New Blog

Hello, friends of mine! I started a new blog and wanted to give everyone the link! Here it is!

www.calliemarie92.blogspot.com

This blog will still be up but there will be no more new posts! I hope you like the new one!

More Pics...

Just a few more pictures of the girls. It took me forever to decide which one's to share! Hope you enjoy them! :)

New Experience...

Have you ever had an experience that was so scary but absolutely hilarious at the same time? If you haven't, I hope you do somewhere in the near future because there's nothing like it!

So...Hannah looks at me randomly and asks: "If I bought one of those hair highlighting kits do you think you could color my hair?". I say: "Sure. There's nothing to it!" Keep in mind that I have never done this in my entire life.

That was yesterday at church. Today, Hannah came home with a highlighting kit to color her hair and says: "Are you ready?" And I say, with reckless abandon, "Sure...why not!"

And that's only the beginning!

I'm already confused and I've only looked at the box, but I keep my face free of any emotions I'm feeling so Hannah won't be worried. We set everything up and I was doing pretty good, but then I opened the box. That only made matters worse, but Hannah has no clue! She got the color that has the cap you stretch over their head that nearly cuts off their air supply when you tie it, and as if not breathing isn't enough, swallowing is not even an option. I put the cap on and pull the hair through and apply the color. Nothing to it. The box says let sit 30-45 min. We're sitting there waiting and her hair starts changing colors, that's when I started getting nervous. I knew it was supposed to change colors, but this was major. I read the directions again and it said the hair would go through a "Strong Yellow Tone Stage" and to wait until that passed. Well, we waited, and waited, but it didn't look her hair was ever going to come out of the "Strong Yellow Tone Stage." I didn't know what else to do so I just started laughing. I couldn't help it! The bottom of Hannah's hair is a medium brown and the top is a "Strong Yellow Tone." This is bad!!!!!!! Hannah loses it and says: "Just get it out of my hair!" We're laughing uncontrollably. I told her to lean her head back in the sink so I could rinse, and as soon as she does she starts having what could only be a hot flash! That just topped the moment off. I started laughing harder and had to actually stop in the middle of rinsing her hair to go the bathroom! This is all true! We finally got it rinsed and I'm felling a little better because it's actually starting to blend. It turns out that it's supposed to look that way before you rinse it! They should put that in the directions! Anyway, everything turned out good and I think Hannah's hair looks great! I just had to share! :)

My Crazy Family!!!!!

Sooo...this is my family! Normally, I would never admit to being related to them, but I figured...why not? :)

Even if they are insane, these are the people that made me who I am and I wouldn't trade them for the world. I love them and thank the Lord for them! Anyway, hope you like them!

More Pictures!!!!!

I love taking pictures!!! I just can't help it. There's something about capturing a moment that you will be able to keep forever that is so special.

Well, you've all seen pictures of my girls, but I took these the other day in my own yard. I've been trying to work on my settings! Anybody can take a picture and make it look good if they have the right setting, but it takes a little work and creativity to make something out of nothing. Obviously, your subject is your main focus, but some people don't realize that the background is very important. Anyway, that has been my project and I think I'm improving! :)

I just want to say that I love these two little girls! Are they not just adorable? Hope you like the pictures!

Chocolate-Almond Torte wiht Ganache Topping

Another big hit! I love chocolate!!!!

Ingredients

FOR THE TORTE

1/3 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
1 bag bittersweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)
1 tsp. instant espresso powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup cold brewed coffee
2 tsp. almond extract
6 eggs

FOR THE GANACHE

1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Toasted sliced almonds (Optional)


Instructions

Heat oven to 325 F. Coat a 9x2-inch round cake pan with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper cut to fit in bottom of pan; coat with nonstick spray.

For the torte, bring water and sugar to boil in medium saucepan to dissolve sugar; remove from heat. add butter, chocolate chips, espresso powder, and salt. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Whisk in coffee and almond extract.

Whisk eggs until whites and yolks are combined, then whisk into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared cake pan, place cake pan inside a roasting pan. Add warm water to roasting pan halfway up side of cake pan. Bake torte until puffed and soft to touch, 40-45 minutes. Remove roasting pan from oven and then place cake pan on a cooling rack. Let cool 1 hour.

Run a paring knife around the inside of the cake pan; invert onto a platter. Peel off parchment paper; chill until ready to serve. (The recipe tells you to bring torte to room temperature before serving, but I really liked straight out of the fridge.)

For the ganache, before serving, heat cream in a microwave-safe measuring cup until cream is boiling. Add chocolate chips and let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Cool ganache 2-3 minutes, then spread over top and down the sides of torte. Sprinkle almonds on top if desired. Chill any leftovers!

WHEN YOU ARE CUTTING THE TORTE, DIP YOUR KNIFE IN A HOT CUP OF WATER!!!!!! This is very important! If you don't it won't cut clean!

Key Lime Pie

This pie was a big hit! I made it for my mom on Mother's Day because it's her favorite!




Ingredients

4 large eggs, separated

1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

3/4 heavy cream

1 tsp. grated lime peel

2 or 3 drops green food coloring (optional)

1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 F. Beat egg yolks in medium bowl on low speed of electric mixer. Gradually beat in condensed milk and lime juice until smooth. Blend in cream, lime peel and food coloring, if desired. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar on medium speed. Beat at least 4 minutes to make sure the sugar dissolves. Should form stiff glossy peaks. Spread over hot pie, carefully sealing to edge of the crust to keep meringue from shrinking.

Bake an additional 15 minutes or until meringue lightly browns. Cool 1 hour on wire rack. Chill at least 3 hours before serving.