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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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Halloween Open House ~ Tour, Tricks & Treats

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Welcome to the second annual Halloween Open House at Rook No. 17 where you'll get a little peek at how we've haunted the halls of our 1893 Victorian this year.  First, please enjoy some hospitality... (looks like we need to put some meat on those bones) TRICK:  Owls? TREAT:  Owl Deviled Eggs TRICK:  Green Goblins? TREAT:  Pistachio & Blue Cheese Grapes TRICK:  Terrariums? TREAT:  Chocolate Terrarium Cakes with Marshmallow Moss & Fondant Toadstools TRICK:  Skulls? TREAT:   Chocolate Dipped Oreos with Marshmallow Skulls And now, the tour... (slideshow runs just over 2 minutes) (Music:  Frost Waltz, courtesy of Incompotech.com ) Below you find links to tutorials for making some of the vintage inspired decorations seen in the slideshow.  Most were made on the cheap -- with supplies purchased from the dollar store. Click HERE for a tutorial for making this glittering Skeleton Crew from dollar store supp
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OWL-o-ween Deviled Eggs

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It's no secret:  I love to play with my food.  So when the California Olive Committee contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in creating a "spooktacular" Halloween recipe with their California Black Ripe Olives, I jumped at the opportunity! After all, wearing California Black Ripe Olives thimble-style atop each of my fingers is one of my fondest and earliest memories of playing with food. Okay, I confess, I still do it. Anyone with me? Deviled eggs always seem to be one of the quickest things to disappear from any party table.  Last year a friend made the Spider Deviled Eggs from Sunset Magazine. The combination of the eggs and black olives was delicious! Combining my family's love of California Ripe Black Olives, deviled eggs, and owls, I came up with this delicious and adorable Halloween appetizer. Whoooo wants some? Owl Deviled Eggs (makes 2 dozen) 1 dozen XL large eggs, hard boiled and cooled 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 teas
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"Soft Serve" Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes & Kupcake Konz Pan Giveaway!

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Saturday morning cartoons, a shiny metal lunchbox, loudly belting misinterpreted song lyrics, and soft serve ice cream cones dipped in chocolate -- memories from my childhood that never fail to evoke a warm glow from my heart light.  It's the latter that inspired today's creative cake fake-out. Photo credit:   Becheery /Flickr You have, no doubt, seen the clever hand-held cake creation that is the Cupcake Cone , no? If you've ever tried to make them perhaps you've run in to the common pitfalls of tipping cones, batter that runneth over, and cones that come out lumpenly deformed? Enter, my hero, the Kupcake Konz pan: I was introduced to this marvelous pan more than a year ago when I came across a blog that was giving one away. I didn't win the giveaway, but (with a nod to the power of blog advertising through giveaways), I immediately ordered a Large Family Size Kupcake Konz pan for myself.  Since then I've used it more times than I can count
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FOUR FABULOUS FALL DECORATING IDEAS ~ A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 41

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The one red leaf, the last of its clan, That dances as often as dance it can, Hanging so light, and hanging so high, On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge ------------------------------------------------ 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. ------------------------------------------------ Today I'm spotlighting four creative ways to add elegant vintage touches to your fall decor... Mini Pumpkins and a wire hanger is all you'll need to make this elegantly understated wreath.   Mini Pumpkin Wreath from Snowflakes & Dragonflies The tutorial includes a free download for the letters to make this vintage inspired banner. Very Vintage Halloween Banner from Yesterday on Tuesday These Halloween silhou
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Make Your Own Cocktail Rimming Sugar ~ Guest Post

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I'm delighted to be taking part in " A Swell Noel " at Positively Splendid.  Get your holiday ducks in a row with dozens of ideas for holiday gifts, home decor, and tasty treats! Today, you'll find me at Positively Splendid with my quick, easy, and budget-friendly tutorial for making Cocktail Rimming Sugar gifts. Poinsettia Red  Cocktail Sugar Pink Lemonade  Cocktail Sugar
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10 Perfect Pumpkin Recipes You Won't Want to Miss

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"Pumpkins are grown all over the world on six of the seven continents, with Antarctica being the sole exception. They are even grown in Alaska." ~ Pumpkinnook.com When it comes to autumn produce, what could be more versatile than the ubiquitous pumpkin?   In celebration of this sensational squash, I've put together a collection of the top pumpkin recipes from the Rook No. 17 archives.  Enjoy! -----------------------------------------  This post has been linked-up with  Think Pink Sunday @ Flamingo Toes  Weekend Show-Off Party @ Ladybird Lane
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Who Won and What's Next...

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Thank you to everyone who participated in my giveaway for the chocolate transfer sheets! I'm pleased to announce that the winner, selected by Random.org is: Congratulations DIANA! --------------------------------------------------------- If you didn't win, fear not! I'm excited to share that on Wednesday I'll be posting the details on a giveaway from the fine folks at Kupcake Konz! Please stay tuned for an opportunity to win: A Family Size Large Kupcake Konz pan! for making whimsical treats like these:
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