Posts

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
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Egg & Nest Inspired Crafts & Recipes -- A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 15

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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. ------------------------------------------------ If you've visited Rook No. 17 once or twice, you've probably noticed I have an appreciation for bird metaphors and nest inspired imagery... ------------------------------------------------ Here are some of the highlights of what was hatched last week... ------------------------------------------------- Lynda of  Something Created Everyday shared a lovely little project featuring eggs decorated with buttons, vintage lace and bric-a-brac. ------------------------------------------------ Beverly from Flamingo Toes has a simple and elegant tutorial for making these exquisite Rosette Nest Rings. -----------------------------------
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"Jellybean Factory" Glitter House DIY

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I've always been utterly enchanted by miniatures and still have my box of "tiny treasures" that I collected in my childhood.  The teeny-tiny toys, dolls, and lilliputian objects never fail to put a smile on my face. So, when I discovered the world of vintage German Putz houses several years ago, I was keen to get a collection going. Each year I enjoy setting up and adding to my little "Santa's Village", and am always a little sad when it's time to pack it away.   In recent years, there's been a resurgence of interest in the diminutive glitter houses, giving rise to an abundance of free templates and tutorials to get you started on creating your own little village.  This winter, my friend Holly (of 504 Main ) and I stockpiled our cereal boxes and had fun experimenting with a few different glitter house patterns.   With Easter just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to come up with an original glitter house of my own to sui
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Winners -- Vintage Inspired Blackboard Giveaway

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Tremendous thanks to new and long-time friends alike for taking part in the giveaway for the Vintage Inspired Blackboards . Using random.org, Holly and I each selected a winner... The 2 winners are: Tammy at she wears flowers and cheeksb Congratulations!
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EPIC GIVEAWAY! Lifestyle Crafts Epic Six Letterpress Combo Kit at 504 Main

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photo from Lifestyle Crafts website I don't typically devote an entire post to talking up someone else's giveaway, but it's not every day that my real life friend and blogging compatriot, Holly of 504 Main gives away a letterpress machine either! So, if you dig on letterpress, you'll definitely want to pay her a visit here: E P IC GIVEAWAY! Lifestyle Crafts Epic Six Letterpress Combo Kit Holly was so kind to invite me over recently to try out her new Epic Six Letterpress machine. The art of letterpress is simply incredible, and I've been trying to locate and purchase an old machine for years.  Kelsey Excelsior Letterpress Machine -- 68 pounds! But do you have any idea how much it costs to ship one of those old cast iron beauties? Sheesh!  So when Holly told me that there was an affordable and commercially available letterpress machine from Lifestyle Crafts, I nearly flipped my lid! Not only does the machine do letterp
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RETRO RECIPES -- Step Back to the 60s, 70s, and 80s with A Little Birdie Told Me... No. 14

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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. ------------------------------------------------ I love exploring vintage shops for old cookbooks, and enjoy recreating the foods enjoyed in decades past. ------------------------------------------------ Last week, these kindred spirits stepped into the "Wayback Machine", sharing three retro recipes that will never go out of style... 1968 Elizabeth from " A Whisk & A Prayer " started with a 1968 Better Homes and Gardens recipe  in the creation of her Banana Nut Muffins . Enjoy with "Planet of the Apes" 1968 version ------------------------------------------------ 1970s Cindy from " Everyday Insanity " shared her recipe for these lovely little  Ribbon Sandw
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ONE MILLION CRANES -- Children in the USA Helping Children in Japan -- JOIN US!

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Photo by Jennifer Jansen Is your family, school, scout troop, church, or community group looking for a way to reach out to the people of Japan?  Some amazing women in my community (read about them HERE ) have come together and formed an incredible movement called " ONE MILLION CRANES ". Already, groups all around the country are embracing the spirit of this simple, yet powerful idea. Photo by Kristy Sebok The Goal:   "Children from 1,000 US schools or groups will make 1,000 origami cranes, and contribute $1.00 for each crane they make. Together, our children will make ONE MILLION CRANES, and send one million dollars to the people of Japan." Here's how it works: 1) Register your school or group here . 2) Students start by learning to fold an origami crane. These children will then teach other children to fold origami cranes, and those children will teach others. 3) The adult facilitator will provide the origami paper (any SQUARE paper may be use
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Easter Dove Bread Recipe -- Colomba di Pasqua

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A few weeks ago I was researching celebration breads from around the world and was excited when I began to learn about Colomba di Pasqua (Dove of Peace), the traditional Easter bread from Italy.  If you're a fan of panettone or broiche, you're sure to love this rich, sweet bread that is baked in the shape of a dove to celebrate Easter. I started with a recipe from Food Network and made a few alterations to give my Colomba di Pasqua a unique twist.  Several years ago I had the most incredible brioche that contained bits of chocolate and candied orange peel inside it's buttery, flaky crust.  I had that brioche in mind when selecting the ingredients to make my Colomba di Pasqua. The results were wonderful -- The exterior was golden and toasted, and had the delicious crunch of sugared sliced almonds.  The inside was buttery, rich and tender.  The chocolate, nor the orange were overpowering.  Rather, they harmonized nicely with the pastry-like bread that
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