Caught My Eye – The Power of the Camera; and Lovely Challahs

  I love this picture – it makes me happy!

You’ve probably noticed that I have become quite attached to my camera – and how it inspires me.   I find myself now “seeing” things as photos, before they are captured.    There is an awful lot of beauty out there to be seen and, like the phrase, “stop and smell the roses”, ” stop and see” is a good way to appreciate and express gratitude for the beauty around us.  It’s  a good way to reinforce what we are grateful for every day.  Each day our lives are filled with stresses and tasks and worries and overwhelming sorrows that occur in our worlds, near and far.  I’m determined to celebrate and be inspired with what’s on the other side of the spectrum from the dismal – the beauty of it all, the simplest of little gifts right at the end of our noses each day.  While I wish I could do this with a paintbrush, pencil or pastel, I have very limited talent in this regard, so I’m sticking with my camera and my eye.

Here is another picture I took yesterday:

  The Hagley Hybrid Clematis – going in the garden today

I find this work of art in nature to be beautiful.

And, speaking about the value of the camera, where would we be these days without the ability of our cell phones to capture special moments with our friends and family and, in the kitchen.

In the Kitchen:  Yesterday, I was totally inspired by several breads and cakes featured around the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

Who doesn’t love Challah?  I am a huge Challah and Brioche fan.  I could live on it.  They both have great visual impact and great luxurious texture and flavor.  I love baking them and eating them.  Could there be anything more fun or rewarding than making any of these recipes on a lovely cool morning such as this?

Here is a collection of three recipes which caught my eye this week.  See if, like me, these make you want to get into the kitchen immediately.  I don’t think you would be disappointed in any of these.

 

Cinnamon Apple Raisin Challah from King Arthur Flour

This recipe should stand alone as it is.  I think it’s perfect.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/09/16/cinnamon-apple-raisin-challah-sweet-circle-of-life/

  Challah Knots from Saveur:  http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Challot-Challah-Knots

I would be tempted to play with this recipe, rolling in any combination of honey, cinnamon, nuts, zests, etc.

http://food52.com/recipes/22766-challah-baked-on-the-grill

And, on an unrelated matter, yesterday I watched Ina baking her Ultimate Ginger Cookies, a great recipe.  I used to make these all the time for Christin’s Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams.  They inhaled them!

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/ultimate-ginger-cookie-recipe/index.html

I am off to New York City today to take advantage of my camera.  See you later!