Shout out to Llywellyn

[divamum]

Just wanted to say "thanks" to our newest Fearless Leader - we've kept her busy this week between tiebreaking megachallenges and potentially-contentious threads on top of the usual housekeeping and rudder-steering.

I've found these recent challenges very hard, but it's probably hit at just the right point in my personal growth curve as a photographer and I'm very grateful. Now I've moved a little beyond the basics (if only a little!) they're REALLY pushing me in new directions and forcing me not only to be more creative and improve my critical thinking as a photographer (which is still pretty new to me), but also to learn new skills in that process. That's WHY I've been doing these challenges from the get-go, and I really appreciate the opportunity to continue growing!!

Great job, Kerry, and thanks to everybody involved in keeping this thing afloat, including dgrin, smugmug and the others for continuing to sponsor DSS!!!!

[Katmitchell]

Absolutely.. :clapwe have kept you very busy... thank you for your "patience" and your graciously invested personal time to keep it all going so that all of us can enjoy and learn. Big bow to Llywellyn, Judges and staff... and thanks to Diva for bringing it up...:D

Kat

[Snowgirl]

Absolutely DITTO!

:D:barb

[JAG]

:agree :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb
ABSOLUTELY SO TRUE!!

[Llywellyn]

Aw, thanks guys. :lust This certainly has been my own personal challenge this week. Didn't help that work (yeah, that "day job" thing) was exploding this week because I was on business travel last week. I'm looking forward to observing in a more relaxed manner this holiday weekend. :cavig

My fun is in watching the entries roll in, or waiting until the end to be surprised by a whole gallery of new photos at once. It's a real treat. :clap

So thank you all for keeping things interesting and educational for me, too. I wouldn't have much to do here without ya'. :D

[Tango]

hey if there are brownie points getting dished out i want some too:D

but seriously Kerry we love ya, but i sure miss your entries....

[Katmitchell]

Quick Diva, would ya give Aaron a brownie..:rofl:rofl:rofl

Seriously though, since I joined,,, it seems you and Tom keep things rolling along... thank you both for that... you guys and your sticky privileges... or however that works.. too new to know....

I do know this: You have a gift for keeping the threads interesting.. :barbwoowhoooo..:clap what more can we ask for?

Cheers
Kat

oh yeah and P.S> Llywellyn's entries scare me... I saw some of them in the galleries..boy she knows her stuff..!

[MarkR]

Mmmmm .... brownies! :binge

[justME]

:clap Three cheers for Llywellyn. THANK YOU.

[divamum]

hey if there are brownie points getting dished out i want some too:D

but seriously Kerry we love ya, but i sure miss your entries....

Awww, Aaron, you know we love you too :lust

Kerry, are we ever going to see your work around this place in other forums? I haven't had a dose of your film noir sensibilities in ages - I miss them too!

[Llywellyn]

Note that I do accept brownies as bribes. But they have to be made from scratch and really scrumptious. :wink

Kerry, are we ever going to see your work around this place in other forums? I haven't had a dose of your film noir sensibilities in ages - I miss them too!

Here and there (I posted some shuttle photos last week). Sad to say the challenges really spurred me on the most for projects, and my pace has slowed now mainly because setting up shoots with models takes a lot out of me. I still have some in the works, but I do it once every couple months or so now instead of every couple weeks. :D

The model from "The Waiting" contacted me about working together again, so there may be something featuring her in the near future. :thumb

[Tango]

Awww, Aaron, you know we love you too :lust


:lol3 :lol3 :lol3 i meant from Kerry not from the peanut gallery:D

[Katmitchell]

Hey... Watch it.. I resemble that comment buddy.......:rofl:huh:D

[Katmitchell]

Note that I do accept brownies as bribes. But they have to be made from scratch and really scrumptious. :wink

oh.. you see I make awesome brownies guys.. this is gonna play in my favor..:clap

Kat

[divamum]

oh.. you see I make awesome brownies guys.. this is gonna play in my favor..:clap

Kat

Not if I get to the kitchen first.... :wink :evil :rofl (for the record, on the packaged-brownie-mix front you can't beat Ghiradelli Chocolate Fudge - teh YUM!)

