may give them a try next week :)
What a cute cookbook! The pizza skewers are so fun and creative. I’d love to be eating that at a party.
My favorite food to eat on a stick, or rather used to always eat on a stick, is hagen daz chocolate dipped ice cream bars. Those things are heaven.
Cake pops are so gorgeous. I need to make some stat! And I love photography so much. Maybe someday I can take my love of food and become a food photographer on the side!
Everything tastes better on a stick- HELLO!!
I would love to see how he puts a salad on a stick!
what a totally unique concept! definitely a great book to add to a cookbook library. and i love that you have a personal connection to matt, too.
i’d have to say i like ice cream bars on a stick the best – vanilla ice cream with the hard choco outside.
i know you don’t watch movies, but this post reminds me of the cher movie “mermaids” where she uses cookie cutters on everything: sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres etc…another example of theme *cooking!*
from your last few comments…backing up your machine, good!
from my greek fest post this weekend and when you told me that you’ve been reading a year and all my linkbacks to my old posts from around a year ago, my show, the move, etc…wow…time flies, huh!
Food on a stick!!! me gusta mucho:):):):) As awesome as cake pops are, i love grilling out in the summer and food on skewers are seriously so much cooler the food not on a skewer;)
I love looking at food photography and styling books but they just make me sad that i dont have a dslr. The only time i can read them is during the school year when i can borrow the fancy cameras from the photography department and try out new stuff and play with the settings:)
well as i said in my post here, it’s not JUST about the camera. so many other things are still soooo important, the camera just helps capture things in better resolution
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/04/pretty-and-not-so-pretty-pictures.html
read it and feel encouraged! :)
My suggestion combines food on a stick and cookbooks: I just received Cake Pops by Angie Dudley (Bakerella!) as a gift and I love it. The photography is gorgeous and I can’t wait to bake some pops!
oh Ive heard great things about her book too!
I made cake balls the other day and have never seen people gravel over a dessert this badly…such a hit and definite recommendation!
I just got the Plate to Pixel book and I love it!! I’m just in the beginning of the book but it really is a good book to learn the basics. I’m SO not good with gadgets so for me it’s a good start :)
Ok thanks for telling me you love it!
It’s going to be my next book that I have to have!
I got that cookbook too. There are so many things I want to make! I am a big on a stick person. I used to love cotton candy, and popsicles (still do), and push-ups. Flinstones, obviously. Now I love kebabs and am, in fact, eating them tonight for dinner.
I had to pack the cookbook, but am planning on reviewing it in a coupld weeks after I get my stuff again.
The new book looks awesome! I love cookbooks that are bit more “out there,” like this one. I mean, there are recipes for everything nowadays…but I can’t say I stumble upon pizza skewers on a stick all too often. And yes, the photography looks phenomenal!
I’d love to get Super Natural Everyday. Hmm…it’s been a while since I bought a new cookbook…it might be time!
Love all the pics you included. My wife has been on a big cake-pop making kick lately. While not the healthiest dish you mentioned, they are delish! :)
Wait that is so cute…EVERYTHING tastes better on a stick!!