Friends :)

 These are some of my favorite pictures of me and my friends! I love them all a lot, and I feel so blessed to have them as friends.



Art

Last year I was mostly into drawing cartoons, but since I started art class, I have been able to learn how to draw (or paint) some really cool things.


This is one of my newest projects from art class. My teacher had us do a project that would come out looking like a stained glass drawing.


First I drew her (free-hand) on the black card stock with a art pencil.
I had some inspiration from a picture my art teacher had.



Then I went over the pencil lines Elmer's no-run gel;
I also added glue to some of the details on her dress.

After it dried, I colored it in with Prismacolor pencils. The pencils I used made the colors stand out really well.

It was a really fun project. You have to be patient while the glue dries, but it was worth the wait. I really like how it is textured and how the different colors came through.

Cartooned Creature

I still enjoy drawing cartoon animals; this one is my most recent . . .

Do you recognise him from somewhere??



Toffee Chocolate Nut Wedges

Toffee Chocolate Nut Wedges

These are a perfect holiday treat-and are so easy to make!

adapted from Abigail Johnson Dodge's The Weekend Baker

Yield : Makes one 9 ½-inch (24cm) tart, or 16 wedges

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons (4 ounces/113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ½ cup (4 ounces/113 grams) firmly packed dark brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon table salt
• 1 yolk from large egg
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (4 ½ ounces/128 grams) all-purpose flour
• 5 ounces (142 grams) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• ½ cup (2 ounces/57 grams) chopped pecans, toasted (see Notes)

Directions

1. Position an over rack on the middle rung. Heat the oven to 350 degrees (180°C). Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9 ½-inch (24cm) tart pan with a removable bottom.

2. In a large bowl, combine the butter, dark brown sugar, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer (stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or handheld mixer) on medium speed until well blended. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat just until combined. Pour in the four and beat on low speed until the dough begins to clump together. Scrape the dough into the prepared pan, scattering the pieces evenly. Using your fingertips (lightly floured, if necessary), pat the dough onto the bottom (not up the sides) of the prepared pan to form an even layer. Bake until the top looks dry and the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, 25 to 27 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate with the cream in a double boiler or in the microwave (see Notes). Stir until smooth. When the crust is baked, transfer the pan to a rack. Pour the warm ganache (the chocolate-cream mixture) over the warm crust and spread evenly to within ½ inch (1.25cm) of the edge. (An offset spatula is a great tool for this job.) Scatter the pecans evenly over the ganache and gently press them into the chocolate. Let cool completely until the chocolate is set, about 4 hours at room temperature or about 2 hours in the refrigerator. Remove the outer ring of the tart pan and cut the “cookie tart” into 16 wedges. Serve the wedges chilled or at room temperature.

Family