Rich and Dreamy Mini Chocolate Pies

You know what's scary? Not blogging in over a month. You know what's even scarier? The amount of things that have happened in that month. I've had rehearsals, meetings, a grandma fall and break her leg... shall I go on?

In the midst of all that, I found time to create these little cups of heaven yesterday!

A graham cracker crumble on the bottom, silky thick chocolate pudding, and whipped cream on top. What's not to like? Oh, and there's a bonus! These little yummies are totally easy to make! Can I get an AMEN?!

Here is the recipe for y'all! Make this ASAP, you won't regret it!

Rich and Dreamy Mini Chocolate Pies

Ingredients

Crust:

-5 rectangular graham crackers, broken in half

-2 tbsp butter, melted

Filling:

-1 1/2 cups half-and-half

-2 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

-2 tbsp butter

-2 tbsp cornstarch 

-4 tsp water

-1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin powder

Toppings:

-1 cup heavy whipping cream

-1 tbsp powdered sugar

-rainbow sprinkles (optional)

Directions

Pulse graham crackers in food processor. Add butter; mix. Press evenly into four oven-safe crocks (straight-sided, preferably) to coat the bottom of the crocks in the cracker mixture. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. 

While the crust is baking, melt half-and-half, chocolate chips, and butter together on stove in a medium-sized saucepan. In a separate bowl, mix together cornstarch and water. Add cornstarch mixture to chocolate mixture. Add gelatin powder. Stir until all is evenly combined and begins to thicken. Take off heat and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Pour chocolate mixture into graham-mixture crocks, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Fifteen minutes before serving, pour heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar into mixer. Mix on high speed for 7 minutes or until there are stiff peaks. Spoon whipped cream onto chocolate mixture in your crocks. Add sprinkles (optional). Serve.

Enjoy!

Strings Appreciation Post

So, have I mentioned lately how much I love string music? Anything played by an upright bass, cello, viola, or violin makes me happy :)

Some of you might remember that I play the violin. Well, I took a big ol' step out of my comfort zone and auditioned for an orchestra after five years of playing. After three months of worrying and practicing and worrying some more, I had the judges stop me halfway through the piece telling me I got in. Obviously I was happy, but after that amount of time practicing I wanted to tell them to sit back down and let me finish. Oh well.

Since then, orchestra has proven to be utter bliss. I have found people who understand what a masterpiece Bach's Cello Suites are (you can listen to them here), and aren't afraid to dive into deep conversation topics such as quantum physics and philosophy.

Speaking of Bach's Cello Suites, I am completely overjoyed to announce that I am finally learning them on the violin! They are my absolute favorite pieces, and I have spent about an hour working on the first suite this afternoon. (Today, I spent probably about three hours total practicing violin.)

Just to show how much I love violin, I took some glamour shots this evening. Enjoy looking through them!

Our First Snow

Wow! It has been a long time, hasn't it? I have been on blogging hiatus for the past couple of weeks because of all the craziness going on in my family: my great-grandfather past away, my first orchestra practices, and juggling it all with -you guessed it- my overly busy school schedule.

The craziest thing, however, has been our first heavy snow all winter long! Nine inches of snow has fallen in the past week, canceling school. Normally, this wouldn't affect my mom and me because of the whole "homeschool" thing, but having my sister home and the first snow all winter has proved to be a greater distraction than expected. 

Here's a candid photo I shot with my iPad:

Moment of silence for the ruler I lost while trying to measure the snow. It'll turn up. Eventually.

Blackberry Honey Green Tea Smoothie

I have never been a big fan of breakfast foods. I'll eat sausage, pancakes, or cereal, but I've always preferred to sit down with a big bowl of pasta. (If possible, I would live solely off of pasta. Yum.) Since that's not exactly the healthiest thing, smoothies are my go-to healthy breakfast. 

This recipe is perfect for a busy weekday morning. Just throw some ingredients in a blender, and bam! Two healthy, delicious smoothies! 

