Posts

Showing posts from November, 2012

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

Image
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

A Bounty of Bead and Wire Necklaces & Bracelets ~
Book Review, Giveaway and Free Projects

Image
Love your baubles? Love your beads? In  these two new books from the A Bounty of Bead and Wire series from author Nathalie Mornu and Lark Crafts , you'll be treated to enough fun and fast wearable art projects to keep your hands busy for an entire year!   A Bounty of Bead & Wire: Bracelets and A Bounty of Bead & Wire: Necklaces each contain 50 unique and accessible jewelry projects that will appeal to the casual crafter as well as the bead and wire enthusiast.  The books contain hundreds of exquisite photos and step-by-step instructions for projects in a diverse array of styles, yielding jaw-dropping, professional results. Here are just a few of my favorite projects from A Bounty of Bead & Wire: Necklaces : A Bounty of Bead & Wire: Necklaces is a collection of 50 inventive projects that use basic tools and materials to create exquisite pieces of wearable art. The introductory section explains all of the fundamentals to working with beads and

Lilla Rose Fan Appreciation Sales Event & Giveaway {GUEST POST}

Image
Do you remember when I hosted a giveaway for one of the beautiful Flexi-Clip hair clips from  Lilla Rose  back in September? Well, just in time to add a little sparkle to your "do" for the holidays, my fellow blogger and friend Paula, is hosting a lovely sales event for all of the sparkling 'hair jewelry' from Lilla Rose!   WHEN: November 29th - December 6th, 2012  FAN APPRECIATION EVENT PAGE LINK   OFFICIAL PARTY LINK*: http://www.lillarose.biz/parties/1237 WHAT'S THE FAN APPRECIATION EVENT? Independent Lilla Rose consultant Paula Miller has enlisted the enthusiasm of SIX fellow bloggers and Lilla Rose wearers to celebrate this holiday season with a fun sales event. This week from Nov. 29th - Dec. 6th , each of us is sharing our love for the amazing 'hair jewelry' from Lilla Rose and giving you the opportunity to win the GRAND PRIZE ! WHAT'S THE GRAND PRIZE? The Grand Prize winner will receive ALL of the hostess rewa

Toast the New Year with Homemade Almond Liqueur ~ Liquore Alle Mandorle

Image
Homemade almond liqueur -- so delicious and so, so easy to make!  This classic Italian liqueur, with its hints of orange, vanilla, and spice, makes a wonderful after-dinner aperitif, or the basis for any cocktail calling for amaretto.  Decanted in a lovely little bottle, it makes a wonderful gift! While preparation takes under 20 minutes, the flavors needs some time to develop and blend (4-6 weeks), so you'll want to start yours right away to have it done in time for New Years! Homemade Almond Liqueur Liquore Alle Mandorle (makes 2 liters) 10 ounces raw almonds (approximately 2 cups) 2 teaspoons coriander 1 star anise 1 clove  2 liters vodka zest of 2 medium oranges 1 vanilla bean, split 2 1/2 cups water 2 cups granulated sugar 2.5 - 3 liter glass jar Cheesecloth 1.  Blanch the almonds by bringing 4 cups water to boil on the stovetop.  Add almonds, then immediately remove from heat.  Let sit for two minutes.  Drain, then rinse with cool

My Set, My Take on Classic American Comfort Foods
Or, Calphalon in My Kitchen ~ A Love Story

Image
Have you ever wished you could customize a cookware set for the way you love to cook? Well now you can, with Your Set by Calphalon . I was lucky enough to receive two incredibly versatile pieces, and I used them for some of my favorite dishes. See how I used the AccuCore Stainless Steel 3-quart Sauté Pan and the Unison Non-stick 10" Omelet Pan to make a One Pot Chicken Pot Pie and a Whiskey Apple Upside Down Cake.  Click here to read my post and enter for a chance to win one of 16 prizes worth $8,500! You can win a $1,000 cash gift card or one of 15 $500 Your Set by Calphalon gift cards so that you can build your own perfect set! Click here to start customizing Your Set right now! I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective , and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. For me, cooking and baking are an absolute passion.  So, when I discover something new for the kitchen that truly knocks my socks off, I want t

Holiday Side Dish ~ French Onion Cauliflower Gratin

Image
How was your Thanksgiving holiday? Did you add anything new to your feast this year? Inspired by a box of good ies that I received from the nice folks at Lo eb's Onion Crunch , I created an all-new holiday side-dish to bring to the fami ly table -- French Onion Cauliflower Gratin .   Delicious, 100% Natural and only 4 ingredients:  Onion, Palm Oil, Wheat Flour, Salt Those delicious little cris py, crunchy fried onions are typically the star of the traditional green bean casserole at this time of year.  I took my inspiration from this classic dish, pairing th e toasty onions with sweet and mellow cauliflower instead of green beans.  In the place of the canned soup, I whipped up a bechemel cream s auce, loaded with Gruyere cheese, in just minutes .  The finished casserole evokes the flavors of a fine French Onion Soup.     French Onion Cauliflower Gratin Yield:  8-10 servings Prep Time:  20 minutes Baking Time:  30 minutes   1 large head