2013年12月26日星期四

Christmas Eve Dinner

It's finally over, the Christmas and all.

I've stayed put in Singapore this year Christmas, and decided to cook ourselves a little dinner, a little feast at home.

We don't have a huge stomach to store too much food, a three course meal will be too much for us so we had a little 2 course.

I've made creamy mushroom soup for appetizer, and lemon & rosemary chicken with chickpea salad for main. Come to think about it, we did have our three course meal, we had a butter cake that I baked few days before Christmas Eve as desserts to go with my Nespresso coffee ^^

All these, accompanied by the wonderful Christmas tree :)

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Creamy mushroom soup

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Lemon & rosemary chicken with chickpea salad

For the mushroom soup I didn't follow the recipe. For instance, I used a mix of white and brown button mushrooms; I didn't use corn starch as the cream that I used is thick enough; I used lesser cream than suggested because the soup had already turned very thick; And I blend the soup after it's done with a hand blender instead of blender the mushroom in food processor as I have none. And one thing I regret following the recipe, is the lemon juice. It was too much and the soup had a tinge of sourness.

Well, practice makes perfect anyway.

Now, I'll be off from Singapore soon, to Bangkok! (That would mean more posts on food!)

2013年12月21日星期六

Playing with the Lights

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 It's interesting how small little changes can change the picture, I'm loving it :)

Honey Lemon

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Merry Christmas 2013 :)

It's always one of the favourite time of the year.

We've had our yearly Christmas Party as usual. And this year, I've made a little butter cookies with all the Christmas cookies cutter to give to my friends as a small gift :)

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Ginger bread man, X'mas tree and bells

This year I have a 5ft Christmas tree of my own and I love it!

Even my penguin loves it :)

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Little Penguin in Scarf

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And this little ski slipped out from the tree to take a photo ^^

Have a wonderful holidays everybody!

Trying out with Lights

I've always like to take photos next to the huge window in the living room. The diffused lights make the photos a little nicer compared to taking them in the kitchen. I didn't learn any set up because the lights are sufficient, or so I thought.

I have to admit, I committed a crime of buying too many photography books and never really put them into use. The little knowledge that I've learn have always stopped within the pages. So, I decided to read them, and really play with it so I did a little set up. I've wrapped my box with white mahjong papers so that they can act as my cheap reflector.

And so here they are.
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With only window lights

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With window lights, and the low quality self made reflector

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With window lights, white table lamps near to the objects, and low quality self made reflector

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With window lights, white table lamps further away from objects shining from front, ceiling lights, and low quality self made reflector

I would say the set up help to reduce shadows significantly. But the last one is not to my likings because I think the image looks a bit flat.

I still like my window lights, but it's too late in the afternoon, the lights are getting dim... I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow and play more of it.

Till then.

Any advice is welcomed :)