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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

MUSIC MONDAY -- Meet "Matt the Electrician"

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Still shot from the video "All I Know" by Matt the Elecrtrician Have you seen the newest video from Matt the Electrician for his song "All I Know" ? Craftionistas and music-lovers alike will flip for this beautifully crafted video featuring the soulful voice and artful strumming of the singer/songwriter accompanied by a scrolling backdrop designed by his incredibly talented wife Kathie (you may know her from FUTURE CRAFT COLLECTIVE ).   All I Know from Matt the Electrician on Vimeo . "All I Know" is from Matt's new album, "Accidental Thief" which debuts June 14.   Some of my favorite tracks are " Pioneer Bride", "Friends" & "Daydreamer". You can check out more of Matt the Electrician's music on iTunes . ---------------------------- This post has been shared with Singing & Pinning @ 5 Minutes Just for Me

Kissable Cakes -- "Hot Lips" and "Cardinal Sin"

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Here are the fruits of this weekend's labors. Tutorials and Recipes to follow shortly...   The "Hot Lips" Cake Dark chocolate cake layered with whipped ganache and raspberries Just a touch of edible glitter gave this pucker a kissable shimmer It's been a long while since I've sculpted a cake, so it was a really nice feeling, even thought the degree of difficulty wasn't that high, to know that I can still take a bunch of flour and sugar and make it look like something else.  *smile* The Cardinal Sin Cake (known to incite lust, envy and gluttony) Chocolate Cake, cardinal-red raspberries, cheesecake mousse and chocolate mousse

The Perfect Summer Drink Recipe -- Mango Margaritas Tajin

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It's been a long, long time since a flavor has met my palette and left me wondering, "Where has this been all my life?"  But a few weeks ago, I had that rare, earth-shaking gastronomical experience when my friend Holly introduced me to the combination of  fresh mango and the Mexican seasoning Tajin (you can read her Mango Magic post HERE ). The seasoning, primarily composed of lime, salt and chili, excites all the taste buds and is the perfect compliment to the sweet, tart and tropical mango. I've had Tajin on the brain...bad...really bad. Holly got hers from a friend in Los Angeles.  I was determined to find it locally. After searching obsessively for about a week, I was thrilled and surprised to finally find Tajin at Target in the Mexican food section -- and the mangoes of the world rejoiced!! On Mother's Day, my husband cooked up a fabulous Mexican feast, so I seized the opportunity to whip up a cocktail to serve with the meal. My head still reeli

Much Ado About MANGO -- A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 19

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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. ------------------------------------------------ Just a few reminders... Keep the spirit of the party going strong by visiting the two links before yours. Link up any form of creativity you wish to share, but please, no Etsy stores or businesses. If you'd like to advertise, please visit my Advertising page . And now, the Week 18 features...  ------------------------------------------------- A Little Birdie Told Me... It's Mango season! Malia of Yesterday on Tuesday Shared her recipe for  Mango-Avocado Bruschetta   ------------------------------------------------ Lisa of Sweet as Sugar Cookies Shared the Hawaiian solution for dealing with a profusion of mangoe

A Sweet Little Poem for a Happy Mother's Day...

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My Mom and Me -- 1972 Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn, Hundreds of bees in the purple clover, Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn, But only one mother the wide world over. ~George Cooper Happy Mother's Day to all those who love or have loved in a motherly way!

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

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

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

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