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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
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LUNCHBOX HEROES ~ ENTER THE POWERBALL

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We received an anonymous request during our contest from a reader who is looking for a "recipe for raw energy bars for kids lunches." Here is a recipe for our family favorite, compliments of Wondertime Magazine, September 2008 : LUNCHBOX POWERBALLS "These wholesome little snacks are simple to make and rival cookie dough eaten right out of the bowl (not that we'd do that). The easiest way to make them is to combine all the ingredients in a stand mixer, but the fun way is to push up your kid's sleeves and let her mush it all by hand." Makes 40-48 cookies Mix together 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup honey until smooth. Gradually add in 3 cups old fashioned oats and 1/2 cup ground flaxseed . Add 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup any combination of nuts and soft dried fruit (try 1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanuts and 1/4 cup each of raisins and dried cranberries) and mix gently in your stand mixer or smush together by hand. Roll into Ping-Pong-size ball
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AND THE WINNER IS...

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Thanks to all the friends and fans that participated in our first giveaway. It was fun reading all of your comments and stories. The challenge is on to meet all of your recipe requests ~ a challenge we look forward to in the coming weeks. We've already made some progress in tracking down the famous artichoke cupcake recipe for Holly, and are crossing our fingers that the talented baker that came up with this unique creation will be willing to share his genius with our readers. So, without further ado, the winner is...SAMANTHA STEWART! Congratulations Sam! You were interested in some great salad recipes, so we hope you'll give our "Peas, Love & Orzo" a try. You also inquired about some recipes for gazpacho. Turns out our pal Martha did a whole feature on gazpacho in the September issue of LIVING, and we're eager to try all four recipes, especially the "Gazpacho Ajo Blanco". You'll receive a copy with your t-shirt. But for instant gratification,
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PEAS, LOVE & ORZO SALAD

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Some Saturday kitchen dabbling led to this easy and delicious twist on pasta salad. Please share and enjoy! PEAS, LOVE & ORZO SALAD 1 pound box orzo pasta 7 oz. homemade or store bought pesto 10 oz. frozen peas 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese 3 dozen grape tomatoes, quartered Salt to taste Fill a large stockpot with water, a good pinch of salt and a drizzle of oil. Bring to a boil. Add orzo and frozen peas. Stir. Cook for 9 minutes once water returns to a boil. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in pesto. Fold in feta cheese. Fold in quartered grape tomatoes . Season with salt to taste. Chill at least one hour before serving. ___________________________ This post has been linked-up with:
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SWEET MONDAYS ~ OUR FIRST CONTEST

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WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR READERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, COMMENTS AND GENERAL JOLLY-GOODNESS WITH OUR FIRST OF WHAT ARE TO BECOME REGULAR CONTEST GIVE-AWAYS. THE FIRST OF OUR "SWEET MONDAY GIVEAWAYS" IS OUR VERY OWN ROOK NO. 17 LONG SLEEVE TEE WITH OUR MASCOT AND LOGO IN REVERSE APPLIQUE. WINNER PICKS THE SIZE (BABY, CHILD AND ADULT SIZES AVAILABLE). SHIRTS ARE 100% COTTON, SUPER SOFT JERSEY KNIT, AND ARE MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN APPAREL. HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: SIMPLY COMMENT ON THIS POST BY ANSWERING ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS (AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN): 1) It would be just ducky if I could find a great recipe for _____. 2) I'm a crafty bird who's looking for a great resource for _____. 3) Rook No. 17 is my favorite blog because _____. 4) Tell us about your fondest Halloween memory from childhood. ONE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN AT RANDOM AND ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 24.
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POLITICS OF THE PLATE

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With the popularity of such groundbreaking books as Eric Schlosser's " Fast Food Nation" and the recent theatrical release of the food industry expose " Food, Inc " the movement towards organic, sustainable, and genetically unaltered food may be on the rise. As the American consciousness about the things we put in our mouths continues its awakening, the media is striving to meet our craving for straightforward and up-to-the moment news on the food industry. Our friends at Gourmet Magazine are leading the way with their online (and in print) monthly feature POLITICS OF THE PLATE . In previous articles they've addressed such issues as " Toxic Strawberries? (California’s governor will soon decide whether to approve a new—and possibly very dangerous—pesticide for use on this beloved summer fruit.) ", " Milking for Profit (One of the nation’s largest dairy processors could soon come under investigation by the Justice Department.), and &qu
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OUR FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT

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SCHULTUTE ~ The first day of school is an important milestone for children all around the globe. In Germany, many children receive a Schultute ( pronounced shool-too-tuh ). The Schultute is a whimsically decorated paper cone filled with school supplies and little treats. The treats are meant to symbolically sweeten the child's transition into the realm of greater responsibility (traditionally, the 1st grade, which is when German children begin their formal education). The tradition began back in the 19th century, when according to lore parents told their children that a Schultute tree grew in their teacher's yard. When the cones grew big enough it meant that it was time to start school. Today, children often decorate their own Schultuten as an end-of-year project at the completion of Kindergarten. Parents then fill the cone for the child to open after the first day of first grade. We've attached a downloadable PDF of instructions for how to make your own Schultut
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BI-RITE DYNO-MITE!

