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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

Hatched from Scratch: Mini Coconut Nest Cupcakes

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What comes to mind when you think of springtime? For me it's robin s' egg blue, Easter baskets, spotted newborn deer on their wobbly little legs,  flowering tree s and the sweet songs of birds nesting amid their blossoming branches.   It's the latter that inspired these dainty little cupcakes.   Atop a tender mini lemon cupcake (with coconut cream cheese icing) sits a nest of toasted coconut, gently cradling a tiny speckled chocolate egg. I pack the tiny cakes in repurposed egg cartons that I've decorated with custom labels.  I'm sharing free downloads at the end of this post.   Look!  One of the nestlings has hatched ! Mini Lemon Cupcakes (makes 4-5 dozen, depending on the size of your baking cups) 9 tablespoons butter, softened 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs zest of one lemon 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 1/2 teaspoons rea

Retro Craft: Crazy Hair Pencils and Valentine Printable

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I fondly remember these crazy haired pencils from the 80s. My friends and I could hardly get enough of them. We made them in scouts. We made them in camp. We made them at birthday parties.   Ahh...the joy of smoothing out your pencil critter's hair, then rolling the pencil rapidly between your palms to achieve maximum crazy hair volume.  I guess times were simpler then...we didn't have a thousand channels on TV, and handheld video games were still a decade out. When brainstorming a fun valentine project for my girls to make this year, the old pencil project came to mind.  I had a hunch that even the children of the digital age would have a hard time resisting their wacky charm.    The project was a hit at home and pencils were a smashing success in the classroom.  Of course, we couldn't bear to part with them all. (If you don't hear from me in a few days, someone may have to intervene and hide my crazy haired p encil) . How

Retro Valentine Humor ~ 1950s ~ Would You Like to Go Steady?

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  The girls and I are busy chocolate-dipping and hot gluing in preparation for Valentine's Day, but I didn't want you to think I had forgotten about you, friends! So, here from my collection is a really swell little Valentine card that captures the style and humor of the era.  Enjoy!

Sweet Idea: Edible Valentines Day Tic-Tac-Toe
(& Valentine Bingo from Martha Stewart too)

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Here's a Valentines Day card, activity and treat all rolled into one --  Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe with sugar cookie Xs and Os! My inspiration?  The adorable Bingo-style Valentine Set* and Wood Stamp Set* from Martha Stewart Crafts.  The pack includes 18 cards, envelopes, and sheets of stickers (25/sheet) -- everything you need for a no-fuss, beautifully coordinated valentine.  You don't have to be crafty.  Just place a card and sheet of stickers in the envelope.  Embellish the envelope with your favorite Martha Stewart stickers (I love the cupcake collection) and rubber stamps! Easy! I couldn't think of a better way to compliment the game-style valentine cards from Martha Stewart Crafts than to come up with my own little classic game-inspired sweet treat to go with it!  Using Martha's classic sugar cookie and royal icing recipes, I whipped up a batch of buttery little cookie game pieces.     The iced cookies got a final touch of whimsy w

Special Delivery ~ Par Avion Messenger Bird Valentine Card Tutorial

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This sweet little bird is sending tidings of love your way. As part of the 14 Days of Crafting Love party hosted by Jojo & Eloise , I'm pleased to be sharing my tutorial for Par Avion Messenger Bird Valentine Cards .  I hope you'll forgive the pun, but with the elegant look and feel of the watercolor paper, the romantic blend of vintage ephemera , soft pink, and just a bit of sparkle, these beautiful little cards are truly First Class. How to Make Par Avion Messenger Bird Valentine Cards Tools & Materials Book pages (Cut down to 5" x 7.5") Scissors Watercolor Paper (Cut down to 6.5" x 9") Bone folder (optional, but makes folding the paper easier and crisper) Extra Strength Glue Stick Vellum or paper of your choice for mini envelope P aper of your choice for the note  Pencil Small glue dots  Ultrafine glitter Templates/Printables: Bird Printable (MS Word ) French Postcard Printable (PDF) (image courtesy of The Grap

10-minute Chili Sauce for the Ultimate Super Bowl Chili Dogs, Frito Pies, and Chili-Cheese Fries!

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It's been a busy week. No time to prep or plan, but we're having friends over to watch  the Super Bowl tomorrow. Wha t's a gal to do? Thank go odness I have a have an easy-peasy, no-fail, crow d-pleasing recipe that is sure to score a touchdown:  10-minute Chili Sauce. ( We call it a "s auce" , but it's actually a very smooth chili ) The beauty of 10-minute Chili S auce is that it tastes like it's been simmering all day.  Whip up a batch and provide some sides.  Your guests do the rest. You provide the hot dogs -- Your guests build their own chili dogs. You provide the fries or tater tots and cheese -- Your guests build their own chili cheese fries. You provide the snack bags of Fritos and cheese -- Your guests make their own Frito Pies (a.k.a. Chili Willies)             10-Minute Chili Sauce 2 slices bacon, chopped, or 2 Tablespoons oil ½ medium onion chopped 1 pound 96% lean ground beef (you can also use g