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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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CAKE ART TUTORIAL: How to Make "Brass Buttons" from Rolled Fondant

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Last week at Rook No. 17, the first in a series of cake art tutorials was launched with a video and step-by-step instructions for " HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS FROM ROLLED FONDANT ". Today, in Part II of the series, I'm sharing my technique for making embossed "brass" buttons. WHAT TYPE OF TUTORIAL WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE NEXT? ---------------------------------------------- How to Make "Brass Buttons" from Rolled Fondant (To print, click the "Print Friendly" icon at the bottom of this post) Materials Black Fondant (or white fondant tinted with black gel food coloring -- wear gloves!) Corn starch Rolling pin circle cookie cutter A real brass-style button Soft, loose bristled paint brush Lemon Extract Luster Dust, "Ultra Gold" Small bowl Small paint brush 1.  Lightly dust a clean work surface with corn starch and roll fondant to 1/4". 2.  Cut discs with a circle cutter. 3.  Lightly dust the face of the real button with cornsta
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Avocado Dips and Homemade BBQ Chips -- Party Time With A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 29

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El Gran Haas from the Qdoba ad campaign ..."the avocado is a food without rival among fruits, the veritable fruit of paradise."  -- Dr. David Fairchild (horticulturist responsible for bringing the avocado to the U.S. nearly 200 years ago) 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 incredible!   So many new friends So much returning talent! Thank you! ------------------------------------------------ Some would argue that it's simply not a party without some chips and a good dip and this is a party, right?  So, this week I'm highlighting three fantastic dips and a recipe for homemade BBQ Potato Chips .  Enjoy! ------------------------------------------------ Let's start with the CHIPS (Forgive me.
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Recipe: Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Pumpkin Pasties

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My family and I have been catching up on the Harry Potter movies this week in anticipation of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.  As we conclude our Harry Potter marathon this evening, I thought it would be fun to serve a little treat inspired by the magic of Hogwarts. Have you read the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling?  Did the descriptions of the enchanting and fantastical treats enjoyed by the students of Hogwarts make your mouth water as much as mine?  One of the foods mentioned in the book that captured my fancy was the Pumpkin Pasties sold on the Hogwarts Express.  So here, for your enjoyment (and mine...oh yes indeed) is my interpretation of Pumpkin Pasties -- a hand-pie with a brown sugar cookie crust and pumpkin filling.  The pies are "stamped" to give them a little extra MAGIC ! Hogwarts Pumpkin Pasties Makes 18-22 Cookie Crust 2 large eggs 1 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 6 Tablespoons mol
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How to Make Buttons from Rolled Fondant -- A fun and easy tutorial!

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What keeps you coming back to Rook No. 17?  Is it the recipes or the crafts, or a shared affinity for vintage whatnots, retro nerderie, and childhood nostalgia?  Several readers have gently prodded and asked why I haven't been more forthcoming with tips and tutorials relating to my occupational specialty -- cake decorating.   Jolly good question, friends!  The answer:  I don't quite know.  What I do know is that it's high time to begin...so, I give you the first installment of what I hope to be an ongoing series of cake art how-tos.   We'll start with a tutorial for HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS FROM ROLLED FONDANT.  This is a great project for beginners who are just starting to work in modeling rolled fondant.  This project is easy and the results are satisfying.  You don't need any costly specialty equipment.  Most everything you need can be found at home. The buttons can be used to decorate cupcakes, cakes, cookies, etc... An affordable and ea
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Red Velvet Revelations -- A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 28

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"Worse, the cake part is red velvet cake.  Blood red."  --  Steel Magnolias 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. ------------------------------------------------ I have a confession to make:  I've never been a big fan of Red Velvet cake. But I'm not here to rant about my cake personal cake issues. Quite to the contrary, I'm happy to be highlighting two Red Velvet Cake recipes that shatter my preconceptions about the cake being nothing more than a food-coloring overloaded vehicle for cream cheese icing. These two recipes, I believe, could stand on their own without any icing at all and be perfectly, wonderfully delicious!   If you're Red-Velvet-ambivalent, give these recipes a try. Note that each uses a tablespoon or less of food coloring
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