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A few weekends ago we ventured up to the city to scope out the art scene, partake in some glorious dim-sum and experience Sam's Sundae at Bi-Rite Creamery . This legendary ice cream creation has been described as "perfection", "heavenly" and with the explicit sensual characterization typically reserved for lusty romance novels. The Bi-Rite Creamery menu describes Sam's Sundae thusly: "Chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil, maldon sea salt and whipped cream." Unusual; even a bit bizarre! Olive oil on ice cream? I'm an adventurous eater, but must admit, I was a bit wary of how it would play out on the palette We arrived on 18th Street at around 4:30 p.m. The streets were flooded with the uber-hip college crowd; sun was shining and a guy with a massive boombox affixed to his bicycle wound his way around the crowds blaring Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." We found a place in the line that extended all the way down t
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BACH TO THE FUTURE

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With fine arts programs in the public schools becoming about as rare as a Bach Opera, parents with a passion for classical music may be interested to know there is a rich variety of mulitmedia out there to help inspire a love and interest in classical music in the next generation. Here are some of our favorite picks: The Composer is Dead, by Lemony Snicket (Book and CD) ~ "Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" has been the gold standard for introducing children to instruments since 1946. The concept has been embraced (some may say enhanced) by none other than Lemony Snicket, whose picture-book overview offers the additional layer of a murder mystery. The CD presentation features music by Nathaniel Stookey, performed by the San Francisco Symphony. The story is well paced, employing wordplay, humor, and mild suspense to build a slow crescendo that originates with the delicate strings and climaxes with percussion. The bombastic Inspe
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RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR FAVORITES

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A few weeks ago, Rook No. 17 and friends visited the Renegade Craft F air in San Francisco. "What is Renegade," you may ask? The Renegade Craft Fair is a unique event featuring many of the most talented artisans and craftspeople in the country. To quote one fan of RCF, "this aint your Gramma's craft fair!" The event is held annually in Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco. Each individual fair draws hundreds of applicants and tens of thousands of shoppers from all over the country and abroad! What sort of things can one find at RCF? You'll find thousands of handmade items from apparel to jewelry, posters to prints, craft kits, letterpress and other unique stationery, handcrafted plush, home decor, and much more. For the creatively inclined, the RCF is a great source of inspiration. Rook No. 17 was happy to see a lot of creative upcycling and recylcing going on. Here are some of our favorite vendors that we had the pleasure to meet at this Jul
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OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCE: OFFBEAT GUIDES

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Planning a vacation this summer? Fed up with your current scene & packing your bags for an impromptu weekend escape? Tired of the same old travel guides with outdated information? Before you fly, drive, or pedal away on your next adventure, you need to visit Offbeat Guides . In just five simple steps you can build your own personalized travel guide tailored to your visit. What makes Offbeat Guides different? " Offbeat Guides are the first travel guides that you create online using the most current travel information available on the Internet for over 30,000 travel destinations. These personalized travel guides give you all of the information that traditional travel guides include, plus more. For the first time, you can personalize your guide based on your travel dates, destination, and personal travel interests." Cool, right? And the best part is that it's FREE.
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Healthy Family Shopping Guide and Free Printable Wallet Guide

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Does it sometimes feel like you need an advanced chemistry degree to make it through a grocery trip without filling your cart with cleverly packaged junk masquerading as "health food"? I've  found that it's difficult enough to navigate the aisles with a restless brood of cephalopod-like children (yes, they appear to grow tentacles at the mere mention of the grocery store), without having to channel an encyclopedic knowledge of food science at every twist and turn. So, I've created a nice little cheat sheet that fits neatly in to your purse or wallet. The "HEALTHY FAMILY SHOPPING GUIDE" includes Dr. Sears' list of the top 12 healthiest foods to help keep you on track while your two-year-old is screaming "COOOOKIE!" I've also included a list of healthy vs. bad fats, power proteins and the goods on good grains. To help you extrapolate the ingredient lists on all those packaged foods, I've included a list of MSG pseudony
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