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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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My Favorite Strawberry & Chocolate Tartlets

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I owe much gratitude to my mom for initiating so many wonderful family traditions when my brothers and I were growing up. One of my favorites involves visiting a local farm every year for berry-picking. I am happy to say that this is one (of many) traditions that we've continued and now includes three generations. Because we can always count on a bounty of fresh strawberries every summer, I enjoy creating new recipes that will perfectly complement their natural sweetness. This year, I revamped an old family classic for Strawberry and Chocolate Pie to make these delightful two-bite tartlets. The buttery little tart shells and the not-too-sweet chocolate filling are the perfect match for the berries. While strawberry season is at its peak, visit a local farm, farmer's market or grocer -- pick up a bushel of berries, and give this recipe a try: Strawberry & Chocolate Tartlets (makes 4 dozen) Print-friendly button at the end of the post 1 cup (2
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How to Make a LIGHTNING MCQUEEN Cake Topper Out of Fondant

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After what was a very long and seriously intense week, it was wonderful to unwind by hanging out and getting creative with some good friends.  I brought along some fondant and fondant tools so I could play and just have fun.  I have to admit, there's a lot of kid in me, so I'm really looking forward to the summer release of Pixar's " Cars II ".  I must have had ' Cars ' on the brain as I twizzled and twisted my red fondant because before I knew it, the pieces were coming together in the form of Lightning McQueen . This little guy is just 3" long and was made from red, white, black and blue fondant.  The metallic elements were brushed on with a combination of lemon extract and luster dusts.  I used an food-writer pen to highlight the lettering. Here's a quick little slideshow of how I put Lighting McQueen together.  He'd be the perfect little cake topper for a CARS birthday party.  I can imagine him posed on top of a fon
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A Perfect Vegetarian Summer Menu...

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Tremendous thanks to everyone who linked up to "A Little Birdie Told Me..." last week! If you'd like to join in this week's party, click HERE ! Last week, there were so many wonderful, healthy, vegetarian recipes, that the theme of "A Perfect Vegetarian Summer Menu" evolved organically in to this week's features.   Bon Appetit! ---------------------------------------------- For Starters Crisp toasty phyllo and the perfect balance of healthy spinach and the tang of feta in this traditional recipe for   Greek Spanakopitas from Chef in Training ---------------------------------------------- The Main Course Meat-less, but Flavor-full --  Grilled Portobello Sandwiches   with Garlic Herbed Mayo from Jam Hands. ---------------------------------------------- And on the side A " Terrifically Simple Tabbouleh Salad " from The Hungry Homebody ----------------------------------------------
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You're invited to link-up, share, inspire and be inspired -- A Little Birdie Told Me No. 25

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  "Yes, to be a good parent, you have to sacrifice, but this is not a requirement of parenting, it is a requirement of being good at something."  ~Robert Brault It's been one crackerjack of a week, friends.  It's been challenging, exciting, satisfying, exhilarating, and joyful; riddled with moments of self doubt, humility, and loaded with new lessons, obstacles and triumphs.  There's been little time to spend here in my creative haven, Rook No. 17, or visiting those that inspire me most out in the blogosphere as I've focused my heart, soul and energies on the two cakes that were ultimately delivered to a wedding last Saturday. To see more photos and to watch a 5 minute slideshow of how the firetruck cake was made, visit here:    Vintage Fire Truck Cake   If you're a regular participant in the weekly creative sharefest, "A Little Birdie Told Me..." (thank you), you'll know that I pride myself in visiting everyone
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The Vintage Fire Truck Cake Project -- Complete!

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  After 60+ hours, 18 pounds of rolled fondant, 10 pounds of gumpaste, 12 pounds of raspberries, and burning lots of "midnight oil", the fire truck and wedding cake are done! It was an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to make these cakes for such a beautiful wedding and such a lovely young couple!   Here is a 5-minute video of the entire process from concept to reality.  Enjoy the journey!
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Vintage Fire Truck Cake Has Me On A Bloggy Break...

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This week I'm recreating the 1917 fire truck pictured above in sugar and cake!  There won't be any new posts this week, since 100% of my time is going in to making this cake a show-stopper. There are lots and lots of fine details! If you'd like to share any of your posts, please stop by my linky party, A Little Birdie Told Me... I look forward to showing off the finished cake on Sunday or Monday. In the meantime, here are some photos showing the process and progress up to this point: First we visited the fire truck and took loads of measurements and photos. Next, we built a scale model out of foam. We began fabricating pieces out of gumpaste. Then, started "gluing" it all together. Coming together and up on "blocks" courtesy of the Girl Scouts. Painted red... Adding details like the grill... the upholstery... And the "wooden" truck bed. Still lots and lots of fine detail-work to go. To
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Crafting with Kids and with Children's Artwork -- A Little Birdie Told Me... No. 24

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"It doesn't make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said.  Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement."-- Jackson Pollock 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 weeks link-ups were AWESOME! It was, by far, the best collection of creative projects and recipes yet! (Which made it so, so hard to choose the features.) Luckily, there was a recurring theme running through several of the posts : Arts & Crafts for Children --AND-- Crafts to do with Art made by Children ------------------------------------------------ Arts & Crafts for Children Jen of Domesticated Nomad shared her passion for Abstract Expressionis
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You-Need NO-KNEAD Bread

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Who doesn't love the taste of home-baked bread?  Even better, how about a homemade bread that tastes like it came from the experienced hands of an artisan boulanger, yet takes mere minutes and only four simple ingredients to get started?  This is the beauty of the No-Knead Bread recipe from Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery, that was published in the NY Times.  No special culinary skills are required.  If you can measure, stir, and preheat an oven, you've got what it takes to bake a beautiful loaf of glorious, golden bread. I was introduced to this recipe several weeks ago by my friend Kelly, and my family meals on Fridays (and a few other days in-between) have not been the same since.  My family is crazy for this bread that I've come to call my "9-5 Bread".  What I've done is timed the recipe so that I stir the ingredients together around 9:00 p.m. before I head off to retire for the evening, cover the bowl, and leave it till the next day.  The dough get
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