Here are a couple of new products that came in the mail last week.
1. Super fun accordian books!!! Very sturdy and a perfect size to carry in a pocket or purse, OR open out and display proudly on a shelf or desk.
2. I had lots of fun designing this CD case and I’m thrilled with the quality of it – I sure do love my lab! I’m excited to be working on a list of “up and coming” new products. Looking forward to sharing them with you!
Oh! Thank yous go out to the uber-talented Ree, creator of yummy recipes and recipe sites like Tasty Kitchen , for this most delicious recipe: Mocha Silk Pie Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I made it three times in one week… my children vowed that my wish was their command, my husband did the dishes, I served it to my parents and they increased my inheritance! Rich and silky, I topped a slice with real whipped cream… and discovered my new weakness.
Crust
1 cup Pecans, Finely Chopped
½ cups Packed Brown Sugar
2 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Grated
2 Tablespoons Kahlua (I used Amaretto)
Dash Of Salt
Filling
2 sticks Butter (salted)
1-½ cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Instant Coffee Granules
1 teaspoon Kahlua (I used Amaretto)
3 ounces, weight Semi-sweet (or Bittersweet) Chocolate
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 whole Large Eggs
Preparation Instructions:
To make the crust, combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, grated chocolate, and salt. Stir with a fork to combine, then drizzle in Kahlua, stirring until combined. Press mixture into a pie pan, bringing it up the sides a bit. *Do not bake* Set aside or refrigerate until needed.
In small microwave safe bowl, melt 3 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate until stirrable (about 45 seconds on high). Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat butter, sugar, 2 teaspoons instant coffee, and 1 teaspoon Kahlua until fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. When melted chocolate is cooled, drizzle it into the butter/sugar mixture as it beats on medium speed; use a rubber spatula to get it all out. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat the mixture thoroughly until combined, scraping the sides if necessary.
On medium speed, add the four eggs, one at a time, over a period of 20 minutes; leave about 5 minutes between each egg addition. Scrape sides of bowl halfway through this process. Pour filling into the pie crust. You might have a little filling leftover.
Smooth out the pie filling and place pie in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours (preferably longer).
Top with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
I met up with Jen and her mom on Saturday. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful morning so we decided to meet at the park for some pictures under my favorite lighting – the big ‘ol diffused sky. However, as soon as we set foot out of our cars, the clouds which had been giving us our diffused light decided to give up some precipitation as well! Jen was such a trooper, though. We dodged rain drops as we ran to our backdrop so I could get a few shots. And a few is all we got before we had to shield her with my reflector in order to save her hair from an outright down pour! Back to the studio lights for the rest of her session, after a little touch up with the hair straightener of course! Thanks for a fun session, Jen. You truly are as sweet as can be!
I met her at an aerobics class, we introduced ourselves in between breaths of air and instantly became friends. Robbyn was the kind of girl a mom would want to introduce her son to, and that’s exactly how Robbyn met Ron. I was there when they first set eyes on each other, and it was most apparent to those in observance that from that very first moment the inevitable had been set in motion. Ron proposed to Robbyn a year later and a wedding date was set! I was honored to photograph their exchange of vows and reception, and later, delighted to hear that their wedding was chosen to be featured in the Spring 2010 issue of South Sound Wedding & Event Magazine. While I drove home after shooting Robbyn and Ron’s wedding, I was so full of joy that these two people who were meant for each other had found such happiness. I’m always so blessed by the amazing people who I get to meet, and I consider myself a better person because of their friendship in my life.
Ron and Robbyn also gave me the honor of shooting a “Day After” session. They got all dressed up again, and we went out and had a super fun time doing things that we just didn’t have time to do on the wedding day, like going boating and running from trains. I love love LOVE “Day After” sessions – Check out their “Day After” and you’ll soon discover why!
Candid Reflections 