Radically Retired

Tag: Early Mornings

  • Friday Freestyling … A Healthy Trade Off

    Friday Freestyling … A Healthy Trade Off

    Morning golden hour is the best time for me to catch photos.

    I’m a very early riser, so heading out just after the sun comes up isn’t a difficult feat.

    I don’t go out at that time regularly, but when I do, I’m always rewarded with peace, little to no vehicle traffic when crossing streets to get to my trails, and then that glorious, energizing, early morning sunlight.

    When the sunlight gently caresses the trees, the flowers, the river, and the walking paths, I have a hard time keeping up my walking pace because I want to stop and photograph every sun-kissed scene that catches my eye.

    Yes, the light is distracting from my purpose of walking for exercise. The stops to enjoy and try to capture on my phone camera what I’m seeing with my eyes, keep me grounded in the present and appreciative of the beauties in nature.

    I see that as a healthy trade-off.

  • Foreboding Shadows

    Foreboding Shadows

    Do you like poached eggs? If yes, how do you prepare yours?

    Yesterday morning, as the sun was coming up and peering through our balcony’s big sliding doors, I was looking for something for breakfast to both photograph and enjoy.

    I came across a recipe on Facebook for air fryer poached eggs.

    I love poached eggs and have made them using many different methods but never the air fryer.

    As I looked for a spot on my table to set up for a photo, it didn’t matter what spot I chose, the sun coming in the adjacent balcony doors caused long, dark shadows. I was hungry, so decided to just go with it.

    My air fryer poached eggs were a disappointing fail of epic proportions. After the time given in the recipe, they hadn’t set one bit and were just slimy, unpalatable blobs, mocking me from the ramekins they were supposed to be “cooked to perfection” in.

    I increased the temp a bit and added two minutes. The eggs were slightly more set, but still not edible. I like my poached eggs to have soft yolks but the whites have to be completely set.

    I added three more minutes. Now, the whites weren’t great but just slightly more set, and the yolks were overcooked. The surface was wrinkled and not one bit appetizing in appearance.

    I plated it up anyways, took the photo, and grudgingly ate my brekky.

    Strike that prep method from my list.