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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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Basketball-style Recycling Bin
Elmer's Glue Crew ~ Be Creative, Support Education & Recycle too!

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  I can't think of a better kind of project than one that allows you to be creative, support education, and be good to the earth at the same time.  When I heard about this Bag It Forward campaign from Elmer's, I jumped at the chance to support my local school and the Glue Crew Recycling Program . Using Elmer's foam board and a mini basketball backboard from Walmart, I created this fun recycling box that shows that "Recycling is a Slam Dunk for the Earth"!   You'll find step-by-step photos and instructions below, but first, I'd like to share 3 ways to do good with Elmer's:    1.  Bag it Forward (Anyone can do it) :  "#BagItForward is a movement and a call to action. People across the country have joined together to help provide quality school supplies for the children and teachers in their local communities. On average, teachers spend $356 of their personal money on qualit
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Tiny Tooth Fairy Notes ~ A Fanciful Free Printable

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  If your local tooth fairy (*wink*) has run out of personalized fairy note paper, you can be a fairy-helper by printing up a handy supply.   Simply download the image below and print in any size you wish.  Then, your child's tooth fairy can include a little note when they come to pick up a tooth.   This post has been shared with: Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog   Get Your Craft on @The Weekend Show-Off Party @ Ladybird Lane The Inspiration Board @ Homework Brag Monday @ The Graphics Fairy ( from whom I got my tooth fairy's golden crown )
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Ephemera Elephant Card Tutorial and Template ~
An easy and adorable scrap paper craft!

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I just had to craft something today. I had the urge. I went with it. I grabbed my scrap-paper box, an Elmer's glue stick and a black pen . I found this little guy patiently waiting at the end.  They say that an elephant never forgets. Ephemera, by definition is transitory and lacks permanence.  In elephant form, I like to think that these old scraps of printed material are likely to be around  and enjoyed for a long while.  What do you think? You don't need any special tools. You probably have everything you need at home. So, grab some paper scraps, your scissors and glue and let's make some Ephemera Elephants ! Ephemera Elephant Cards -- a scrap paper DIY project --   Materials paper scraps cardboard (I used a cereal box) elephant template (download HERE for free) thin black ink pen  scissors glue stick cardstock or 6.5" x 5" cards Step 1:  Download the free elephant template HERE .
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Gourmet Grilled Cheese -- Sourdough with Golden Beets, Arugula & Gouda (My new favorite sandwich!)

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I do love a good sandwich! But this one's not good... ...it's flippin' great ! Last week I found some locally grown organic golden beets at my farmers' market.  I brought them home and made some lovely pickled golden beets with coriander.  The beets are wonderful on salad, but today was cold and foggy and I had a craving for a grilled cheese.   This gourmet grilled cheese has a flavor that reminds me of a Reuben sandwich, but without the meat!  It doesn't need it.  The beets are kind of magical that way.  Don't just take my word for it.  Try it yourself...   Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Gouda, Arugula and Golden Beets Sliced sourdough bread (I used whole grain) Thinly sliced Gouda cheese (I used Sargento) Baby Arugula Pickled Golden Beets with Coriander (recipe HERE ) Butter (salted) Lemon Garlic Aioli* Step 1:  Butter the outsides of each slice of bread.  Spread the insides with aioli. Step 2:  On the bottom
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Vintage Graphics ~ Children in the Garden

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Here are some sweet little retro graphics from 1950s and 1960s storybooks that feature children in the garden.   What will you and your children be planting this fall?       You can click on the individual images to download high-resolution versions.  As always, feel free to use for non-commercial purposes.  You're welcome to share your creations on the Rook No. 17 Facebook page. You can find the full library of vintage graphics and clipart from Rook No. 17 HERE .
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Pickled Golden Beets with Coriander

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 Ahhh, the oft misunderstood beet -- Once a versatile and hearty root that sustained nations; now most often dumped from a can, hastily sliced and thrown on a limp-looking restaurant salad. Truthfully, I'd never turn up my nose at a beet-topped salad.  I love beets -- whether out of a can, from a jar, or freshly roasted.  I love them for their sweetness, the way they compliment many foods so beautifully, and for the fact that they are inexpensive and easy to prepare. In addition to the classic garnet, beets can be found in gold, pink, and candy-cane stripe.  This week, I found some locally grown, organic golden beets at my local grocery store.  I popped a pound in my cart, headed home and had them pickled within the hour.   These golden pickled beets get an aromatic kick from whole coriander and fennel seeds.  They're wonderful on top of an arugula salad with goat cheese, in a spicy slaw, or inside a grilled cheese sandwich.  They're so easy to make and ca
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Celebrate Back to School with SodaStream ~ GIVEAWAY!

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The SodaStream is a wonderful way to add a little "sparkle" to your life! Have you heard of the SodaStream ? It's an easy, convenient and money-saving machine that turns plain old tap water into sparkling water in less than 30 seconds!  It requires no electricity, little counter space and doesn't leave you with any clean-up.  You can enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade sparkling water and sodas and be kind to the earth at the same time because  SodaStream bottles are reusable  -- no more wasteful and heavy bottles to lug home from the store!   I had long coveted the SodaStream owned by a good friend.  I envied the way she was able to produce sparkling water and custom sodas on demand when last minute guests showed up.  I sought out this review of the SodaStream knowing that it was a product that my readers would love.  Thanks to the generosity of SodaStream, I've been enjoying my Genesis model machine all summer long.  It's given m
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