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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

"Tie One On" for Father's Day~
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 75

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-------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 75! 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. -------------------------------------- Whether you call him Dad, Daddy, Papa, Pop, or even Darth Vader, this week's party has a little something special for every father!  Get ready to "tie one on" and get creative for Father's Day.... --------------------------------- "Family Ties" Cupcake Tutorial   from The Seven Year Cottage --------------------------------- Necktie Wreath Tutorial  from Yesterday on Tuesday           --------------------------------- Star Wars Aromatherapy Pillows (to soothe his "dark side")     from Scraps of Life   ---------------------------------

Skillet Cherry Cornmeal Upside-down Cake

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It's cherry season!   But if you can your cherries, or keep a jar in the pantry, you can be ready to whip up this delicious cake any time of the year!     I was joining some friends for dinner the other night and didn't have time to run to the grocery store.  Fortunately, I had two jars of the lovely Morello cherries from Trader Joe's in the pantry.  They worked beautifully for the Skillet Cherry Cornmeal Upside-down Cake! Beating the egg-whites gives this cake an incredible lightness.  The balsamic vinegar balances the sweetness of the cherries, and the cornmeal brings on the old fashioned country fair charm! Skillet Cherry-Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake  (adapted from Bon Appetit)  Serves 10 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks butter, room temperature) 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 3 cups pitted fresh sweet cherries or drained and rinsed canned cherries. 1 1/4 cups all purposed flour 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal 2 teaspo

Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts

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As a fun and delicious way to take our new Trudeau Stress Less kitchen tools for a spin, my husband and I created a recipe for Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts.   The meal happened to coincide with a family Lego day. This savory bread is both chewy and airy and the spice of the garlic and mild chili powder play nicely with the toasted nuts and mellow hint of sweet potato.  As well as being a great source of vitamins B6, C, D, magnesium and iron, potassium and carotenoids, the sweet potato imparts a lovely golden color to this crowd pleasing bread.  Did I mention that kids and Lego horses like it too?   Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts (adapted from the Cook's Illustrated Rosemary Focaccia)     Dough 1 medium sweet potato (about 9 ounces) peeled and quartered 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup warm water 2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the bowl and pan 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

GIVEAWAY -- Trudeau Kitchen Tools

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If you love to cook or bake, chances are you appreciate quality kitchen tools. Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to review the Stress Less line of kitchen tools from Trudeau .  These ergonomically designed tools bring a new joy to cooking by reducing the stress often caused by traditional  kitchen gadgets .  The forward thinking line of products from Trudeau use a patented 4:1 gear ratio engineering that alleviates the strain often put on one's joints. We created a delicious Sweet Potato Foccacia with Toasted Pine Nuts using the Trudeau Stress Less tools, and I'll be sharing the recipe on Rook No. 17 tomorrow!   We found the tools to be easy to use, easy to clean, and loved the fact that Trudeau stands behind their products with a lifetime warranty .  My girls had fun doing their own "cooking show" where they showed how easy it was for them to help in the kitchen using Trudeau's Stress less products! You can enter to

A Little Birdie Told Me... is BACK!

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After taking a week to rest, recharge and reconnect, our little party is back! -------------------------------------- Welcome to "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 74! 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. -------------------------------------- While on hiatus I rounded up some great giveaways for June. Stay tuned for... A copy of the brand new book: Mod Podge Rocks! Trudeau Stress Less Kitchen Tools --------------------------------- This certainly isn't the biggest party on the block. But big isn't really the point here. It's about being real, genuine, and connected. Community vs. lipservice   Fly bys are welcome But regulars keep the community strong. true-blue friends birds-of-a-feather   Thank you for sharing the creative threads from

The Perfect Summer Dress~
The SUNSHINE Dress from Fresh Produce

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A girl can dream, right? I love fashion, but have a hard time finding clothes that fit my cakesmithing curves.  As a mother of two, I like my clothes to be chic but versatile, easy to care for and comfortable without being frumpy.  I long for perfectly fitting frocks that can go from a walk on the beach with girlfriends, to chauffeuring kids to after-school-activities, to sipping a glass of wine at sunset in an outdoor bistro with grace.  Sometimes, dreams come true...   It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to review the Sunshine Dress from Fresh Produce .  This dress is made from super-soft 100% cotton. It has a flattering empire waist and scoop neckline, raw edge detailing and a double flounce hem -- the perfect flutter of feminine detail!    The Sunshine Dress comes in more than a dozen colors and is available in standard and plus sizes.  The soft yet heavy cotton swings, rather than clings so it's flattering to both those with curves and

Tasty Tamalitos and 10-Minute Chili Sauce~
Party Perfect and Lunchbox Ready!

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These two-bite tamales are easy to make and are perfect for parties and lunch on the go!  They can be made with any filling you like, and when paired with the chili sauce you have a perfect meal in minutes!  The chili sauce has a slow-cooked-all-day flavor, but can be made in a snap and is perfect as a dip for tortilla chips, a filling for tacos, or as a topping for chili and cheeseburgers.  We started making these little tamales because my youngest daughter loves taking tamales in her school lunch, and the smaller size pops right into a thermos.  We make them several dozen at a time and stick them in the freezer.  When ready to serve, we wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for a few minutes.  For the lunchbox, we stick them right in the thermos, paper towel and all.  When the lunch bell rings, they're warm, delicious and ready to enjoy! Making these tamalitos is fun for the whole family! Here's a video showing how it's done! Toma