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Showing posts from October, 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

Creative Ideas for Your Holiday Table ~ A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 44

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Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise. (source: http://www.whsv.com) ------------------------------------------------ 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. ------------------------------------------------ It's Halloween on terra firma, so in blogland it's Thanksgiving (at least). So, in the spirit of being prepared for the holiday celebrations to come, this week's features focus on  creative ways to complement and adorn your holiday table. ------------------------------------------------ Canvas, Burlap and Ribbon Table Skirt from 504 Main French Cheese Board Inspired Lazy Susan from Atelier Cecilia Rosslee Personalized Name Place Blocks from Snapshots ---------------------------------

Chocolate Mustaches on a Stick -- The Perfect, Last-minute, No-bake Halloween TREAT!

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Big Wow-factor with minimal effort -- A perfect combination for busy families! The idea is far from anything new, but it's one I dearly adore: the classic, clever and delightfully dapper mustache on a stick !  I was excited when I found that Wilton is selling an absolutely charming (and at $1.99, very afforadable) mold for making chocolate mustaches ~ no special chocolatiering skills required!  Only $1.99 -- sweet deal! My posts here at Rook No. 17 this week have been light, as I've been busy putting the finishing touches on costumes and enjoying all the Halloween festivities about town with my girls. It's busy weeks like these that make me grateful for the little tools, tricks and shortcuts that help in making stand-out treats with little mess and minimal fuss. That's why, despite the odds that you've already seen a lot of chocolate mustaches out there in blogland, I'd share my find of the Wilton Fun Face Mustache Lollipop mold. My girls h

Smart Thinking Lifestyle Tip: Make Your Own Salad Dressing ~ featuring 4 delicious & easy recipes

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Thanks to Tervis for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website http://www.tervis.com to learn more about the world’s first smart cup. In the spirit of 'smart' ideas, here's one of my favorite Smart Thinking Lifestyle tips: ---------------------------------- A classic balsamic vinaigrette should have 5 ingredients or less.  It shouldn't read like the back of an oven cleaner bottle. Have you looked at the ingredient list on a bottle of store-bought salad dressing lately?  Modified Food Starch, artificial flavor, and powdered cellulose are just some of the items you may find in many commercial dressings.  Not familiar with cellulose?  It's a food additive made from wood pulp to prevent clumping, add creaminess, and boost fiber.  Eek! While there are a handful of  junk-free dressings to be found in most grocery stores, it can be more delicious and far more economical to make your own.  Just grab a mason jar, a few ingredients, and I'll guarant

A Little Birdie Told Me No. 43 ~ Featuring 3 Handmade Gift Ideas for the Holidays

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"Up until the Industrial Revolution, all gifts were handmade. " (source: The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving by William B. Waits.) ------------------------------------------------ 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. ------------------------------------------------   Just a reminder that this party is all about creative sharing,  camaraderie  and support. In that spirit, be sure to visit one of your fellow party goers and leave them a nice comment! ------------------------------------------------ And now, as promised, the features...  Simple Citrus Scrub from Yesterday on Tuesday   Homemade Granola from As the Card Rack Turns Mini Composition Book Gift Card Holder Christine & Co.

The Punk Skunk Costume

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There's certainly no shortage of adorable Halloween costumes to buy or make for babies, toddlers, and kids under 8. Somewhere between the cute and fuzzy stage of the early years and the "You're not leaving the house wearing that!" stage of the tween and teen years, is the unfamiliar territory I found myself wading through last year when my daughter hit 4th grade.   Cute and fuzzy was out. Cool, original and clever were in demand. Fortunately, we found a way to combine them all: --The "Punk" Skunk-- This costume is easy, affordable, warm, comfortable! 9 out of 10 pre-tweeners agree:  "It doesn't STINK!" PUNK SKUNK COSTUME Materials: Black Velour hoodie* White Faux Fur** Piece of cardboard to stiffen the "mohawk" Glue gun Punk inspired clothes Face Paint (black, white, pink) Create a mohawk piece by wrapping and hot-gluing a piece of cardboard (cut to the desired shape) with whi

Easy Halloween Treat ~ Chocolate Dipped Ghosts on a Stick!

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The clock's ticking on Halloween plans and projects.  With little time to spare, I needed a quick, easy and inexpensive Halloween treat to make with my daughter's girl scout troop the other day.   If you're short on time as I was, you'll appreciate this no-bake treat that takes only minutes to prepare and requires only a few ingredients!   What's more, it's easy for kids to do and would make a fun activity for a Halloween party!   Marshmallow Ghosts on a Stick (makes 2 dozen) Marshmallow Peeps Ghosts, 2 packages Wilton Light Cocoa or Dark Cocoa Candy Melts , 1 bag Wilton White Candy Melts, 1/4 cup Wilton Lollipop Sticks , 24 Piping bag or Ziploc Cello bags, tulle and/or ribbon (optional)   Step 1:  Remove Peeps Ghosts from package.  Separate into individual ghosts.  Insert a lollipop stick in to each ghost (till it reaches the top, but doesn't poke through). Step 2:  Line two baking sheets or trays with pa