I am sad to say that I'm having loads of trouble here at Onsugar, so, I'll be taking the leap and self hosting with Wordpress instead. I'm pulling in my nerd friend to help me and if all goes well, you should be able to navigate to cookbakelive.com and reach my new and improved blog sometime later today! For all my Onsugar readers, thanks for reading and please check out the new blog too!
xoxo
kristin
Now that I've gotten familiar with my camera, I've started shooting in manual and wow, what a difference! I love the feeling of being completely in control of the picture and being able to change anything to make it right. One of my favorite photo styles is a blurred background with a clear foreground, so, I've been playing around, seeing what my lens can do. I also love nighttime shots, so, I included one of those.
Here's one...
Settings: Natural sunlight, 1/400 of a second, F5.6, 70mm, ISO:100
And here's another...
For these types of shots, you'll want to go to manual focus and focus in as clearly as possible on your subject, which (with the above settings) will blur the background.
Settings: Natural sunlight, 1/400 of a second, F5.6, 70mm, ISO:100
And a fun nighttime shot.
With this nighttime shot, I use a technique my uncle (total photo nerd) taught me to keep the camera steady. Hold the viewfinder in place and press your forearms to your chest, breathe in, press the shutter and breathe out.
Settings: Just a dim porch light, 1/10 of a second, F5.6, 35mm, ISO:1600
Oh, and before I leave, I've joined the Daring Bakers, so, expect some fun baking pics in late January!
Yum, yum, yum!
Super Simple Hummus Recipe
2 16 oz. cans chickpeas, drained & rinsed (garbanzos)
1/4 cup sesame tahini
1 tbls. garlic powder
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4-1/2 water
Blend in a blender or food processor (I use a Fuzion Blender, which is half blender, half food processor) and serve immediately or it can be kept in a glass storage container (don't use plastic...ever!)
I call it health conscious rather than healthy, because it's not really healthy, but way better for you than your usual chocolate-y dessert.
I wish I had a recipe, but I can make a list of ingredients...
Whole wheat pastry flour, oat flour, cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate (2 tbls maybe?), vanilla extract, coconut extract, chocolate extract, vanilla yogurt, skim milk, agave, brown rice syrup, a bit of organic cane sugar, egg whites. Is that it? I think so, I was very tired last night. The icing started out as VCTOtW's Agave Icing, but I then added meringues, chocolate and powdered sugar and then it was a quite good icing.
This cake was tasty, it would have been better with some ground nuts, walnuts maybe...
Anyway, just wanted to share what I'm up to in the kitch, I'm off...
I'm kind of falling apart...I want to say that I probably won't be blogging for a few weeks. My grandmother had a stroke yesterday and she's going on hospice in our house tomorrow, all of the family is together, so that's good. Please send out your prayers.
I of course have entered this contest http://eatingbender.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/vita-mix-super-5200-giveaway/#comment-4923 to win a Vita-Mix and I wanted to tell all of you about it!
In my last post, I introduced you to a new line of serving ware and I'm happy to announce that we've come up with a name for the company! Earthware Organics, meet the world, world, meet Earthware Organics! One day, my dad came into the house and showed me a cheese platter he'd made and since I need something to do (and I have lots of the skills needed to run a business and he has the skill of being able to make them)we decided to go into business. These are humble beginnings, dad making them in the backyard and me making the packaging and shipping them myself right from the kitchen table, but we also have lots of determination, so, we'll see...
My other new venture is a paper goods company, deco•daring•darling, featuring unique paper and fabric goods, ranging from handmade cards and fabric covered magnets to handmade japanese paper wrapped soy candles. I'm going to open up an Etsy shop within the next few weeks, right now I'll be making some cards and candles and experimenting with different mediums and hopefully I'll have sell-able products ready by then. =)
Here is the first in a new line of serving ware my dad's company, Shadley's Soapstone is coming out with. Drumroll, please...
This piece is made in the US (the stone comes from Brazil) made from reclaimed lumber, Beleza soapstone, and handmade iron handles. Each piece is handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail and with a water based finish and no chemical sealants, it's completely safe for you and your family.
Versions made with Totally Bamboo and Ecotop will also be coming soon!
When it is released (soon!), it will be sold through Re-Structured, online, and in small retailers in Southern California. It will retail for $75US.
Am I thrilled or what?! First things first, my dad finally finished this!
The cabinet is made of bamboo and the top is soapstone (now for the shameless advertising!) check out more soapstone at shadleyssoapstone.com.
Anyway, As you can see sitting proudly on the countertop is my Kitchen-Aid mixer, a mixer that I adore, a mixer that I have been without for months, I'm so happy!
Isn't is BEAUTIFUL?
So, last night I just had to make something with my mixer, so, I grabbed The Dessert Bible and found the recipe for Basic White Cake (was gonna make yellow cake, but I didn't have eggs, just egg whites, so, I went with white) and though and got-a-mixing, once the cake was in the oven, I flipped through the book to find a frosting and i went with a favorite of mine, Meringue Frosting! Because these recipes come from a book, I can't publish them, but I can tell you that your money would be well spent if you purchase The Dessert Bible by Christopher Kimball for your home bakery.
I didn't just frost them, I also used the filling tip and popped some frosting on the inside for an extra little something.
If you do go and get that book, I suggest you also get Baking, From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, I've learned how to make countless new confectionaries from those 2 books. I'm off to take the cat to the vet, good day!
I'm a baker, photographer, health nut (except while baking!), avid liberal, and everything in between.
email me at ktshadley AT gmail DOT com
