Photography and Design by Elizabeth Murray
So fun to finally meet with my cousin and his beautiful family for fall family portraits! It was a beautiful day for pictures at Bridgeport, even if the water was a little chilly for bare-tootsies! Thank you for letting me capture these for you all. :)
..."Bob" the tiny lizard-pet who joined our session.
Thank you to Rob & Jamie for inviting me out to your beautiful Penn Valley property for your fall family photo shoot! :) I enjoyed meeting you all and I hope I did justice to each of your unique personalities and charming, fun-loving nature.
...and congratulations to the newly engaged couple...
...daddy's li'l sweetheart sure was a camera-ham!
Soak a bunch of pinto beans over night to get plump.
Praise the good dog for not being under foot ;)
Chop bacon and fry it til just crispy...
...remind the puppy-girl that frying bacon doesn't mean a forest fire is coming...
sizzling...
Sing praises that you didn't burn the bacon losing track of time playing with your camera...
...keep singing...
Chop about half an onion (red is the best!).
okay...so extra onion isn't always a bad thing.
Peel garlic cloves.
Chop garlic...MMM!
...now the bacon is just right.
Yes, it's done sizzling...for now.
Add onion and garlic...
...and jalepenos!
...keep sizzling!
Measure the Cumin (my Dad teased my Mom once for pronouncing it funny...I know there's great debate, but I prefer "que-min"...I think my Dad says "coo-min")...
...and measure the chili powder (I usually eye-ball spices, but the spoons are nice for composition) ;) (Notice self-portrait?)
Add those spices!
Patiently wait to go outside until it's safe to leave the stove...
Add some water from the beans that soaked overnight.
Loosen any spices or browned bits from the pan.
Add the beans and soaking water and realize you should have chosen a bigger pan or pot!
Heat up another burner with a big pot to transfer the overflowing beans before they make a mess!
(Discard the trash.)
Double check the recipe again...on track!
Yawn...or just look damn cute while you wait for the pot to boil.
...a watched pot doesn't boil. ;)
Be a good kitchen helper and cheer-leader. Avoid stepping or sitting on the cold floors at all costs and pose nicely for a cute picture.
Then be crazy and jump wildly to the carpet before you touch the cold floor too long! LOL SAFE! PHEW!
Allow the beans to come to a full rolling boil.
...keep waiting.
Once at a boil reduce heat; simmer for 1-2 hours until the beans are soft and it smells up your house. (I usually cover it, but then you couldn't see the bubbles, could you?!)
When the beans are soft, stir in about a teaspoon of salt and simmer another couple minutes.
...shoot a photo using your left hand to support AND trigger the shutter, while your camera is mounted with an off-camera flash...and PRAY that you don't splatter the lens or drop the camera! Giggle quietly to yourself about what a dork you are for enjoying this little project. ;)
Serve beans and position your spoon so that it's visually pleasing in your composition. MMM!
