Posts

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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Macy's Heart of Haiti ~ A Mother's Day Gift Supporting "Trade, Not Aid"

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  This Mother's Day, I'm working with Clever Girls in support of Macy's Heart of Haiti to shine a light on the " Trade, Not Aid " program, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake. Photo source:  Macy's What is Macy’s Heart of Haiti ? Heart of Haiti is a “ Trade, Not Aid ” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s.   Already, Heart of Haiti has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti, providing financial benefits for an estimated 8,500 people in the country.  Photo source:  Macy's Each item is a one-of-a-kind design and handmade by a Haitian master artisan from raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, papier-mâché and stone. The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, jewelry and paintings and is made
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A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 71
& Pizza Party Features

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You're gonna wish this post was "Scratch & Sniff" -------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 71! 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. -------------------------------------- Three of last week's guests brought pizza to the party, so this week I'm spotlighting their pizza-perfect creations! What kind of pizza do you like to make?  My favorite has gorgonzola cheese, thinly sliced pears and whole pistachios! --------------------------------- Chicken Pesto Pizza from Recipes We Love Portobello Pesto Pizza from Cook with Sara (Ice Cream Sandwiches are the key) BBQ Chicken Pizza from Homegrown Beanes   --------------------------------- If you've been featured  (her
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Smoky Fire Roasted Salsa from the Grill~
Grilling is Happiness with Sears

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This is a story about how my family went from no grill and no plans to a stress-free Sunday summer barbecue In less than 24 hours Grilling is Happiness indeed. For me, the name Sears conjures up memories of childhood and Christmastime. In the Christmases of my childhood there two things I anticipated above all others: Santa and the Sears Wishbook. Fast forward thirty plus years -- The Wishbook days are long gone. I'm married and have two kids of my own. The closest Sears is a 25 mile drive away. Thanks to the Grilling is Happiness campaign from Sears and Collective Bias , my love of Sears has been renewed.  In these times when shopping can often mean a high stress experience, it's a rare pleasure to walk out of a store with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. This past weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to peruse the Sears Online Catalog , purchase a brand ne
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Easy & Elegant Wedding Cake You Can Make Yourself for Under $50

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  In this post, I'm sharing a video tutorial to get you started with some basic skills for making an elegant tiered special occasion cake covered with rolled fondant.  The cake can be dressed up with ribbon, fresh flowers, gumpaste flowers, etc.  Here, I've decorated the tiers with an inexpensive and whimsical adornment:  Ombre Paper Butterflies made from paint chips! I'm pleased to be sharing my first wedding cake tutorial and DIY video as part of the Do-It-Yourself Wedding Ideas party at Crafterminds.com!   For the purpose of this demonstration, I scaled down the cake to 7", 5" and 3" tiers, which will serve 16.  You can increase the size of the cake to suit your event.  The supplies for my cake cost under $35, which includes the punch I used for the butterflies.  A cake for 50 or even 100 can be made for under $50.  Your main cost is in the fondant, which I'll get to later. DIY WEDDING CAKE A few notes before we start:
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Martial Arts for St. Jude --
Let's Kick Cancer's Butt

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Here's the condensed version:  We're raising money for a local child, and children at St. Jude's with Cancer.   I'm going to ask you for a dollar.   Bribery: Everyone who donates $1 is entered for a chance to win a $20 Macy's Gift Card and Macy's Heart of Haiti Goddess Necklace from me. So many fundraisers; So many worthy "-a-thons"; Money's tight, right? So we don't always feel right hitting up family and friends. Instead, we write a check for what we can. This time it's different. We're asking everybody -- Casting the net of charity far and wide. Here's why: Plaque from last year's donation from the money raised at American Karate's Break-a-Thon Every year, my daughters' karate dojo ( American Karate in Monterey, California) participates in Martial Arts for St. Jude .  Each year, the karate students collect and donate money  to help children with cancer at St. Judes
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Creative Cakery: Recipes, Tips & Techniques
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 70

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I am putting real plums into an imaginary cake. ~Mary McCarthy -------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 70! 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. -------------------------------------- What can I say? I have an unabashed fondness (not to be confused with fondant) for creative cakery !  This week's features are a celebration of cake!  Enjoy! --------------------------------- Learn the secret to a perfect basket-weave from Inside BruCrew Life (plus a recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Cake) An Easy Ice Cream Cake from Shugary Sweets (Ice Cream Sandwiches are the key) Hummingbird Cupcakes from The Garden of Yum (What could be sweeter?) Early Grey Cupcakes from The Pasture Times (Gives a whole ne
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