So ... as much as I LOVED the new job, it didn't work. Once fully trained, it would have been a super duper easy gig with no weekends. However, I had my cry and I may cry again but for right now, it's all about writing, baking, photography and making room for Big Bertha (the large flash that lives in the shared office/studio space).
Pictures to come.
In other news, it's new banner day. Another Five Below mini. I call these five dollar photo lessons because I pay a fiver, get a mini and then head outside to shoot, shoot, shoot. Today's photo was taken on a stump with changing leaves in the back.
Did I mention I love photography?
In other, other news, yesterday I baked with black chocolate powder for the first time. So spooky looking. Tastes good too. Stronger than the other chocolate powders I've used. Richer, maybe is the word.
I dunno.
I don't know much about what makes it black, just that it bakes true black, by my eye. I haven't put the bake under the macro lens yet. Sometimes, once a subject goes under the macro lens, the subject isn't the same as my regular eyeball sees.
My regular eyeball? As opposed to my many other eyeballs? Just made myself giggle.
Friday Question: Have you used black chocolate powder? If memory serves, I first learned about it on The Halloween Baking Championship. Curious if others have seen and/or used it. I'm thinking of baking low-sugar, sprouted spelt, black cupcakes with orange frosting.
Bring on the spooky bakes.
Shucks!! Ivy, I am so sorry the new job did not work out, but the good Lord has a plan that is perfect for you. I've not ever heard of black chocolate powder...you will most definitely have to share with us your baking project with this. Your new header is pretty awesome!! Enjoy Big Bertha!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shug. The black if very, very cool. I did a bake in the pressure cooker with a formula I wrote. What I'd like to do is the same recipe in the oven and the pressure cooker and then share the details and photos here. Because the pressure cooker is a nice option for when we don't wanna turn the oven on. However, it's not the same end result as an oven. Or even an air fryer bake. All fun though. Thanks for stopping in and have a yummy weekend!
DeleteI'm sorry about the job! I've never heard of black chocolate powder, but how cool is that? To have it bake up black!
ReplyDeleteI love your photo today too.
Thanks, Mari! It's kinda similar or reminds me of the Oreo Halloween Cookies that are black, black. I'm excited to play more with this. Make a black frosting sounds fun on an orange cake. Lots of fun options for play. If you should stumble upon black cacao powder, it's worth a go.
DeleteDear Ivy, bless your heart ❤️ 💙 So sorry your job didn't 😢 work out for you.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda. Yeah, last week I cried about it. This week, things are going pretty darn good. I'll take it. Doesn't mean I won't cry again, I'm a crier, but for today, I'm doing well. Thanks for the kind comment. Hearts and huggs back. ❤️
DeleteSo sorry the job didn't work out, things happen. But you're having adventures in baking anyway, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Boud. So true. I'll never complain about writing, baking and photography!
DeleteHow sad the job didn't work out. I have never heard of black powder chocolate. I do not watch the food network anymore.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Hey Cathy! We had The Halloween Baking Championship on Discovery Plus back when we had that. We don't have cable or even TV. But we do alternate streaming services.
DeleteDid Food Network do something that you didn't like? Or do you rotate streaming services as well?
Sorry about the job! That's awful. Just focus on your baking and photos.
ReplyDeleteBaking, writing and photos (oh my!). Thanks, Alex. I'll need to get another one but for this week, it's all about writing, photography and bakes! Thanks for stopping in and Happy Fall 🎃
DeleteAw, sorry about that job. That’s so disappointing. Hang in there. Something better is in the wings!
ReplyDeleteI tried some black cocoa crinkle cookies once - really good with powered sugar on top. I rarely shop Walmart but I believe I saw black cocoa there in the baking section.
Hi Debby! Thank you for your kind words. Ohhh, crinkle cookies that are black with white icing sugar would be SOOOOOOO pretty to shoot. Thank you for the idea. Very fun idea. Cheers!
DeleteOh Ivy ... so sorry about the new job, so disappointing... hopefully a different new job will come up soon that will suit you better.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime focus on enjoying some lovely September days taking photographs and working on your baking
Which brings me to:-
BLACK CHOCOLATE/COCOA POWDER
There are many different types of cocoa powder on the market, from your standard natural cocoa powder and Dutch-process cocoa to a special dark blend of the two. But then there's black cocoa powder. It may be lesser known and harder to find, but it's essential to some of your all-time favorite chocolate treats. Find out everything you need to know about this specialty ingredient using the link below.
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a44390834/what-is-black-cocoa-powder/
All the best Jan
Hey Jan! Thank you. It's so fun. I have an artisan chocolate powder at home and it works soooo nicely in bakes. The black really pretty and Debby just gave me an idea to make them into crinkle cookies. Thank you to both of you. Thanks for the link too! You rock, Jan.
DeleteSorry the job didn't work out, Whisk.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rayolla!
Deletesorry the job didn't work out but photography and baking make you happy and that's good.
ReplyDeleteFor sure, photography, baking and writing are the best! Thanks, Christine!
DeleteI love photos as well. But haven't post any from my new lap top.
ReplyDeleteVery cool on the new laptop, Dora. So fun. Excited to see what you post when you're all set up.
DeleteBummer about the job. Maybe eventually your passions will someday be able to pay the bills.
ReplyDeleteHey Kathy. Thanks and Happy Weekend!
