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
Read more

The Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe -- Revisited

-
Image
It's been a few year since I published my original Irish Soda Bread recipe and the long and rambling tale of how it came about.  In case you missed it ( be relieved ), the gist of the tale was that I worked for a short time during my late teens in an Irish Pub that was housed in an old sardine packing company in Cannery Row.  The pub had an enormous subterranean kitchen in which they baked the most humble-looking, yet incredible tasting Irish Soda bread.  I've been trying to recreate it ever since. Since that first post, I've made a few revisions to my recipe and am delighted to share this very simple and delicious recipe for Irish Soda bread.  Slather with a good Irish butter to experience happily breaded-bliss! Irish Soda Bread (Makes one 8" loaf) Prep time:  5 minutes Baking time:  50 minutes 2 cups whole wheat flour (I prefer Hodgson Mill brand) 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup wheat germ 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 Tablespoons pa
Read more

St. Patrick's Day Craft: Wee Bottle of Leprechaun Gold Necklace DIY

-
Image
When I was a child, my parents took the family on a trip to California's Gold Country where we spent several days panning for gold (in earnest).  One of my brothers found a nice little nugget, but the rest of us ended up with tiny bottles of gold leaf suspended in water from the gift shop -- not that I'm complaining.  That little bottle of glittering golden goodness was one of my most treasured possessions as a child.  I still have it, and it has inspired the awe and amusement of both of my girls. So, when I saw a bag of gold leaf at my local Michael's crafts store, I new right away that I'd be putting together some magical little bottles of gold for St. Patrick's Day.  My girls are going to be so excited to get their own little bottles of real gold!    The necklaces cost less than $5 to make,  so you don't have to accost any Leprechauns in the process. It's a Leprechaun-friendly craft! Wee Bottle of Leprechaun Gold Necklaces (i
Read more

Magic Cookie Bar Pie - The Easiest Pie EVER!

-
Image
  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
Read more

Buttery Citrus Shortbread -- Cottontail Cookies

-
Image
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
Read more

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

-
Image
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
Read more

Vintage Style: 1930s Velvet Shamrock Pin Tutorial

-
Image
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
Read more