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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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Mother's Day Kid Craft -- Jewelry Tray from Upcycled Materials

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What to do with those styrofoam trays that come packaged with food from the grocery store?  Don't throw them away!  With a little Mod Podge, newspaper and a few scraps of vintage graphics, your child can make a beautiful "lacquered" jewelry tray! My friend Lynn is an amazingly creative first-grade teacher, so working in her classroom is a constant source of artistic inspiration!  This past week, her class was busy transforming styrofoam trays into the most charming, vintage-looking jewelry trays as Mother's Day presents.  I enjoyed working on the project with the students and couldn't wait to share the project with my girls. Today, my 9 and 6-year old daughters made their own jewelry trays and handled both the Mod Podge and collage elements with a finesse that made me beam!   It's a simple, frugal, family-friendly craft that yields truly lovely results in relatively little time.  Here's how to get started on your own: The crack
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Key Lime Pie Margaritas

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KEY LIME PIE MARGARITAS...  Sweet, tart, and the perfect cocktail for any fiesta! Many moons ago, my friend Shannon (mixologist extraordinare) introduced me to her signature Key Lime Pie Martinis.  I can't say I've ever had a more delicious cocktail! With Cinco de Mayo just a day away I decided to give Shannon's recipe a twist and make a Key Lime Pie Margarita.  The experiment was a success and the drink is absolutely, positively, my new favorite margarita, and probably my most favorite drink EVER!  It has just the perfect balance of sweet and tart, creaminess, and refreshment.  The sugar and graham cracker rimmed glass add just a touch of toastiness, crunch and contrast to perfectly evoke the taste of the classic dessert!   KEY LIME PIE MARGARITA makes one margarita 2 oz. Tequila 2 oz. Key Lime Juice (Fresh or "Nellie & Joe's Famous") 2 oz. Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice 2 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 Graham Cracker 1 TB
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CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA RECIPES -- A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 18

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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  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ Week 17 Took Me Back To a Sweeter, Simpler Time... ...When Little Me was in a constant state of dress-up and make-believe; making "pies" by freezing water  and colored toilet paper in my Holly Hobbie Oven pans; and raiding pantries on playdates hoping they had Pop Tarts or Froot Loops. ------------------------------------------------- Sarah of Sugar Bananas Shared a recipe for homemade "Little Debbie" style Oatmeal Creme Pies Coincidentally, Sarah's recipe was inspired by our next featured friend:   ------------------------------------------------ Jocelyn of Inside BruCrew Life Started with good
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What To Do With Plastic Eggs After Easter? Make Natural Handmade Soaps!

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If you have a lot of those colorful plastic eggs sitting around after Easter, I have a project for you.  Today I'm guest posting over at "My Repurposed Life" with a tutorial on how to use those leftover eggs to make beautiful handmade soaps!   With this simple and versatile DIY project you can design custom soaps by adding your  choice of colors, scents, and natural elements (mine are made with dried Lavender and essential oil).  The egg-shaped soaps make a lovely gift when packaged in an upcycled egg carton.   Click HERE to visit the tutorial! _________________________________ This post has been linked-up with
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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cheddar Bacon Biscuits

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IMAGINE ~  A light, fluffy, pillowy-soft biscuit; buttery and loaded with sharp cheddar flavor.  One bite and your mouth sings, "Where have you been all my life?"  Just when you think it can't get any more marvelous, your teeth sink in to the crispy bacon bottom and the angels sing!   Well, I'm delighted to tell you that after much experimentation, tweaks and revisions, such a biscuit is possible -- And not only possible, but downright easy and ready to eat, from pantry to table in 20 minutes! Not a disciple of the cult of bacon?  That's okay, really .  While it's often said, "Everything's better with bacon" (and I'm usually inclined to agree), these biscuits will transport you to another level of culinary consciousness even without the bacon.   Try them.  Then try not to dream about them....I dare ya. Ultimate Cheddar Bacon Biscuits Yield:  1 dozen 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspo
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CANVAS COLLAGE WREATH -- AN HEIRLOOM DIY

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Looking for a unique way to display your old family photos?   I feel blessed that relatives on both my side and my husband's took special care to keep and preserve family photographs. I like to incorporate the photos into my home decor where they can be appreciated every day.  While sorting through photos a while back, I began to notice a common thread -- both my husband's family and mine, for as far back as we could see, enjoyed the company of a family dog.  I've had the photos of our ancestors and their dogs sitting in a little basket, knowing that I'd find the perfect project for them some day.   Enter the Canvas Corp. Canvas Collage Wreath project: After she attended the Craft & Hobby Association show in March, my friend Holly of 504 Main introduced me to the incredible line of crafting products available from  Canvas Corp.  In April I jumped at the opportunity to enter my "Family Timeline Banner"(click HERE for the tutoria
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Spring Crafts, Recipes & Entertaining -- A Little Birdie Told Me No. 17

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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  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ Last week's party was full of inspiration, deliciousness and creative ways to enjoy the season!  Take a look: ------------------------------------------------- April Showers bring... ... April Shower Parties  I was enchanted by every detail of this exquisite  little party from  Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line   ------------------------------------------------ April Showers bring... ...May Flowers Represented here by the adorable "Dirt Cups" from The Seven Year Cottage May flowers need... ...A proper flower bed Eye Spy DIY shows you how to make these Upcycled Spoon Garden Markers --------------------------
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