[michswiss]

oh.. you see I make awesome brownies guys.. this is gonna play in my favor..:clap

Kat

Me too :D My brownies are world famous, thanks that is to my family living all over the world :giggle

It's a recipe my mother handed down to me that I've been working to refine for more than 40+ years, starting when she'd let me miss nap time to bake with her. Did I just out age?

But if anyone wants a world-class brownie, just come to my place for a cup of coffee and a chocolate fix :eat :binge

Oh, and a BIG THANK YOU to Kerry. :super

[Katmitchell]

oh no.... I wasn't supposed to get competition on the brownies tooooooooo..



I want some..... brownies are my favorite food group...

How about winner gets some of Llywellyn's World Famous Brownies.. Uncle for me, I fold... I can't compete with 40 years of experience.
So I will just taste test..:rofl:lust

Kat

[MarkR]

I'd like to point out that my sister-in-law makes the Worst. Brownies. Ever. :rolleyes

They are black and burned on the outside, and raw in the middle. yuck.

And whenever she brings them over, we all eat them and say things like "great brownies" and "delicious!"

There might be a lesson in there somewhere that's applicable to the Challenges. :dunno :dunno :dunno

[divamum]

I'd like to point out that my sister-in-law makes the Worst. Brownies. Ever. :rolleyes

They are black and burned on the outside, and raw in the middle. yuck.

And whenever she brings them over, we all eat them and say things like "great brownies" and "delicious!"

There might be a lesson in there somewhere that's applicable to the Challenges. :dunno :dunno :dunno

:rofl :lol :bad :smile6

Mark, I love your sense of irony!

[pyry]

I'd like to point out that my sister-in-law makes the Worst. Brownies. Ever. :rolleyes

They are black and burned on the outside, and raw in the middle. yuck.

And whenever she brings them over, we all eat them and say things like "great brownies" and "delicious!"

There might be a lesson in there somewhere that's applicable to the Challenges. :dunno :dunno :dunno

Sounds like your sister-in-law needs to cook her brownies a little bit longer at a lower temperature.

You're not trying to tell Kerry to turn the heat down on us, are you? :lol3

[MarkR]

Sounds like your sister-in-law needs to cook her brownies a little bit longer at a lower temperature.

You're not trying to tell Kerry to turn the heat down on us, are you? :lol3

Or that we need to bake our pictures longer? :dunno:dunno

Or, when sister-in-law is visiting, and asking what to bring, say "wine." :D

There might be other lessons there as well. :scratch

[michswiss]

Sounds like your sister-in-law needs to cook her brownies a little bit longer at a lower temperature.

You're not trying to tell Kerry to turn the heat down on us, are you? :lol3

Slightly lower temperature (~175c or ~350F) and always turn the oven off as soon as you start to smell the rich chocolate through the kitchen and the edges start to pull away. They'll finish baking on their own.

Here's the 4-3-2 recipe:

Dry stuff:
4 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 cups cocoa
~1-2 teaspoons baking powder (altitude and flour type dependent)

Wet stuff:
9 medium eggs
3-4 tablespoons honey / treacle / molasses (your choice for flavoring)
Healthly dose of pure vanilla extract (same as above, but vanilla beans are really good too)
1 1/2 cups melted butter (unsalted)

Combine the eggs, syrup and vanilla in a wet bowl and the dry products in the mixing bowl. Melt the butter (unsalted) on low heat. Clarified is better. No need for the solids. Hold the butter until the remainder is incorporated.

This will be a thick batter, so prepare to sweat, putting your arms to a serious test. Better is to use a heavy duty mixer such as a KitchenAid. Handheld mixers have been known to leak smoke and die prepping this mix.

While on a low speed, start adding the egg mixture until the whole thing becomes gloppie. You're likely to have to scrape down the blades on occasion. Once done, start adding the melted butter slowly, also until incorporated. It should be a deep, glossy brown. Don't mix too much as this is meant to be heavy. You don't want too much air in the mixture.

(It's at this stage that you can add extra flavors through hand mixing before moving to baking pans. Mint leaves, Orange zest, Pecans, a shot of espresso, other tasty things)

Separate into two standard sized baking sheets and smooth using a long flexible spatula. It should be relatively thin in the pan. The oven should be pre-heated to ~350F or ~175C, depends on your oven.

