Tacky Sweater Party

here are some photos from a Tacky Sweater Christmas Party my roommates and I threw.

Group Shot

Recent Pics

Wow!!

I just tried this recipe yesterday for the first time and thought it was share-worthy. It's definitely my favorite brownie recipe thus far, so in case you're interested:

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 C butter
1 C light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa (not Dutch-processed)
1/2 t salt
1 C semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate and butter*. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Take off heat. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Add flour, cocoa, and salt, mixing until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Pour better into an 8-inch square pan**. Bake until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs sticking to it, 20-25 minutes.

*MELTING CHOCOLATE THE EASY WAY
Instead of using a double boiler, put chopped chocolate in a small metal bowl along with any other ingredients you need to melt, such as butter. In a large frying pan over high heat, bring about an inch of water to a low boil. Take pan off the heat and set the bowl in the water. Let sit, stirring occassionally, until chocolate is melted, 5 to 10 minutes.

**I used an 8 x 11 pan, so the brownies were thinner, but they were still really good, and they still took about 25 minutes to cook. If I had used the 8 x 8 pan I would have probably had to turn the heat down or cover the brownies with foil and cook them for longer so they wouldn't get too dry or burned around the edges.

Enjoy!!

Website

I know some of you know about it already, but just to make sure the word is out there, check out ChuckNorrisfacts.com.

It's Alive!!!

Thanks for the post Beth.

Sorry you guys haven't heard about Mammoth in a while. I'm trying to do a write up and informational letter but can't seem to make it witty enough to mail it out.

Although Rick's post was certainly worthy of being the first thing you read on this site for the last seven months, and although I don't have anything nearly as entertaining to share, I still thought I'd write something.

So, here I am, making my debut on The Callister Family Spot, and I can already hear the boos and feel the mental tomatoes being thrown by the readers.

With that in mind I think I'll close, but not without saying that I am still hoping this kind of takes off. I know it's been 14 months since the birth of this site and there have only been a handful of posts, but I think Jared was on to a good thing when he started this. Thanks, Jared.

Test Post...

Not sure I know how to do this thing... Why do we have to log in to blogspot.com to post rather that go straight into www.callisters.blogspot.com?

Changing subjects, I had an interesting conversation with Chase today. It went something like this:
"Dad, is the sun the hottest thing?"
"Yes, probably."
"What's the brightest thing?"
"Probably the sun," I responded.
"No, people are."
"How can people be brighter than the sun?" I asked puzzlingly.
"Not earth people, heavenly people."
I immediately knew I had been outfoxed by a 5 year old. From Joseph Smith's First Vision account, "But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My fBeloved Son. Hear Him!"

Well, at least he learned something at Church today...

Aspen Grove No, Mammoth Yes

Hey guys, Yanni and I are trying to plan the Mammoth trip, and are just wondering if you guys remember the name of the place we stayed at. Also, we were wondering what types of lodges we should get. Please post comments if you have any suggestions. I think Dad mentioned that if you got two large cabins it might be enough, but let us know what you think.

The picture is an image I produced courtesty of google earth. If you guys haven't heard about it, it's pretty incredible. It taks satellite images, fuses it with 3D topographic maps, and allows the user to navigate any where in the world, zooming in and out, rotating and pitching the view. You can also add layers to the map, viewing census statistifcs, school and voting district boundries, streets, past earthquakes, and a whole host of other things. If you have a mac, you'll have to wait a bit to download it though.

Aspen Grove '06' (not happening)

Sorry guys, Aspen Grove informed us that they couldn't fit us in to the time slots and cabins we requested. So its back to the drawing board.

Update on Jeremy

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to go to San Fran. for a day with my Seismic Design class. We spent most of the day looking at the new portion of the Oakland bridge that is going up. It was pretty amazing. When I figure out how to post pictures, I'll try to put some up. Anyway, things are going well. I also just got called as the Ward Mission Leader, so I am excited to work with the missionaries.
I love you all,
Jeremy
PS. I have a week off for spring break (March 20-27). If anyone would enjoy a visit from me just let me know.

Jeremy's new email address

Everyone. I have a new email address I would like you to update to your email lists. It is
jbob.sqpants@gmail.com

PS. if anyone wants an invite to gmail (google's email service that gives you 1000 MB of storage) I have some free accounts to give out. Just let me know.

Merry Christmas

Hope everyone is having happy holiday. Feel free to post pictures of christmas here.

Welcome Everyone!!!

This is a test, only a test.