Blackberry Honey Green Tea Smoothies

Ingredients

-1 cup ice

-1 cup milk

- 1/2 to 3/4 cup blackberries

-1/4 teaspoon green tea leaves OR matcha powdered green tea

-1/2 to 1 teaspoon honey

Directions

Put ingredients in blender. Blend for 2 minutes or until smooth. If desired, sprinkle a few tea leaves on top for garnish. Serve.

Pretty easy, am I right?!

The reason why I did a range of measurements for the blackberries and honey is that in the winter, blackberries will probably be a bit more sour, so less blackberries will be used and more honey; whereas in the summer, you can use more berries and less honey. It's really up to how you like it!!

Bon appetit! 

2015 and Rustic Apple Pockets

Happy New Year's, everybody!! It's hard to believe that 2015 is here already... my sister will be going to college and becoming an adult, and I will be turning thirteen. Lord preserve us.

Because of the crazy-cold temperatures that have descended upon Indiana, I have been spending the beginning of 2015 inside, practicing violin. I will be playing Luigi Boccherini's Minuet for my very first orchestra audition ever this Monday. No, I'm not freaking out? Why would you ask that?

(You guys know me well enough to know I'm being sarcastic, right?)

Deep breaths, Hannah...

Yesterday I got a nasty paper cut on one of my violin fingers and was unable to practice, so I came up with this great recipe for y'all!!

I know apples are more of a fall thing, but I couldn't wait until September to share this scrumptious recipe with you!

Rustic Apple Pockets

Ingredients

(For the filling)

-2 large apples

-1 1/2 teaspoon butter

-dash cinnamon

-dash nutmeg

-dash cloves

-dash ginger

-1/4 cup apricot jelly

-3/4 cup apple cider

-1 teaspoon sugar

(For the crust)

-1 1/4 cup AP flour

-1/3 cup brown sugar

-dash cinnamon

-2/3 cup buttermilk

Directions

Cut apples into cubes. Saute HALF of the apples in butter and spices, stirring, for about 10 minutes. Add fried apples, uncooked apples, jelly, apple cider, and sugar into a small saucepan. Cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use a potato masher to mush apples into an applesauce. 

Meanwhile, put crust ingredients into a mixer and stir. Dust a smooth surface with flour. (If dough is too dry/flaky, add small droplets of water to the cracks.) Roll into a 12-inch circle and cut into fourths.

Put about two tablespoons of the applesauce onto the fourths. (Do not fill them extremely full, or they will not close.) Fold crust over the mixture closed. Put a pecan on top for garnish if desired. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired. Makes four pockets.

How cute are these little guys? They make me think of a delectable pastry that would be on the table of a country cottage in France! 

Bon appetit! 

Merry Christmas!

Well, today brings our countdown to a close. I think it went pretty well, don't you? I will definitely make this an annual thing!

For me, Christmas is one of the most special holidays. God loved us so much that He was willing to send his only Son to  Earth! I think that that is a perfect reason to rejoice! Joy to the World, who's with me?!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! 

5 Best Teas for Christmas and Winter

2 days until Christmas! I cannot believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve already!

Do you know what I really can't believe? That I missed three whole days of my countdown! Christmas with my mom's side of the family along with preparation for Christmas has put my blogging into a tailspin.

As I'm sure you all know by now, my very favorite beverage is tea. I don't care what kind. If it's tea, I'll drink it. Therefore, during the fall I began posting my five favorite teas for the season. Now, here are my five favorite teas for the winter!!

  

5 Best Teas for Christmas and Winter

#1: Peppermint from Bigelow

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.

#2: Holiday Chai from Stash Teas

My mom and I are goo-goo for anything chai! The rich, almost smokey flavor of chai goes perfectly with Christmas-y accents in the tea. A splash of eggnog totally makes this already amazing tea.

#3: White Christmas from Stash Teas

This tea is a light, refreshing, pepperminty pop perfect for when you're in the mood for a festive tea.

#4: Christmas Eve from Stash Teas

This tea is perfection. I'm not joking! A spicy, savory flavor is perfect for relaxing with family on Christmas Eve.

#5: Earl Grey

Earl Grey is pretty much the most refined and sophisticated tea there is. This robust winter tea is great for settling in on a long winter's night. (I usually buy Twining's.)


Cheers! (And merry Christmas Eve eve!)