Take the mixing blades out and hand to the children, give the mixing bowl to the men in the house. They will now leave you alone while they lick to their hearts content with rich, deep chocolate.

Baking time will vary from ~15 minutes to ~25 minutes depending on a ton of variables.

But I think I've share too much already. You'll need to figure the rest out on your own. :D

ETA: Use some of the spare, unmelted butter to line the pans. If you are not confident with sticking, then also cover the base (not the edges) with wax paper. Let cool for 15 or so minutes before slicing into squares. My Mom used to like to reserve some of the melted butter to mix with confectioner's sugar and a little more cocoa as an icing. It should be used before the brownies have cooled so it smoothes easily and penetrates the surface slightly.

Jenn

[divamum]

Oh, MAN Mischswiss - I've been looking for a really GOOD scratch brownie recipe for years (have never found one, hence why I've used the Ghiradelli mix and tweaked it with some extras of my own). I'll be trying this for dessert on Monday (it's a holiday weekend here in the US!)

[Katmitchell]

Thank you so much for sharing.....:clap:clap:clap I am going to work at making these for sure....

although the whole mixer smoking and dying thing kinda worries me..

looks like a workout... thank you so much..:lust I am sure a lot of people on here will appreciate this generosity.. I know I appreciate it, thanks !!!

Not to mention I am sure it brings a tear to Llywellyn's eye that we are all sharing and getting along for a change.. hahaha.. wonder how long that will last..:barb

Kat

[bf2015]

:thumb :clap

[michswiss]

Oh my gosh, now I feel pressure that I haven't forgotten anything in the recipe! I only normally think about this sort of stuff when I'm in the kitchen at my Brother's place in New Zealand. And just to be clear, I didn't mean 3-4 tablespoons of vanilla. Just a healthly flavoring. You'll get the hang of it after 40-50 batches... :giggle

I've added a few extra instructions in the original post.

[sherstone]

I don't have any great brownie recipes nor have I actually ever baked any brownies :smo

But I would like to join every one in thanking Kerry for all the work she is doing, without her and all the other selfless volunteers we would never have a great place like Dgrin and DSS

[The Curious Camel]

I don't have any great brownie recipes nor have I actually ever baked any brownies :smo

But I would like to join every one in thanking Kerry for all the work she is doing, without her and all the other selfless volunteers we would never have a great place like Dgrin and DSS

:thumb :thumb :thumb

[pyry]

Or that we need to bake our pictures longer? :dunno:dunno

Is it a picture of a brownie?

Or, when sister-in-law is visiting, and asking what to bring, say "wine." :D

Yes. Cider would work as well.

I just found a place that has Thatchers Katy Rosé cider, good ol' Old Rosie has been topped.

[Greensquared]

Kerry - I take my hat off to you. You're running this thing SO well and I am eternally grateful for all that you're doing. I know how much work it is and you are doing an AWESOME job! :clap :clap :clap :lynnma :smile6

[divamum]

This will be a thick batter, so prepare to sweat, putting your arms to a serious test. Better is to use a heavy duty mixer such as a KitchenAid. Handheld mixers have been known to leak smoke and die prepping this mix.



You're not kidding on the "glop" front! I actually halved the recipe (I figured for a family of three any recipe with 9 eggs might be a little de trop ;) but I don't have a Kitchen Aid so I had to mix it by hand.

The bowl-lickings were heartily approved by the 11-year old division.... can't wait till they come out of the oven to taste test!! :thumb

[Katmitchell]

we want brownie pictures... I am gonna bake some and try this too... do let us know how they turned out.. Y-U-M...........:clap

hows that arm after all that mixing? :wink

[Katmitchell]

Does a picture count for the bribe? here is mine..LOL

http://katmitchell.smugmug.com/photos/545212596_wyo5d-L.jpg


Thank you Michswiss for the super recipe :lust the whole family had fun making these and my kids thank you.... take a look, they turned out super!!!!!!! :clap

I love this recipe it is like a heavy cake and it rises so well.... my arm is gonna take some time to heal though, the batter was thick!

