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Showing posts from December, 2009

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a

2010 ~ SIMPLIFY

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"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak"  ~ Hans Hofmann I've long held the belief in QUALITY over QUANTITY , and each year strive to further pare down the superflouous layers of my life, and focus on what is most near and dear to my heart.   This year I managed to sign-up and volunteer for less, thereby having more time to devote my love, energy and creativity to those places and people that I still chose to commit to.  My stress level decreased, my family felt more stable and happy, and my productivity increased.  One area where my participaton and time were still wildly out of control, however, was the blogosphere.    Since my blog only really started to pick up this year, I got swept up in a wave of excitment, inspiration, and fascination that led to many hours spent online that probably should have been more evenly distributed between my online and offline committments.  Have you made any New Ye

COUTURE CANDY DIY, PART II ~ Chocolate Transfer Sheets for you to try

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UPDATE:  Thank you for commenting and following, and thereby entering this little giveaway.  Ladies, here are your numbers: Conquer the Monkey Lee the Hot Flash Queen Foxy Caroline Marilyn Holly Kimberly Shannon Compliments of Random.org, the winner is: RANDOM.ORG Integer Widget : Min: 1 Max: 8 Result:  5 CONGRATULATIONS Marilyn!  Please email me to let me know where to send your transfer sheets. If you've ever felt inspired to try your hand at working with Chocolate Transfer Sheets, here's your chance: After writing the post" Couture Candy DIY " and ruminating over the lack of traffic in my Etsy store, I decided to go ahead and list some of the Chocolate Transfer Sheets from my inventory.  I've priced them competitively, and am offering flat rate shipping, whether you buy one sheet or 10.  Three patterns are available :  To purchase, please visit my Etsy store: the cute little shop on the corner

DIY Hostess Gift: "Hostess with the Mostest" Glitter Candle

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Whimsical, versatile, and very simple To put together, These charming candles are the perfect craft For thoughtful friends on a budget. To make one candle, assemble the following: 1 Mexican Prayer Candle (can be found at Target and many grocery stores for between $1 -$2) 1 Sheet High Quality Self-Adhesive Inkjet Paper Hostess With the Mostest Template -- or -- Happy New Year Template -- or -- your own image (approx. 6" tall) Mod Podge Fine Glitter (my favorite is Martha Stewart Antique Silver) A fine-tipped paint brush, dry A soft, loose-tipped paint brush, dry Scissors Scrapbook or vintage music paper A light weight cardboard, such as cereal box cardboard Small Single Hole Punch Ribbon (my favorite is Martha Stewart's 3/16" Piped Nylon Ribbon in "Putty"  Print your candle label and tag label on high quality self-adhesive inkjet paper. Trim label, leaving a small border to help guide you when you add the glue fo

HOLIDAY MEMORIES ~ SHARING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MOMENTS

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This was the best part of my Christmas:   The looks on the girls' faces when they came down the stairs and saw the "magic" that Santa had made while they slept. What was yours?

LAST MINUTE STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE HOME CHEF

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 KITCHEN TOOLS EVERY HOME CHEF SHOULD NOT BE WITHOUT 1. SILICONE SPATULA ~ the essential tool for getting every last bit clinging to a bowl, container, or jar. The silicone spatula is non-stick, so it’s perfect for candy-making (caramels, marshmallows, etc.). They’re heat resistant (usually up to about 600 degrees f), so they’re perfect for stirring pots of hot stuff on the stove. 2. MICROPLANE GRATER ~ eliminates the need for such costly tools as a zester, nutmeg grater, and fine cheese grater. The microplane is positively the best zester for your citrus. Works beautifully on hard cheeses for a fine grate, and is a whiz with nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger. Makes those delicious little chocolate shavings on your hot cocoa too! 3. BENCH SCRAPER ~ makes clean-up a breeze. Great for cleaning crumbs from the table, removing flour and sticky dough from a counter or board, and carmelized bits from your stainless steel pans. You can find bench-scrapers i

O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE

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WELCOME FRIENDS! A PEEK INSIDE "THE ROOKERY" OUR CHRISTMAS TREE ~   Cherished ornaments in antique white, shimmery beige, and lots of German glass glitter  Vintage silver christmas candle clips hold German beeswax candles  Little papier mache angels by Nicol Sayre spread holiday magic throughout  My vintage music Magnolias And, of course ~ birds Papier Mache, glass glitter, crepe paper, and candles ~ Christmas tree decorations of a time gone by. What traditions or decorations from the past do you cherish in the present? Wishing you and yours a most joyful, magical, and peaceful holiday season! ~ Jenn

WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER...

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First, I just have to say a big thanks to my friend Sam who first introduced me to the phrase, "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner."  It's just so homey!  It evokes thoughts of warm biscuits wrapped in a blue gingham napkin, a favorite quilt passed down from one generation to the next, a rocking chair on the porch, and of course that comfort of all comfort foods, good-old fashioned fried chicken.  Must be near dinner time, because I'm thinking food!  Ah yes, 5:00 P.M. PST, and that means it's time to announce the winners of the lovely jewelry, so generously donated by my friend Iris of Arco Iris and Till Death Do Us Art .  Here's how it all broke down: Holly Entered by following TDDUA & Rook No. 17, and commenting on fav jewelry piece Holly Posted Giveaway on Sidebar Holly Posted Giveaway on Sidebar Holly Posted Giveaway on Sidebar Holly Is a FB Fan Kys Entered by following TDDUA & Rook No. 17, and commenting on fav jewelry piece carma

FREE CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY CLIPART ~ another installment of "Graphics & Gratitutde"

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I'VE RECEIVED ANOTHER GENEROUS DOSE OF LOVE AND AFFIRMATION FROM MY FELLOW BLOGGERS IN THE FORM OF THREE NEW AWARDS.  THANK YOU! As is becoming my custom, I like to "give back" when something nice like this happens to me.  So, in continuing with the tradition, I give you some free Christmas clipart from my vintage postcard and German scrap collection: And now, those lovely awards: The " Heartfelt Blogger Award " from Morgan at " Becoming Homegrown " Made me feel all warm and happy inside! I'm passing this one on to Nicole at Miss Dot's Cupcake Spot   and now also at Saving the World One Cupcake at a Time   because she always puts a smile on my face, especially on Mustache Mondays! The " Superior Scribbler Award " from Dana at " Feeling Fit with Dana " Another tremendous compliment from a blogger I greatly admire. This one goes to Nicole at " Tattoos and