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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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Recipe: S'more Truffles on a Stick

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Earlier this month we served up the cupcakes at my daughter's Toy Story themed birthday party in little dump trucks filled with crushed graham cracker "sand".  I overestimated the amount of crushed grahams that I'd need, and as a result, ended the day with a huge bag of the stuff.  So, I decided to take the "Oreo Truffle" concept to the next level and created the "S'more Truffle" on a stick!   Here's how: S'more Truffles on a Stick (makes approx 30) 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 TB butter, softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs 30 mini marshmallows 30 lollipop sticks or bamboo skewers 10 oz. melted chocolate (candy coating or bark) 1/4 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs Step 1:  In the bowl of a standing mixer (food processor or bowl with hand-mixer will work too), mix cream cheese, butter, and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes on  medium speed). Step 2:  On
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Blueberry Lemon Breakfast Cake featured on the "Saturday Sparkle"

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I was thrilled when my friend Bibiana asked me if I would guest post for her "Saturday Sparkle" at "Daily Organized Chaos".  Please pay her wonderful blog (loaded with great reviews, recipes, & tips and ideas for the traveler) a visit, and download a copy of the recipe to make your Saturday (or any day) start out with a sparkle!   BLUEBERRY LEMON BREAKFAST CAKE (CLICK HERE )
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Rain, Rain, Go Away -- Some Vintage Clipart for a Rainy Day...

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It's raining... It's pouring... The girls and I are home today. The girls are sick and it's pouring outside. Homemade soup is bubbling on the stove. All is quiet; just the patter of the rain outside my window. Since I can't invite you over to join us for a bowl of soup, I offer up this rainy day treat instead... ...four pieces of vintage nursery clipart from my collection. Enjoy! I know all the crafty DIYgals will like this one! Simply Sweet! "Everybody wants to be a cat.  Because a cat's the only cat that know's where it's at." ( Aristocats -- first movie I ever saw in a movie theater -- sweet memories!)
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A CULINARY WORLD TOUR -- 7 Countries With A Little Birdie Told Me #7

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Welcome to "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday!   If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  strut your stuff   just after the features below. T hank you for being a part of making the weekly sharefest at Rook No. 17 an ever growing success!  I was blown away by the talent and creativity last week, and honestly wish I could feature each and every post that was shared.  But, what struck me most about last week's entries was the profound profusion of international cuisine!  It's been far too long since I've had the opportunity to indulge my passion for travel, but last week's participants gave me a much needed "taste" to satisfy my wanderlust.   You don't need a passport to enjoy this culinary tour... TASTE OF INDIA Trisha of My Hobbie Lobbie  Takes us to the streets of Bombay with her recipe for  Batata Vada (Deep Fried Potato Dumplings)
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Vintage Inspired Blackboard DIY -- Great Friends Think Alike & Other Lessons for Splendid Children

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Did I make you giggle?  I can hardly say the name without a smile and a giggle.  Dolly Dingle is the chubby-cheeked creation of illustrator Grace Drayton, who also gave us the famous Campbell’s Soup Kids.  She created Dolly Dingle as a series of paper dolls that were published in the Pictorial Review from 1913 and through the Great Depression.  I came across my first set of Dolly Dingle paper dolls in an antique store in Santa Rosa, California,  around ten years ago and have been smitten with Dolly, her dog Fido, Cat Kitty-Cutie, and their cast of friends dressed in various period and international costumes ever since.  I count my friend Holly among my life's many blessings, and it was further proof of our status as “kindred spirits” when I visited her home and found that she had made an adorable set of magnetic paper dolls made from the 1923 “Dolly Dingle and Sammy Smart Help Teacher” set.  Dolly Dingle Paper Doll collections always include little prop
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Celebrate Lincoln's Birthday with Mary Todd Lincoln Tea Cakes!

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What are you serving for Abraham Lincoln's birthday?  Well, if you were Mary Todd Lincoln, wife to the 16th president of the United States, you'd probably whip up your signature vanilla almond sponge cake to delight "Honest Abe" on February 12.   You needn't travel back to the 1860s to get a taste of this historical cake.  The cake is easy to prepare, and you'll find everything you need to make it at your local grocery store.   I found a recipe for the "Mary Todd Lincoln Cake" adapted to today's measuring conventions by Amy of visit-gettysburg.com.  It can be prepared as a bundt cake or as a layer cake.  When served as a layer cake, the cake is typically layered with preserves.  My take on the classic is to make individual tea cakes filled with just a spot of tart raspberry preserves, and topped with a dash of powdered sugar.  The combination of the ground almonds and raspberry preserves reminds me of a Linzer Torte.  They mak
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