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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

Magic Cookie Bar Pie - The Easiest Pie EVER!

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  If you love Magic Cookie Bars,  this is the pie for you. If you only have five minutes to spare,  but want to bake a pie from scratch, this is the pie for you. Can't decide -- cookies or pie?   This is the dessert for you. Hands busy with crafting and need to enlist some child labor? Your kindergartner can make this recipe. Let's get started... Magic Cookie Bar Pie Makes one 9" pie Prep time:  5 minutes Bake time:  35 minutes 1 6 oz., 9" prepared graham cracker crust 1 (14oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk 2/3 cup butterscotch morsels 1 cup flaked coconut 3/4 cup finely chopped pecan or walnut pieces 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour entire can of condensed milk evenly into the graham cracker crust.  Layer the remaining ingredients, in the order listed.  Place pie pan on a baking sheet (this will help the pie bake more evenly) and bake for 35 minutes (edges will be bubbly an

Buttery Citrus Shortbread -- Cottontail Cookies

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These bite-sized citrus cookies are like a little taste of springtime!   The simple butter cookie dough is brighte ned with the flav ors of lemon, lime, and orange zest.  A toss in fresh squeezed lemon juice and powdered sugar gives them a perfect sweet-tart balance and nifty little glaze. This recipe is as prolific as a warren of rollicking rabbits, but don't be fooled.  They're as quick to disappear as their namesakes.   Citrus Cottontail Cookies (makes approx. 200) 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for surface 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Zest* of one lemon Zest of one small orange Zest of one lime 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract juice of 1/2 a lemon 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted 2 parchment lined baking sheets 1 strainer or colander *microplane grater for zesting is recommended Step 1: Whisk togethe

St. Patrick's Day Craft: Lucky Clover Pendant Necklace

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I was always the kid in school who got pinched on St. Patrick's Day because I wasn't wearing any green.  Maybe that's why I always like to send my girls off to school on St. Patty's with a little token of love and luck. I must admit, I felt pretty dar n lucky when the sample pack of dried flowers that I ordered for my Pressed Flower Easter Eggs turned out to contain three 4-leaf clovers!  I knew right away what I would make ... ...Lucky Clover Necklaces! They were SO easy to make and didn't cost a pot of gold either.   DIY Lucky Clover Pendant Necklace Time:  approx. 5 minutes Cost:  approx. $3.00  1" Circle Bezel Pendant Tray (Here's my SOURCE ) 1  1" Clear Glass Cabochon 1 Chain Luck or Lucky dictionary page (print for free HERE ) Cardstock Pressed 4-leaf clover (Here's my SOURCE ) Mod Podge Dimensional Magic Small paintbrush I purchased a set that included 5 of each (bezel, cab

Vintage Style: 1930s Velvet Shamrock Pin Tutorial

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This week my mind is focused on studying for the CSET in order to start student - teaching in the fall.  So, to keep the creativity and merriment going here while I revisit ancient Mesopotamia, navigate through mitochondrial DNA, and tango with the Pythagorean Theorem, I've dusted off a simple little St. Patty's Day project from the Rook No. 17 archives. These very chic and charming little shamrock pins look just like them came out of a fancy millinery shop from the 1930s. Grab some buttons, glue, wire and velvet tubing and let's go... Velvet Shamrock Pins 18" Velvet Tubing (a.k. a. piping or cord ) per pin   try JoAnns Stores Or Etsy HERE and HERE   Or Mendels (for light green) 18 " of 22 gage floral wire pretty buttons hot glue gun pin backs Optional:  Fabric rosettes made from scrap fabric or la ce Step 1:  Remove the cord from inside the length of tubing.   Step 2:  Insert wire into tubing, and seal

Book Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A Must-Read for Tweens

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When I find a good book, I can't help but shout it from the rooftops. I'm a bibliophile -- Book Lover -- it's right there in my bio. And this book...this book is a treasure . For my graduate course in teaching literacy (for grades 4-8) this term, we're required to read eight books written for young adults .  I couldn't be happier that I picked Wonder by R.J. Palacio for my first read. " Wonder is essentially ... a wonder. It's well-written, engaging, and so much fun to read that the pages almost turn themselves. More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book – your life will be better for it. " - Nicholas Sparks , #1 New York Times bestselling author T his book is an absolute must-read for every middle school aged child. It's a story about friendship, being

How to Make: Easy Chocolate Dipped Caramallow Patties

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  Who loves Caramels? Me, Me, Me, ME! If you do too, BEWARE this recipe. The caramel is so melt-in-your-mouth PERFECT! (and it's easy to make) Over the holidays, I made some caramallows and they were delicious -- oh yes!  But I have to admit that the time and labor involved in making the caramel made me question whether I'd be making them again next year.  Typically, making caramel involves a long and patient process with a bubbling pot of volatile candy and keeping a watchful eye on a candy thermometer.  This alternative method, in the microwave, takes just 6 minutes.   JUST SIX MINUTES (yes I'm shouting)!   Are you ready?  Let's go...   Chocolate Dipped Caramallow Patties (makes 30-40) One batch 6-minute Caramel (adapted from food.com ) 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 cup granulated sugar  1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 30-40 mini marshmallows 10 oz. hi