Posts

Showing posts from December, 2011

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

Image
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

A New Twist on a Classic New Year's Tradition~
Southwestern Black Eyed Peas

Image
Southwestern Black Eyed Peas shown here with Mexican Chorizo and Avocado over Chile & Cheese Grits. A New Year's tradition that dates back to the American Civil War, eating black eyed peas on New Years day is thought to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.     The peas (actually a variety of bean) are said to represent coins, and are symbolic of growth and prosperity because of the way they swell as they cook. Traditionally prepared with greens such as collard, mustard, or kale, the green symbolizes paper currency. Southwestern Black Eyed peas make the perfect New Year's Day breakfast when served with fresh avocado and a fried egg on top! Eating black eyed peas, or Hoppin' John (when served over rice) is part of my family's New Year's Day tradition.  This year, I wanted to experiment with a new spin on the classic and came up with this delicious recipe for Southwestern Black Eyed Peas ! If you're a fan of Mexican, Tex-

Recipes for When It's Cold Outside~
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 52

Image
Did you know: The song "Baby, Its Cold Outside" was written by Frank Loesser in 1944 and was premiered when he sang the duet with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party. ---------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 52! 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. -------------------------------------- It may not snow in our sleepy little Victorian town by the sea, but brrrr....it sure has been downright bone-chilling cold lately! With keeping warm and cozy in mind, today's features are recipes that are sure to warm body and spirits during the cold Winter months.   -------------------------------------- From GirliChef Ponche Navideño Traditional in Mexico, this warm holiday drink includes guavas, suga

A Very Star Wars Christmas...

Image
  From my family to yours, Wishing you... Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy New Year! --AND-- May the Force be With You! ~ The Ericksons We used the image above for this year's holiday card.  The costumes were pieced together on the fly by delving in to our dress-up bin and rummaging through my craft stash. The photo was created by taking a series of photo strips using the Pocketbooth iPhone app. Then, we chose our favorite photos and assembled them with the collage function in Picassa.   The Elf on the Shelf shot was a snap to make -- Red pajamas and a piece of felt snipped into a collar. 

Start a New Year's Tradition ~
The "New Year in a Can" Tutorial
( An Elmer's #GlueNGlitter Project)

Image
The New Year is a great time to make new goals and to reflect on your dreams for the future.  AND New Year's Eve is a perfect time to start a new tradition!   As part of the Elmer's Glue n' Glitter group through Social Fabric , I was given the opportunity to come up with an inexpensive, fun and meaningful tradition to share with friends and family on New Year's Eve.  I was inspired by my friend Barbara, who told me, last year,  how she writes down her hopes, wishes and dreams for the coming year and places them in a special box -- to be opened for reflection mid-year, or on the following New Year's Eve.  I loved the idea and stowed it away in my memory to share with my family this December 31. The New Year in a Can By upcycling a soup can with some scrapbook paper and my free printable label, you can share this tradition with your family and friends too.  They're inexpensive, easy, and quick to make so you can make a whole batch to g

Chanukah Crafts and Free Graphics
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 51

Image
  Did you know that there are at least 15 ways to spell Chanukah? Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Hanuka, Channukah, Chanukka, Hanukka, Hanukka, Hannuka, Hannukkah, Channuka, Xanuka, Hannukka, Channukkah, Channukka ---------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 51! 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. ---------------------------------------- Growing up in an interfaith home, my brothers and I experienced the joys, traditions, and celebrations of our ancestors on both sides of the family tree.  I've continued to share my mother's Chanukah traditions and my father's Christmas ones with my girls. Next to their gifts from Santa, I think the girls look forward to playing dreidel and eating my mom's latkes most of

Last Minute Handmade Gift Tutorial ~ Make Upcycled Book Journals~
(Elmers Holiday #GluenGlitter)

Image
  Old Book + Recycled Paper = New Journal! As part of the Elmer's Holiday Memories Campaign* through Social Fabric , I had the opportunity to create an easy, affordable last minute holiday gift using my favorite Elmer's and X-ACTO products, and requiring only one quick stop at our local Walmart!    With all the homework, music lessons, karate and dance classes, school performances, cookie exchanges and all the other holly jolly of the season, there's been little time to shop, let alone craft!  So a one-stop-shop was an absolute must for my** handmade gift project, which was inspired by the Ordy & Joon post I had tacked to my " Crafty Inspirations " board on Pinterest earlier this year. Readers Digest Books have wonderful covers and are plentiful at second-hand stores for $1-$3 = Let's call it $2 per journal. I started with something most people have around their home -- an old book.  If you don't have an old book in need of