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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

Ballerinas, Berries, and Betsy McCall -- A Little Birdie Told Me No. 22

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image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy "A child sings before it speaks, dances almost before it walks.  Music is in our hearts from the beginning."   ~Pamela Brown 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. ------------------------------------------------ When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina. an illustration from Little Ballerina , one of my favorite books from childhood. I felt like that little girl again, dreaming of pink tulle tutus  and satin toe shoes when I saw the Ballerina Birthday Party at Seven Sisters Does this sweet little ballerina look familiar?  It's the darling Betsy McCall, the iconic paper doll from the 1950s and 60s.   ------------------------------------------------ Here's Betsy again, 

Meditations on Memorial Day

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In gratitude to those who serve and have served our country... "All we have of freedom, all we use or know  - This our fathers bought for us long and long ago." ~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899 "Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, w as the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men." -- Richard Watson Gilder

A Very Special Apple for Teacher -- Homemade Caramel Apples With a Twist

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Every year, since my eldest daughter was in Kindergarten, we've enjoyed making these special caramel apples at the end of the school year as gifts for the teachers. The teachers always enjoy the decadently dipped apples and appreciate the fact that the gift doesn't leave them with another little tchotchke to to take up space on their desk.   The nice thing about these caramel apples is that the recipe is versatile enough to be enjoyed all year. They're just as perfect in the fall as a First Day of School Gift as they are at year-end. They make wonderful favors for parties and celebrations. In fact, I can't think of a time that a beautifully crafted, gourmet apple wouldn't be welcome! Here's how to make your own: Chocolate Dipped Caramel Apples 8 medium sized apples (we like Fuji and Pink Lady) 8 new pencils (I use a small handsaw to shorten the pencils by 1") Clear packing tape For the Caramel (

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe -- Orzo with Lemon and Kale

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Ruffles are still in vogue for summer fashion, so why not carry the theme through to your summer cuisine? Kale, nature's most ruffly green, is a nutritional powerhouse -- packed with vitamins A&C, beta-carotene and lutein!  Healthy and delicious too, Kale harmonizes beautifully with lemon, feta and orzo pasta in this quick and easy pasta salad: Orzo Pasta with Lemon & Kale 1 small onion or 2 large shallots, diced 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 5 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 bunch of kale, thick stems and ribs removed, leaves chopped (approx. 10 ounces) 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock 1 pound dried orzo pasta Zest of one lemon Juice of 1 lemon 5 oz. feta cheese, crumbled 3 teaspoons kosher salt pepper to taste crumbled bacon or toasted pine nuts for garnish (optional) Step 1:  Bring a large pot of water up to boil for the orzo.  Cook according to package's instructions.  While orzo is cooking, prepare kale:

Washi Tape and the New Blogging Vernacular -- A Little Birdie Told Me No. 21

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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. ------------------------------------------------ Bloggers are dreamers and doers, thinkers and makers crafters and bakers And this week, I discovered that this community of innovators is crafting a new lexicon as well... ------------------------------------------------ For example, Jocelyn of Inside BruCrew Life tickled my "so cute it hurts" nerve with: PUFFY HEART AS IN " I puffy heart anything coconut  and these didn't disappoint! " She was referring to her   Coconut Cream Cheesecake Brownies ------------------------------------------------ Alison of Stuff & Nonsense charmed me with ROOTLED AS IN "R ootled through the cupboards to be sure th

Sandcastle Cake Recipe -- A Fun and Easy Summer Classic!

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A whimsical, sculpted cake in less than an hour! Every year my daughters' school has a year-end carnival that includes a Cake Walk. The end of the school year is so impossibly busy  -- Who has time to spend on an elaborate cake?  I love Nordicware bundt pans for their ease of use, consistent results, whimsical designs, and for the way that they can make anyone look like a cake sculpting pro! My favorite Nordicware design is their Castle Bundt Pan.  I've enjoyed using it to make this crowd-pleasing Sandcastle cake, especially when I'm in a pinch for time, but still want to do something special.  The Sandcastle cake is the perfect celebration or donation dessert -- delicious, charming, and easy! Here's the super short-cut version to making your very own Sandcastle Cake using the Nordicware castle pan: Castle Bundt Cake (takes approx. 50 minutes) Ingredients 1 box yellow or white cake mix 1  3-3/4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding 4 large