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Showing posts from September, 2012

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

Overnight Apple Butter with Bourbon & Vanilla Bean ~ A must-make recipe for apple season!

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It's Apple Season! A few weeks back I received a postcard from a local farm heralding the news that apple picking time had arrived.  I grabbed some baskets, the family, and my best pal Holly from 504 Main , and headed to the fruit-laden orchards. Between our two families I think we picked around sixty pounds of apples! So, what have we done with all those apples?  Not much, actually.  They're so crisp and delicious we've been enjoying them au naturel.   It's tradition, however, for my family to make apple butter in the fall.  It's a wonderful way to capture the flavors of the season for later in the year.  We enjoy it with toasted croissants or brioche for breakfast and over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.  So, last night I peeled and chopped a few pounds of apples and threw them in the crock pot with some sugar and spices.  It simmered all night long, so the house smelled like heaven in the morning! Making appl

How to Make Halloween Folk Art from Dollar Store Pumpkins

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I LOVE decorating for Halloween and look forward, all year, to opening up my boxes full of Halloween folk art pieces.  I'm a big fan of antique German papier mache and the contemporary works of Nicol Sayre, Dee Foust and Rick Conant. Drawing my inspiration from those whimsical, collectible pieces from both past and present, I've come up with an easy and very inexpensive tutorial for making pumpkin primitives at home. Dollar Store Pumpkin Folk Art TUTORIAL Materials A foam pumpkin from the dollar store (or you can use a larger one from the craft store) Pumpkin carving knife (or other small serrated knife) Sharpie pen Paper Mache paste (recipe below) Newspaper, cut into strips Acrylic paints (orange, yellow, brown, black) DecoArt Americana Staining/Antiquing Medium DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint in "Asphaltum" Folk Art Pumpkin Eyes/Mouth printed on plain white copy paper (download for free HERE ) Tacky Glue Black Wire Pencil Bamboo ske

Bluebird of Happiness Candle & Matchbook Gift Set Tutorial ~
(The Right Tools Make All the Difference #EKTools)

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It's amazing what you can create with so little when you have the right tools. Take for example these lovely vintage-inspired candles made with inexpensive candles, paper, and a regular matchbox.  The candles can be purchased at most grocery, dollar and and super stores for less than $1.50.  They can burn for days and are easy to embellish with a handmade touch --  making them the perfect little last-minute gift to keep on hand. It all comes down to having the right tools in your crafting arsenal. I'm talking about tools that are easy to use, dependable, and work with precision.  That's what I love about the EKSuccess Tools .  Ready to get started? Bluebird of Happiness Candle & Matchbox Set featuring EKSuccess Tools 1 devotional candle 1 piece of photo or high quality paper Bluebird of Happiness label (free download HERE )* Spray adhesive or glue stick One small rhinestone 2 4"x4" squares cardstock or heavy watercolor pap

Capirotada~ Mexican Bread Pudding
{#MuyBuenoCookbook Spotlight and Cook-off}

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Me amo Mexican Food {I love Mexican Food} You could say I grew up on the stuff!  Here in California, we have no shortage of excellent Mexican restaurants, markets and authentic little hole-in-the-wall joints that have a near-religious following.  I love spending a Sunday afternoon filling my basket with fresh produce and colorful ingredients from the local Mexican market.  I know my nopales from my aguacates, but when it comes to traditional Mexican desserts I'm still a bit of a novice. I'm pleased to be sharing my first adventure in making a traditional Mexican dessert as part of the Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-off . This beautiful cookbook was lovingly written by three generations of family and is filled with vibrant pictures, rich stories and recipes for authentic Mexican comfort food.  For week one, we were given a choice between a sweet or savory dish.  I'm a believer that some of the best culinary experiences come from pushing o

Do Up Your Up-Do and Dress Up Your Pony ~
Hair Jewelry Giveaway from Lilla Rose

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  Rook No. 17 is all about adding a little sparkle to everyday life, so I'm especially delighted to share with you a giveaway from a company that applies that same philosophy to doing your hair!  The Lilla Rose product line centers around unique, functional, and well made hair jewelry.  It's affordable, elegant and works on any hair type.  That's great news for me because I have very fine hair and most days it's back in a ponytail! The Lilla Rose signature piece of hair jewelry is a piece called a Flexi Clip. It is a patented, one-piece hair clip that works in all types of hair, from baby fine to extra-long and thick. It comes in 7 sizes, and enables you to do a variety of charming hairstyles!  I used the handy sizing guide on the Lilla Rose website to determine the perfect size for my hair. I wear a badge at the elementary school where I work and it currently hangs on a rather ugly black cord.  I'm feeling like I need to upgrade