Under a Blue Moon

 

This post was initially going to be how my cupcake decorating skills have progressed since my last disasterous attempt.  But then I couldn't take a decent photo of them to save my life.

I have a nice camera.  Not super fancy but for the price and model (Canon PowerShot S3 IS) it should take better pictures than I've been able to get out of it.  I do a lot of post processing on my pictures to tweak them into something semi-decent. 

Out of the camera they are dark and grainy.  I've fiddled with the f/stop and ISO settings.  I've tried bringing in additional light (like holding a shadeless lamp over my head while snapping a photo). 

Last week, in a fit of desperation, I Googled "digital camera tips" and boom!  The first tip I read said that digital cameras tend to take "cool" pictures and sometimes just changing the the tone or white setting to cloudy helps.

So in an inspired moment I dragged out the camera manual (novel idea, no?) and learned how to reset the white setting.  I am the first to admit that I find the manual totally overwhelming.  I'd much prefer someone just show me what to do.  But there are so many different things to set that I've never looked further than the f/stop and ISO settings.

Switching the white setting to cloudy wasn't much better.  But!  I tried an experiment this morning.  My camera has eight settings – automatic, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H, flash and custom.

I already know automatic doesn't work for me and I hate using flash.  So I took a series of pictures using the rest of the settings.   The picture above was the most natural (and no post processing was done) and the setting is fluorescent.  Click on the picture so you can see it better.  Trust me it is way better than any of the other 35 pictures I took of that cupcake.

To illustrate here is a side by side comparison of how one little setting can make a world of difference:

 

So progress has been made in my photography education.  And I think my cupcake decorating skills have improved too.

 

I have been on a (yet another) diet.  Fortunately it is the type that allows for the occasional treat as long as it is accounted for and penance is made in the form of extra exercise.

I'm having one of those weeks (what? It's only Tuesday??) where I'm feeling like I need comfort food.  Now I will say right off that I am not a chocolate person.  There are people that just go ape for chocolate but I am not one of them.  I would rather have a caramel or something chewy, like salt water taffy, over chocolate any day. 

But since it was gloomy and damp I've been craving hot chocolate.  The perfect blend of sweet and comforting.  Isn't that funny?  I hate milk and am not overly fond of chocolate but pair the two and I am all over it.

I saw this chocolate at the local gourmet grocer and it found its way into my basket.  I am the first to admit that I am a sucker for packaging.  I'm a marketer's dream.  Wrap it in waxed paper with a vaguely foreign looking label and I'm yours. 

I've never made hot chocolate like this (i.e. not powdered).  I shaved the chocolate and added it to scalding milk.  Whisked it to a froth and poured it into my favorite A mug.  Added another sprinkling of chocolate for posterity and all is well with the world. 

Taza Mexican hot chocolate

 

 

Last night I was dreaming that I had a firelog that I kept misplacing.  The entire dream was me trying to find the mislaid log and explaining to people that it was finally cool enough to use the fireplace and nothing was going to stop me from doing so.

I think it is safe to say that Autumn is firmly here and we have seen the last of the hot weather like we had last week.  It is decidedly chilly and damp this morning.

This past weekend we participated in a Fall themed dinner at my niece Sara's house.  Look how pretty the table looks. 

These pictures are almost identical to the ones that Nicki took and posted about on her blog.  She and Sara came up with the menu.  To me the biggest standouts were the appetizer of brie spread on apple slices with honey, pecans and black truffle olive oil that Sara put together and the butternut squash soup that Nicki made. 

I got off pretty easy and was in charge of dessert.  I made a pear upside down cake that turned out fabulously.  Risky business, trying out a new recipe, but it all turned out fine in the end. 

I don't know why all the wine bottles seem to end up at my end of the table.  I swear I wasn't drinking them all by myself. 

 

 

Flickr Favorites

• I'm more interested in why her Paris apartment lay fallow for 70 years.
• Ooh – I think we need this for the Halloween Party. 
• Okay this has been around for a while but since I am doing WW (again…) I think it is timely.  And amusing. 
• Is anyone watching Boardwalk Empire? It looks so fascinating to me – mainly for the sets and costumes. 
• Beautiful collection of French labels.
• Perhaps I'll forgo the pink walls and do these curtains  instead. 

Happy Friday Everyone!  We have company coming and we are going to be company.  It's very exciting.  More on Monday.