Meet the creator

I’m Sadiyah Ali

Hi! I’m Sadiyah, the food photographer and recipe developer behind Picture the Plate. I grew up in a Somali household, where cooking with my mom meant stirring the pot while sneaking glances at the TV. My mom’s measuring tools? Random mugs and her palms, basically measuring with her heart 💕.

This made me hesitant to cook and bake because my logical brain (hello, future software engineer!) craved precision. But moving out, getting married, and needing to cook weekly changed everything. I learned to cook by diving into the science of food, learning what ingredients do and why. Now, I’m here to share that knowledge and make cooking and baking fun and easy for you!

I started Picture the Plate in 2021 as a New Year’s resolution project after encouragement from friends and family. Picture the Plate is where you’ll find a variety of easy weeknight recipes, fun weekend baking ideas, and refreshing drinks. It’s a reflection of my life – a unique blend of my Somali 🇸🇴 heritage and the diverse influences I’ve encountered along the way. As such, you’ll find classic American bakes and pastries, as well as Somali classics and desserts.

What kind of recipes do I share?

  • Quick recipes: Many recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less.
  • Budget-friendly: Prioritizing ingredients that offer the best value for money.
  • Efficient: Featuring one-pot meals and straightforward cooking methods.
  • For everyone: Recipes cater to all tastes, even if you’re not Somali.

Basically – easy recipes for weeknight dinners, fun baking recipes for the weekends, and some refreshing drinks in between, all influenced by my Somali background, sweet tooth, and random cravings.

Tell me more about the Somali Recipes!

  • I’m passionate about leveling up and making Somali cooking easy and accessible.
  • I work hard to share recipes are straightforward and designed not to stress you out with easy-to-follow format and precise measurements.
  • They may not be 100% authentic to how your mom made them, but I promise they’ll taste great and impress your family or guests.

My hope with this blog is to inspire you to step into the kitchen and challenge yourself with new and exciting flavors and techniques. I want you to feel accomplished and surprised by what you can create, thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know I could make this myself!”

    Random Facts About Me

    • I work as a Software Engineer during the week and blog during my weekends
    • I am a mom to two twin baby boys – I hope to share easy baby led weaning recipes soon!
    • Although I am from Somalia, like many other Somali diaspora’s children, I have never stepped foot in my motherland. I hope to be able to one day!
    • My favorite spice is cardamom. I add cardamom to a lot of my recipes, from savory dishes to sweet treats. It’s a staple spice in Somali cuisine and brings a warm, aromatic touch to any dish.

    FAQ

    Where are you based?

    The beautiful Pacific Northwest – Portland Oregon to be exact.

    What do you do with everything you make?

    I have a big family (I’m the oldest of 7 kids – yup 7!) – so I share with them or invite my friends over.

    What kind of camera do you use?

    I use a Canon M50 and a Rebel T6. My lenses include a 50mm, 100mm, a 22mm for YouTube videos (I hope to do more videos this year!), and an 18-45mm kit lens that came with the camera.

    Can I use your photos or recipes on my site?

    If you’d like to use one of my photos for a recipe roundup or any other media outlet, you have my permission as long as you do not include the entire recipe and please provide proper credit and a link back to my site.

    Oops you got a typo on your recipe!

    Ah man, I am an awful proofreader, so as much as I try hard to catch them, there will be some grammatical errors and typos. If you find one, please shoot me a message at hello@picturetheplate.com.

    How can I get in touch with you?

    Feel free to send me an email at hello@picturetheplate.com, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Or find me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or TikTok!