DeleteLOVE 💖the new banner. I've never heard of black chocolate powder but I have seen black icing (frosting) and black food colouring.
ReplyDeleteThanks, River. Got her at Five Below. Such good deals. Icing and frosting are two different things. Though we use icing sugar to make both icing and frosting. Either way, fun to make them both black without the need for dye.
DeleteNo, never made a black cake.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your job, maybe the next one will be ok.
Hey Margaret. Was fun to make and eat!
DeleteSorry to hear about the job.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of black chocolate. I'm intrigued.
Thanks, that's the way the cookie or in today's case, cake crumbles. It's super annoying though because as I say, once fully trained it would have been a dead easy gig. The black cake came out great. So fun. Thanks for stopping in today.
DeleteSo sorry to read about the job. I've recently been baking with black cocoa too. It is dark, but very tasty. I love the new blog header too. Have fun playing with your camera. I'm away for a few days and have been playing with mine too. :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool that you're having fun with it as well. It is good. Richer I think, than regular chocolate powder. Really fun. Ohhh, love that you've had your camera out. Very, very cool. Hope you have fun with it.
DeleteHope that the decision to leave the job was yours, Ivy, as only you would know what would work best for you and it should always be about you. Good to read that you continue to enjoy the passions of photography and baking. I too have never heard of black chocolate but looking forward to seeing your projects.
ReplyDeleteBaking, writing and photography, building, chalk paint ... drawing. There's an endless amount of fun to be had. Thanks for stopping in today, Beatrice. Hope you're weekend is filled with yummy things and fun stuff. PS: The black is very fun to work with so far.
DeleteYou are AMAZING Ivy and you can be nothing but successful. Job not working out is no big deal for a creative person like you. Something great is in your future.
ReplyDeleteHey Granny Annie! You are too kind. Much thanks for the kind words and uplifting spirit.
DeleteThe new banner is great. I have not heard of black cocoa powder but now I'm interested. So sorry about the job.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandra! Five smackers at Five Below. I have to be careful walking in. So many minis. So much fun. Thanks about the job. It's super annoying as I thought I'd be there for awhile as I worked on my stuff here. OMG, on the black powder. So far, very, very fun to work with.
DeleteHello, my friend. I have been so bad about visiting lately, and I am sorry I didn't know about the job. Sorry it didn't work out. And I have never heard of the black cocoa. I am off to find out more!
ReplyDeleteHi Billie Jo! Great to see you. Jan dropped a link above to learn more about black chocolate powder. It's great fun to work with. Thanks for stopping in and boogie boogie.
DeleteSorry about the belly up job, but you'll bounce back, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI'd never even heard of black chocolate powder - but I'm not an avid baker. Now I'm curious as to what makes it black.
Thanks, Abby! It's super annoying actually but .. moving on, moving on. Jan, up above listed a link for folks to read more about black chocolate powder. I really love it. I love the true black, fun for spooooooky cakes. Thanks for stopping in today. Wishing you a yummy weekend.
DeleteWhat a bummer about the job. Hope something else turns up for you that is better. I have not used black chocolate powder. It sounds very Halloweeney and I hardly bake anymore. I like your new banner!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was a bummer for sure. Thanks about the new banner. Fun to do that. How come you don't bake?
DeleteI have not used black choc powder. Will need to check that out though. Sorry about the job. Crap happens and at least you have the other things to help keep you busy. I love my photography. After I moved to Hicksville Tn...lol, the rural county I moved to 1.5 yrs ago, I left behind several part time gigs where I used my camera a lot. I often just grab it and head to the yard these days because I start feeling lost without it in my hand. I went through Five Below toy section the other day. Had a blast. I blog ahead a couple of days at a time and my trip there is already in the que to be posted later this week. I am one of those shoppers you either like to go with or don't like going with....50/50 chance either way! I love pushing buttons and playing with toys.
ReplyDeleteI can see you pushing all the buttons and having fun. I love the prices of the minis there. Really a great deal for five bucks considering all the practice photography that comes along with. Sorry you had to leave you gigs. But like you said in your comment, crap happens and you have plenty of other things to do. The garden/yard/woods/forest is a wonderful place for an adventure. Hope you get lots of fun walks in and shots.
DeleteI am so sorry about the job!!! And I have never heard about this chocolate. It must have been so much fun to try!!
ReplyDeleteHey Ginny. Thanks. It was fun to try. Excited to use it again.
DeleteOh my, so sorry about your job. Sorry it turned out to be a not so good fit for you. Hope you will find something more to your liking.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of black chocolate before, but I'm not into fancy baking. Its fascinating.
Thanks for commenting on my blog.
Sue
Hey Sue! I really enjoyed the work and once full-trained it would have been dead easy. But it was toooo good to be true. I'm not a fancy baker either though I suppose that's all relative. I do love bakes! And playing with new ingredients. The black chocolate was fun and excited to use it again. Wishing you a wonderful rest of the weekend!
DeleteSometimes jobs just don't work out, no rhyme nor reason, just means there's something better for you! Love, love, love this photo! You are a very talented photographer. I have never heard of black baking powder before. I was given black spaghetti once. They got the color by using squid ink.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, now that you say it, I recall seeing the black noodles with the ink. Neato, the things they come up with. How did you like the taste?
Delete