Posts

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

Image
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

Polkadot Polkadot Afro Circus~
A Little Birdie Told Me... No. 76

Image
-------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 76! 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. -------------------------------------- We met up with about 25 other rainbow wig-wearing friends this evening to see Madagascar 3 at our hometown movie house.  In keeping with the "Afro Circus" theme of the movie, I give you this week's features... --------------------------------- Da da da da da da Afro Circus Afro Circus     Afro Circus Good For You Cookie Dough Dip from Back for Seconds Polkadot Interchangeable Polka Dot Wreath from The Crafty Scientist Polkadot Mixed Metal Wrap Bracelet Tutorial from Rena Klingenberg Jewelry Making Journal Afro Circus Sweet & Salty Trail Mix from Inside B

Happy Day of the Dad!

Image
Image source: Mis Nopales Art . Prints by  José Pulido  To all the dads, grand-dads, pops, papas, and all around good guys out there... ...HAPPY DAY OF THE DAD! I turned this phrase earlier today when looking for a different way to wish my husband a happy Father's Day. While searching online for the perfect "something" to compliment the message, I came across the artwork of José Pulido who sells t-shirts and original artwork on Etsy at Mis Nopales Art . T-shirts Fans of Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, and other pop culture favorites have got to check out his incredible artwork, t-shirts and accessories featuring fantastically Dia De Los Muertos-cized characters! Vinyl stickers!  Just had to share!

Tween Room on a Budget ~ DIY Cage Lights
and saving money with GE Engergy Efficient Lightbulbs

Image
Our eldest daughter is turning eleven and starting Middle School in less than 8 weeks.  So for our first project of the summer, my husband and I decided to give her room a tween upgrade.  We live in a wonderful, but very old and quirky Victorian home which presents plenty of decorating challenges.  Our three biggest challenges with this room were lack of space, lack of storage, and outdated lighting. It must have been the exploding down comforter that finally pushed us over the edge! Her room was very sweet before, but not at all practical.  The limited storage made it difficult for her to keep the room tidy and properly display her cherished collections.  The dated light fixtures were shabby (and not at all chic).   The timing of this project was perfect because I had just signed on with Collective Bias to do a DIY post featuring GE Energy Efficient Light Bulbs with supplies purchased from Walmart (#GELighting)!  You can see a full gallery of my path to purcha

Good Karma -- Come and Get It!

Image
Have you heard of Psi Bands ?  They're an innovative option for drug-free nausea relief developed by two moms from my local area.  The FDA-cleared acupressure wristbands help provide users with relief of motion sickness, morning sickness and the nausea that results from chemotherapy.  We never take a family roadtrip without them! I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with this wonderful forward-thinking company in the past and currently manage their Facebook page.   Presently, Psi Health Solutions is trying to win a $250,000 small business grant from Chase bank and is just 60 votes short of qualifying.  So, to do my part to support good people and a small business I believe in, I'm offering up bucketloads of good karma to Rook No. 17 readers that take a moment to vote for Psi Bands! Simply visit www.missionsmallbusiness.com , "Login and Support", then enter " Psi Health Solutions " in the field provided.  Click "Vot

"Tie One On" for Father's Day~
A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 75

Image
-------------------------------------- Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 75! 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. -------------------------------------- Whether you call him Dad, Daddy, Papa, Pop, or even Darth Vader, this week's party has a little something special for every father!  Get ready to "tie one on" and get creative for Father's Day.... --------------------------------- "Family Ties" Cupcake Tutorial   from The Seven Year Cottage --------------------------------- Necktie Wreath Tutorial  from Yesterday on Tuesday           --------------------------------- Star Wars Aromatherapy Pillows (to soothe his "dark side")     from Scraps of Life   ---------------------------------

Skillet Cherry Cornmeal Upside-down Cake

Image
It's cherry season!   But if you can your cherries, or keep a jar in the pantry, you can be ready to whip up this delicious cake any time of the year!     I was joining some friends for dinner the other night and didn't have time to run to the grocery store.  Fortunately, I had two jars of the lovely Morello cherries from Trader Joe's in the pantry.  They worked beautifully for the Skillet Cherry Cornmeal Upside-down Cake! Beating the egg-whites gives this cake an incredible lightness.  The balsamic vinegar balances the sweetness of the cherries, and the cornmeal brings on the old fashioned country fair charm! Skillet Cherry-Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake  (adapted from Bon Appetit)  Serves 10 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks butter, room temperature) 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 3 cups pitted fresh sweet cherries or drained and rinsed canned cherries. 1 1/4 cups all purposed flour 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal 2 teaspo

Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts

Image
As a fun and delicious way to take our new Trudeau Stress Less kitchen tools for a spin, my husband and I created a recipe for Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts.   The meal happened to coincide with a family Lego day. This savory bread is both chewy and airy and the spice of the garlic and mild chili powder play nicely with the toasted nuts and mellow hint of sweet potato.  As well as being a great source of vitamins B6, C, D, magnesium and iron, potassium and carotenoids, the sweet potato imparts a lovely golden color to this crowd pleasing bread.  Did I mention that kids and Lego horses like it too?   Sweet Potato Focaccia with Toasted Pine Nuts (adapted from the Cook's Illustrated Rosemary Focaccia)     Dough 1 medium sweet potato (about 9 ounces) peeled and quartered 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup warm water 2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the bowl and pan 1 1/4 teaspoons salt