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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

Tea Time Baby Shower ~ Recipes, Crafts, and DIYs

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This past weekend I had the pleasure of co-hosting a baby shower for my sister.  The theme was a classic afternoon tea party, and the day couldn't have turned out lovelier. Following are some of the project and menu highlights -- some original, some inspired by friends and other bloggers.  I hope you'll find an idea or two that ignites a spark for some creative entertaining of your own. I am so grateful to have had my step-mom (with whom I co-hosted the shower) and my dear friends Geri and Holly over the evening before the shower to whip up some lovely directions over some great conversation and a nice bottle of wine.  We started by having Holly show us how to make some of those now famous Martha Stewart tissue paper Pom-Poms. Click here for the TUTORIAL .  It was also Holly's stroke of ingenuity that led to the Pom-Pom garland that swagged the living room.  We used cotton pipe cleaners to wrap the tissue and create the loops for hanging.  Then we threaded whit

CHOCOLATE IS THE NEW CARBONITE ~ HAN SOLO CHOCOLATE BAR DIY

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Last summer I taught a chocolatiering class for children.  We covered a variety of techniques, but my favorite (and the one that really appealed most to my "inner child") was the project using a quick setting, flexible, silicone modelling compound to make custom chocolate molds.     Being a child of the 70s, and a diehard Star Wars fan, my immediate thought was HAN SOLO!  Yes, I am not only a culinary geek, but a pop culture & Star Wars nerd as well (and proud of it).  My friend Giuseppe whose son was taking the class had the same idea, and much to my delight, had the original action figure of Han Solo frozen in Carbonite!  The modelling compound was costly, so I ended up having the kids in the class make molds of sea shells, rather than casting larger toys, so Han got a reprise. A few weeks ago, we had some of our good friends over for dinner, and guess who came along?  Han Solo.  Apparently Giuseppe had decided that we had put off Han's cocoa inca

YOUR VOTE OF SUPPORT FOR THE FAIRY CUPCAKE TOPPER CRAFT

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I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to submit my Fairy Cupcake Topper Tutorial to the DIY CLUB Inc. vendor sponsored contest for the month of July.  As a finalist, I have the opportunity to win a $200 craft prize package!  Oh how joyful that would be! If you're a fan of this original project, I'd be grateful for a vote of support!  Voting is super simple -- it's literally two clicks of the mouse and no sign-ups or logins are required.  Anyone can vote. It'll take less than 30 seconds ~ simply click HERE to vote at the DIY Club .  Thank you, so, so very much for your support! If you haven't had the opportunity to check out the project and get inspired for some cupcake topper making madness of your own, here it is: Fairy Cupcake Topper DIY

YOU, uhhh, MUSE me! Featuring Artisan S'mores, Cornbread/BBQ Fusion, AND a Shepherds Bread Fit for a Whole Flock!

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One of the best parts of having a blog is the exposure I get to other creative people ~ Their artistic energy is contagious and their ideas SO inspiring!  How lucky we are to be a part of a community of MUSES!  I find this to be true of my life both online and off ~ creative, giving, generous people everywhere!  And in that spirit, I'd like to acknowledge a few people who've inspired me this week: MUSE #1:  FOR HER BEAUTIFUL AND CREATIVE GIFT OF A HOMEMADE S'MORE KIT, MY FRIEND KELLY: As a "thank you" for having her family to our annual 4th of July Chili Cook-off, Kelly and her daughter stopped by to deliver a beautiful box containing homemade graham crackers (you'll never buy the boxed ones again, trust me!) homemade marshmallows (ditto), and the classic Hershey's chocolate! This is one of those cases where I feel that HER "thank you" warrants a "thank you" of its own!  The gift was accompanied by a handmade

Fairy Cupcake Topper & Favor Tutorial ~ Inspirations & DIY for your FAIRY FETE

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I am blessed to have had the opportunity to attend a Co-op preschool with both of my daughters.  For those unfamiliar with the co-op experience, parents in the program are required to work as "teachers", rotating in a variety of roles, at the preschool for one day each week.  What results is a wonderful bonding and sense of community with both the children and the parents in the program.  There are two credentialed teachers who are present all week to oversee and administrate, but all the parent "teachers" bring with them a rich and diverse variety of skills, talents, and expertise that benefit everyone.   Each Fall, our co-op preschool hold a fabulous gala event with a silent auction. This year I had the opportunity to take part in the donation of a "birthday party package" for the auction.  One parent donated cupcakes; another invitations, etc.  I donated a set of 12 custom cupcake doll/favors . The Princess & the Pirate were the 

"BABY FOOD" Cupcakes Your Guests Will Go GAGA Over (and a free printable to use for favors too!)

