project: brittle.

This week I've been working on a little Christmas project and that's making brittle. It's a bit time consuming but it's also pretty relaxing. One batch makes roughly 2lbs. And I've made about six different batches. To me, this is definitely a labor of love. I really like baking but for some reason this is my favorite. 

I started off making just the plain peanut brittle then figured I could add some different flavors and it kind of took off. Several different flavors, a few different nuts but for the most part one awesome outcome: everyone that's tried it loves it. 

This year, I had been searching all year ( on and off) on how to make a bacon brittle. I couldn't find anything but just candied bacon. So I took matters into my own hands and decided to make a bacon peanut brittle. It came out pretty decent. Not a complete wow like the spicy nor the cinnamon brittles I make but it wasn't disgusting so that's technically a win in itself. 

Pictured is the different steps to the bacon peanut brittle. 

coming to a close...

The year, not the blog. I know I haven't been posting as much but that hasn't stopped me with this year's project. This year, I was challenged to use my smartphone to take pics. I was never one for using it because of the lack of features I'd use on my camera. But to help myself grow and learn, I took on the challenge and it has definitely been fun with a side of learning experience. Using my phone I didn't have the normal features, like optical zoom or the super macro for the really up close shots so I had to get creative.

I've taken over a thousand pictures, I've also had to unload pictures from my phone to my external hard drive three or four times. I've even deleted a ton of pictures because they've looked too blurry, not the right angle... or I just didn't like it.

I love taking pictures and I hoped this year's project helped me grow. So, as the year comes to a close it's time to look for a different project but I won't stop with this blog. It'll change and I hope you stick around.

Also, I'm now on instagram @pigpandacow. Follow me on there to see some random pics.

abandoned.

So I've been trying my best to get back into the swing of things and I haven't found anything worth posting. Til now, I'm not one for using "filters" or photoshop... or well, even instagram. ( It might change, you never know.) But I took this pic today and felt that it needed treatment.

good morning, world

fall morning

This morning a spent a few minutes in the dog yard just hanging out. Looking around, enjoying the crisp cool morning and taking in the quietness of it all. I noticed some dew on the grass, put my camera phone on macro shooting mode and went to "work".

adventures in the gym...

So, new goal... hit 200lbs on squats. I did about 95lbs today including the bar. And also to "rack out" the power squat, right now I'm only four 45lb plates away.  I plan on doing this by Christmas. Updates will come.

Gotta remember... everyone has to start somewhere.

sorry for being away for a bit...

Had a few things that turned everything upside down but I'm working on right it and getting blog posts going again. Please bare (bear? lol) with me.

This was taken at the fair in Pomona, CA on a late September night.