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Showing posts from April, 2011

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

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cheddar Bacon Biscuits

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IMAGINE ~  A light, fluffy, pillowy-soft biscuit; buttery and loaded with sharp cheddar flavor.  One bite and your mouth sings, "Where have you been all my life?"  Just when you think it can't get any more marvelous, your teeth sink in to the crispy bacon bottom and the angels sing!   Well, I'm delighted to tell you that after much experimentation, tweaks and revisions, such a biscuit is possible -- And not only possible, but downright easy and ready to eat, from pantry to table in 20 minutes! Not a disciple of the cult of bacon?  That's okay, really .  While it's often said, "Everything's better with bacon" (and I'm usually inclined to agree), these biscuits will transport you to another level of culinary consciousness even without the bacon.   Try them.  Then try not to dream about them....I dare ya. Ultimate Cheddar Bacon Biscuits Yield:  1 dozen 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspo

CANVAS COLLAGE WREATH -- AN HEIRLOOM DIY

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Looking for a unique way to display your old family photos?   I feel blessed that relatives on both my side and my husband's took special care to keep and preserve family photographs. I like to incorporate the photos into my home decor where they can be appreciated every day.  While sorting through photos a while back, I began to notice a common thread -- both my husband's family and mine, for as far back as we could see, enjoyed the company of a family dog.  I've had the photos of our ancestors and their dogs sitting in a little basket, knowing that I'd find the perfect project for them some day.   Enter the Canvas Corp. Canvas Collage Wreath project: After she attended the Craft & Hobby Association show in March, my friend Holly of 504 Main introduced me to the incredible line of crafting products available from  Canvas Corp.  In April I jumped at the opportunity to enter my "Family Timeline Banner"(click HERE for the tutoria

Spring Crafts, Recipes & Entertaining -- A Little Birdie Told Me No. 17

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Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ Last week's party was full of inspiration, deliciousness and creative ways to enjoy the season!  Take a look: ------------------------------------------------- April Showers bring... ... April Shower Parties  I was enchanted by every detail of this exquisite  little party from  Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line   ------------------------------------------------ April Showers bring... ...May Flowers Represented here by the adorable "Dirt Cups" from The Seven Year Cottage May flowers need... ...A proper flower bed Eye Spy DIY shows you how to make these Upcycled Spoon Garden Markers --------------------------

Easter Breads from Around the World

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S weet holiday breads are part of the Easter traditions in many countries around the world.  I think it's a wonderful way to learn about the way other cultures celebrate the season by delving in to these recipes, and getting a "taste" of the unique ways in which the people of different lands commemorate the religious "rising". So far, this year, my family and I have baked up  Colomba di Pasqua , the traditional Easter bread of Italy.  We created a version filled with candied orange and bits of semisweet chocolate.  Sliced, toasted and served with honey drizzled mascarpone, it was divine!   This past week, we enjoyed Hot Cross Buns, a tradition that hails from England, and subject of the popular nursery rhyme.  Our Hot-Cross Buns were filled with bits of dried apricot and were topped with a sweet cream-cheese cross. Today, I was thrilled to come across two new recipes that I'm eager to try: My paternal grandfather

Honey Almond Apricot HOT CROSS BUNS

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Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, Give them to your sons One a penny, Two a penny, Hot Cross Buns! If you have, or have ever had a child in elementary school, the mention of "Hot Cross Buns" will likely conjure memories of the old folk tune piped off-key from a plastic recorder.  For many, Hot Cross Buns are also a traditional part of the Easter holiday.  These sweet buns, studded with raisins or currants are typically served on Good Friday and get their name from the symbolic cross baked into the top. This year, I decided to try my own twist on the traditional hot cross bun and came up with the Honey Almond Apricot Hot Cross Bun .  This delicious little sweet bun has pieces of dried apricot in place of the raisins.  The rich broiche-like dough has just a touch of almond flavor which nicely complements the tart apricots and the honey-glazed cream cheese cross.  As the name insis

Free Vintage Easter Scrap Sheet & Springtime Crafts -- A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 16

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Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ This week, I have a little party favor for you ! Be sure to "Sign the Guestbook" And take a  Free Easter Scrap Sheet with you before you leave the party. Easter Scrap Sheet (if you have any trouble downloading the scrap sheet, send me a message and I'll email it to you directly) ------------------------------------------------ Last week's party was small, but splendid and the ode to spring continued with some newly hatched creations... ------------------------------------------------- Carolyn of Homework always delights me with her picture-perfect crafts and tutorials. She has an incredible sense of style, and I was so happy when