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Showing posts from April, 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

Creative Cakery: Recipes, Tips & Techniques
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 70

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I am putting real plums into an imaginary cake. ~Mary McCarthy -------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 70! 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. -------------------------------------- What can I say? I have an unabashed fondness (not to be confused with fondant) for creative cakery !  This week's features are a celebration of cake!  Enjoy! --------------------------------- Learn the secret to a perfect basket-weave from Inside BruCrew Life (plus a recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Cake) An Easy Ice Cream Cake from Shugary Sweets (Ice Cream Sandwiches are the key) Hummingbird Cupcakes from The Garden of Yum (What could be sweeter?) Early Grey Cupcakes from The Pasture Times (Gives a whole ne

Thai Pesto with Cold Noodles, Carrots and Scallions

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This delicious pesto with a Thai twist make one of my all-time favorite lunches! It's easy to make and packs well in a lunch bag or picnic basket.  I learned to make Thai Pesto many years ago from my friend Sarah.  Over the years, my own version has evolved, and most recently I made some changes to make the recipe more diet friendly.  Thai Pesto uses traditional basil as a base, but gets its Thai flavors from coconut milk, ginger, peanuts and lemongrass.  A touch of Sriracha hot sauce provides the perfect level of back-heat.  In addition to being wonderful on cold noodles, Thai Pesto makes a great sauce for chicken and fish and is a refreshing alternative to traditional dips for fresh veggies.  Thai Pesto with Cold Whole Wheat Noodles, Carrots and Scallions makes 10 6oz. servings Weight Watcher's Points Plus:  7 pts/serving For the Pesto: 3 ounces fresh basil leaves (approx. 1 large bunch) 1 ounce (approx. 7 cloves) fresh garlic, roughly chopped 3

The Best Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumb Cake

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It's Strawberry and Rhubarb season which makes this one of my most favorite times of the year to bake!  Strawberry-Rhubarb is the ultimate sweet/tart combination and pairs so dreamily with this feather-light cake topped with lots of golden crumbs!  Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumb Cake (adapted from a recipe developed by Emily Donahue for Rosey's Coffee and Tea) 1 1/4 cups chilled butter, plus more, softened for the pan 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx. 2 lemons) 1/3 cup cornstarch 2 3/4 cups granulated sugar 1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced 1 1/2 pounds rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces (approx. 3 stalks) 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups lowfat buttermilk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Butter a 9x12x3 baking pan.  Line with parchment paper so that it overhangs the long sides (so the cake can be easily lifted out after

Inspirations for a Handcrafted Mothers Day
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 69

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-------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 69! 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. -------------------------------------- This week's features are all about creating memorable and hand-crafted gifts for Mothers Day.   We're looking at traditional gifts like flowers and candy in a whole new way... --------------------------------- A Keepsake...   "All About Mom Printable" from Yesterday on Tuesday Flowers...   Shabby Chic Floral Pens from The Cottage Journal Jewelry...   DIY Tile Pendants from Loopy Loop Creations Candy...   Homemade Torrone from Culinary Adventures with Camilla Her favorite things...   Mommy Bucks -- Tear off coupons from Sweet Anne Designs   -------------

GIVEAWAY: bei FIORI Etsy Store
(Vintage Inspired Home Decor)

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I'm delighted to be introducing a new Rook No. 17 sponsor and fellow California creative, Marilyn of beiFIORI . Marilyn and I share a passion for things of the past. She loves to decorate, hunt for treasures at thrift shops, yard sales, & flea markets. She's translated her love of vintage textiles into an Etsy store, beiFIORI where she sells the beautiful pillow covers and other hand-made decor she's fashioned out of burlap, linen, and osnaburg. In the beiFIORI Etsy store you'll find... Osnaburg Pillow Covers Faux Grain Sack Pillow Covers Burlap Pillow Covers And lovely Ruffled Pillow Covers GIVEAWAY! To celebrate beiFIORI roosting here in the rookery, Marilyn has generously offered to give one lucky Rook No. 17 reader $25 to spend in her Etsy store! A winner will be drawn at random and announced on Saturday, April 28. In an effort to make entering my giveaways easier, I'm giving rafflecopter a go. Let me know how yo

Puppy Cowgirl's Round-up of Retro Animal Graphics

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  Yeehaw!  Puppy Cowgirl's rounded up a whole mess of vintage animal graphics.  Looks like we're just one duckbilled platypus shy of a party!             Y'all have fun now, y'hear! -------------------------------------------- This post has been shared with: Crafty Soiree @ Yesterday on Tuesday Whatever You Want Wednesdays @ Free Pretty Things For You

Spaghetti & Zucchini Pancakes
(and a Compare & Swap Taste Test)

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  Spaghetti...as finger food? Yes, oh yes! My kids loved dipping the crispy spaghetti pancakes into their own cup of sauce. I loved the way the parmesan got all toasty and golden, and the fact that I was able to sneak some veggies into my kids! But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Here's how our new family dinner favorite, Spaghetti & Zucchini Pancakes (recipe at bottom of post),  came to be... A TASTE TEST THEMED  DINNER In my latest campaign for Smart & Final stores (#CompareandSwap) I was assigned to do a comparison of Smart & Final's private label brand ( First Street) to a name brand pasta and pasta sauce. With two very picky eaters at the table, I knew we were in for an interesting challenge.  We'd never done a blind taste test at home (or anywhere else for that matter).  What if they refused to play along?  What if they liked the name brand better?   SO MUCH FUN I THINK WE'LL MAKE IT A TRADITION Shari