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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

6 Fresh Recipes for Strawberry Season!
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 72

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Source: "Farm ABC" , Whitman Publishing, 1954 It's Strawberry Season! -------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 72! 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. -------------------------------------- This is the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake I made from our first berries of the season! Picking sun-ripened strawberries at a local farm each May is one of my most cherished family traditions.     Whether straight from the field, farmer's market, or local grocer, fresh strawberries are a delight.  What will you be making with strawberries this season?  Here's what three creative birds made with theirs... --------------------------------- Strawberry Chipotle Jam and a lightened-up Samoas Dip for Fresh Fruit

How to Customize your Kicks & Trick Out Your Sneakers with Elmer's Painters

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  A few weekends ago, the family and I were in San Francisco and came across a few stores selling canvas shoes with custom artwork.  It was my youngest daughter who remarked, "Hey, we could do that!"  So when I had the opportunity to write a craft tutorial for Elmer's using their Painters Opaque Paint Markers, I knew right away what I'd be making.  I already use Painters on glass, plastic, fabric, paper and wood.  So, why not canvas shoes? What I love most about Elmer's Painters is that I have much more control than I would with a paintbrush.  They're so easy to use, especially for those of us born without the Rembrandt gene. Customizing your canvas kicks is easy, inexpensive and fun.  Everything you need to make totally custom, rockin' sneaks can be found at your local Walmart store. Here's how it's done... Custom Painted Sneakers with Elmer's Painters #ExpressYourself Supplies A pair

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

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

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