My Life, my photography, my passions
What a weekend! My son’s graduation party on Friday night was a huge success, more than expected showed up and we were left scrabbling for food. Some people estimated over 200 people, I think it was closer to 175. But regardless it was a roaring success. I’m still recovering. So, my post a day was just a little late. Today you’re getting a twofer.
Don’t these chocolate covered strawberries look delicious? I made them at home. Seriously.
Not even a word to describe how good they actually taste. Just like at Christmas, I dip everything in almond bark chocolate. I have used Ghirardelli’s melting chocolate
It’s easy to make chocolate covered strawberries from scratch. All you need is big delicious looking strawberries, chocolate, and a fork. Ok, a double boiler pot does come in handy.
I get the white almond bark 
It’s not hard to make chocolate strawberries, all you need is a double boiler and some dipping chocolate. But, some people think it’s a little intimidating. Around Valentines Day you will see and hear ads from various online stores where you can buy chocolate dipped strawberries and have them delivered.
Chocolate is a fickle ingredient. If you it too hot chocolate will burn or “seize up” and become clumpy. (Whatever you do, do NOT add water to chocolate.) With a double boiler pot, you add an inch or two of water to the bottom pot and set on medium heat.
You can turn the stovetop on a boil, to begin with, but then reduce the heat to low to gradually melt your chocolate. If you don’t have an “official double boiler pot you can use a metal bowl and sit in on a saucepan. Or a smaller pot inside a larger pot, as long as the bottom doesn’t touch the water.
Stainless steel double boilers pots. Cookware for melting chocolate, fondue and low heat cooking.
AxeSickle 18/8 Stainless Steel Universal Melting Pot, Universal Double Boiler Insert, Double Spouts, Heat-resistant Handle, Flat Bottom, Premium Baking Tools,
This can be done. But take caution and be careful. I normally melt two squares of white almond bark for 20 seconds at a time and check it until it’s soft. Don’t just look at to see if it’s melted. The blocks of almond bark retain their shape, even when melted.
Ghirardelli melting chocolate
Ghirardelli Chocolate Dark Candy Malting Wafers, 30 OunceGhirardelli Candy Making & Dipping Dark Melting Wafers, 12 ozGhirardelli Melting Wafers Bundle, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, Set of 3-10oz each
Strawberries are good any time of the year, but I make them on Valentine’s day and also for high school graduation parties. They are everyone’s favorite and I’ve created an expectation amongst my friends. My kids LOVE when I make chocolate covered strawberries.
Homemade Chocolate-Covered Strawberries 4 Ways
For my son’s graduation, I made about 60 chocolate covered strawberries and it wasn’t nearly enough. I could have made three times that many considering how popular they were. Maybe next time.
If you don’t think you can handle dipping your own strawberries then you can always buy them online. Golden State Fruit
I’ve read reviews for Sherri’s Berries and the Golden State Fruit Company
Very little is more romantic and makes an impression than tasty chocolate covered strawberries. What woman doesn’t like chocolate?
Golden State Fruit 6 Love Berries Chocolate Covered StrawberriesBelgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries – 12pc Classic – Milk, Dark & White Chocolate Gift BoxCaramel Sea Salt – 12pc Belgian Milk Chocolate Covered StrawberriesGolden State Fruit Chocolate Covered Strawberries, 6 Dark, Milk & White Delight
For the next week or so I’m going to be indulgent and celebrate my son’s high school graduation from Elmwood-Murdock High school. Thought I would share the resources I used to make this event special and memorable.
The photography is by my friend Beth who does senior pictures as a hobby, Vivid Image Photography. Yes, David’s favorite was hanging upside down from a barn thirty feet in the air. He had fun, that’s what you look for in a good photographer.
The graduation party invitation created on Mixbooks. I purchased a Groupon (which I love) for $100 of products for only $15.00, what a bargain! Mixbooks has a huge gallery of templates and everything is customizable. Colors, adornments, layout, everything is very easy and I couldn’t beat the price anywhere. Bought a hundred invitations for only 0.15 a piece.
If you haven’t tried Groupon, I’d love it if you followed by link and signed up, I get discounts for future purchases and can really use them this summer.
Graduation parties in rural Nebraska are a big deal, it’s really a big traveling party and a reason to socialize. Since the classes are small everyone is pretty much invited and it’s an open house type of event with parents and friends. My son really graduates on the 14th, but he wanted to have his party the week before so he could go to all his friends parties the next week.
Stay tuned for more party preparation, senior portraits, post production of senior pictures, and why guys can be so hard to photograph.
My Spring photography theme is still tulips. There are so many colors and moods of tulips that I can’t help but capture each one in photographs.
This one reminds me of the Beatles song While My Guitar Gently Weeps. What do you think?
Photography Notes: This was taken on my old Olympus digital camera and I adjusted the overexposure by using Photoshop CS2 curves, used my 365 Action which automatically adds adjustment layers (in case I need to use them) resizes, sharpens and bumps the contrast. Then added the stroke for the outline and the drop shadow
Tulips are one of my favorite flowers because they signal in warm spring weather, sunny days and gardening.
I drive around town searching for as many colors as I can to photograph and my favorite spot is the mass planting of red tulips that remind me of Monet’s painting of flowers.
There are several interesting facts about tulips and did you know they are the third most popular flower? Some say they are the new rose. I know I like them better than roses.
There is nothing more impressive than tulip flower arangements for Spring and Easter. This flower door hanger below is just one idea.
Finally the trees are starting to release their leaves and become clothed again in green. I love green, especially after the monochromatic browns and greys of winter. Enjoy a peak into summer.
Photography Notes: Decreased brightness, smart sharpened, and adjusted curve.