again, thanks... They Turned Out Delicious..
Kat

[Katmitchell]

Or that we need to bake our pictures longer? :dunno:dunno

Or, when sister-in-law is visiting, and asking what to bring, say "wine." :D

There might be other lessons there as well. :scratch


> Hey Mark,, take a look at the brownie picture.. is that what you meant? did I bake it long enough? lol

by the way, I like the entry you put in.. nice angle and light..
they turned out great..:thumb

Kat

[MarkR]

> Hey Mark,, take a look at the brownie picture.. is that what you meant? did I bake it long enough? lol

by the way, I like the entry you put in.. nice angle and light..
they turned out great..:thumb

Kat

Those look exactly the way my sister-in-law's DON'T! :thumb :food

Thank you for your kind words.

[Llywellyn]

Does a picture count for the bribe? here is mine..LOL

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but those words aren't filling my tummy with chocolate. Need some physical samples, I'm afraid. :D

[divamum]

Ooooo... you iced yours! We just enjoyed the yummy, chewy chocolaty-ness naked and unadorned (read: I didn't have icing ingredients or nuts in the house :giggle). GaWOW! We've actually only allowed ourselve sto taste-test the rubble since we have family coming over this afternoon and these are, strictly speaking, for dessert, but mmmmmmmmMMMmmmmMMMMMm - serious yum. This is now "our" recipe too, I think! Great job, Mischswiss :bow :thumb:bow :thumb:bow :thumb:bow :thumb:clap

PS I recently stumbled across a recipe that adds a shot of espresso as well - I wonder how these would take to that? :scratch

[michswiss]

PS I recently stumbled across a recipe that adds a shot of espresso as well - I wonder how these would take to that? :scratch

I'm really pleased that the recipe worked for the two of you! Have fun with it. There are so many variations you can do to make it chewy, light, dense, moist, dry. What ever you like.

It will definitely take to a shot of espresso (done it), orange or lemon zest (done it), Kahlua (done it), Bailies (done it), fresh mint (done it), minced ginger (done it), whiskey (done it) and a few more. Always fold (trowel) this in at the end. I should try it with chipotle. Chili and chocolate are lovely together. It just takes special children to appreciate it.

I like making split batches where one pan is lovely, basic chocolate, the other with the added flavor. Then challenge the taste testers to figure it out. Sampling is such good fun :D

Just imagine the confusion though when someone googles for a brownie recipe and end up at a photography site. :huh

ps. Call me Jenn

pps. Kerry, I think you should absolutely INSIST on sampling both Divamum's and Kat's attempts. I need to know that my IP is being well served!

[Llywellyn]

pps. Kerry, I think you should absolutely INSIST on sampling both Divamum's and Kat's attempts. I need to know that my IP is being well served!

I'm not going to argue this point. :giggle

[bf2015]

:bow :clap :clap Kat those brownies look awesome! Nice modification of the light as well! :rofl

[Katmitchell]

:bow :clap :clap Kat those brownies look awesome! Nice modification of the light as well! :rofl

Thanks Brian.. Loved your pun on the light modification.. ya know.. I actually did try a shot with the egg shells afterwords for the contest.. I crushed them up and tried to cast hard shadows with them, but I need a better lens to pull it off.. all I have right now is the 55mm... and I need a macro to pull that off and get close enough for the impact to be successful...

Kat

[Katmitchell]

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but those words aren't filling my tummy with chocolate. Need some physical samples, I'm afraid. :D

Well there is always USPS Kerry.... and I made several pans... and there is plenty... send me the location... and you get your brownies........ all bribes aside though... I say it is a good way to say thank you for all that you do... and you do it all probono to boot!!! . amazing....


This was neat... a food theme would be an interesting mini challenge...
However, I discovered that food is harder to photograph than I thought, especially on a white platter.. Now I see why food photography is an art all its own...

thanks for the comments guys and thanks "Jenn" for the recipe and the Name...

I think I will try that coffee one Diva,,, that sounds great..

so that would qualify it as breakfast right? you have your flour (grains) and your eggs (protein) and your nuts and now your coffee (caffeine)..... sounds Awesome. "The Breakfast Brownie" ...:barb

Kat