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Sweet Little Cakes Baked Right in the Jar! Looking for a unique, yet simple dessert for a baby shower or birthday party that is sure to garner plenty of ooohs and ahhs?   If you can bake cupcakes from a mix, then you can make these wonderful little "Baby Food" Lookalike Cakes. Here's how it's done: Baby Food Lookalike Cakes For milestone birthdays and baby showers Makes one batch, one flavor 2 dozen standard baby food jars, labels removed, sterilized Cake batter Frosting Sprinkles (color coordinated for type of babyfood Baby Food Jar Label PDF (choose birthday or baby shower) Full sheet adhesive labels (or regular paper and adhesive spray) Prepare your favorite cake batter (from scratch or mix). Fill each jar 1/3 full with batter.  I like to place the jars in the depressions of a standard cupcake pan for support while baking. Bake approx 18 minutes (depending on your cake recipe), until cakes are cooked through

Vintage Ephemera Cameo Wreath

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The summer has been flying by so fast that the Fourth of July, and our annual Chili Cook-off, snuck up on me like a neighborhood bully with handful of firecrackers!  I had decided not to stress about decorations and go easy and casual...that is, until the night before the big event.  It was at about 9:00 p.m. that I felt a sudden drive to decorate.   Once again, forced to use only what I had on hand, creativity was pushed to the max and some nice little projects were born. Whew!  My favorite is the wreath I created with just a handful of old book pages, a scanner, my trusty glue gun, and some inspiration from "Poor Richard". What I like best about this project (besides the repurposing/upcycling aspect) is its versatility.  You can make the little "cameos" to suit any theme:   Favorite Authors, Family Tree, Great Thinkers, Famous Women, Poets, Artists, etc.   Because it was the 4th of July, and since I have a collection of old engravings of

BAY AREA HAPPENINGS...FOUR GREAT EVENTS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

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WHO'S GOING TO.... ? Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco ~ Fort Mason Center Saturday, July 31 & Sunday, August 1 11am - 7pm "The Renegade Craft Fair is a large-scale DIY event featuring hundreds of independent artists and their unique handmade items. RCF is held in cities across the US every year - including Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles & Austin . The fair is known for being one of the first events of its kind, and for featuring top-notch indie-craft artists and designers who travel from all over the map to participate." Bloggy Boot Camp San Francisco ~ Westin St. Francis August 21, 2010 9am - 5pm " Bloggy Boot Camp is a one day blog and social media conference for women.  In a time when blog conferences are growing more popular, Bloggy Boot Camp remains one of the most convenient, inexpensive and co-operative events around.  Everyone, from brand new bloggers to experienced social media mave

THE RECIPE BOX ~ NOW OPEN ~ free recipes, inspirations, and a side-dish of sauce and sassitude!

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ALL the delicious recipes ever featured on Rook No. 17 are now available, indexed, and organized in one easy-to-navigate place ~ a new page, aptly titled "The Recipe Box" .  You can access it by clicking "Recipes" on the menu bar above. Whether you're looking for a new savory side dish for your holiday celebration, are interested in learning how to become a home chocolatier, or like your recipes served up with a bit of irreverant humor, the Rook No. 17 Recipe Box probably has something you'll want to add to YOURS. In the the spirit of community and sharing that the exchange of recipes inspires, please feel free to link up a favorite recipe or a link to your collection below .  If you link up, please be so kind as to leave a comment in the field below.   Bon Appetit! Credit where Credit is Due:   Oh goodness, I almost forgot ~ I was inspired and motivated to finally put my Recipe Box together because of a wonderful link to " I'm an Organizi