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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

Easy & Amazing Parmesan Polenta Fries

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  Like clockwork, the crisp chill of autumn blew in when we set the clocks back. Comfort food time!   One of my favorite easy fall comfort foods is polenta. Last week, I shared my recipe for fried polenta squares with my advanced culinary arts students. We topped the golden squares with a homemade balsamic tomato ragout and Italian sausage. I'll be sharing the recipe here on Rook No. 17 next week. Last night, I made up a batch of polenta for my family.  This time, I cut the polenta into a shape my girls adore -- fries!  Polenta fries are easy and inexpensive to make.  They make an elegant lunch or dinner side or can be topped with ingredients like chili or Bolognese sauce to make a meal. Parmesan Polenta Fries Yield:  approx. 48 Time:  approx. 45 minutes 3/4 cup polenta (I like Golden Pheasant brand) 3 cups water 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Vegetable oil for for frying Butter an 8x8 baking dish.  S

What's New at Rook No. 17?

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  Hello friends! I've missed you so! It's been a bit snoozy around here at Rook No. 17, hasn't it? I thank you for sticking around.   What's new :  At the beginning of August, I started my new career as a high school teacher.  I'm teaching Culinary Arts at the local high school using a curriculum designed by the National Restaurant Association.  I teach two beginning Culinary Arts classes and one Advanced.  Words cannot express how very blessed I feel to wake up each morning excited to go to work.  I love my job! Here are a few of the projects that my students have been working on: Savory Breakfast Cupcakes with homemade Hollandaise "frosting" and Chive "sprinkles" My Advanced students mastered the art of poached eggs for Classic Eggs Benedict. Rustic French Bread   Chocolate Dipped Macaroons (recipe HERE ) Raspberry Macarons Soft Pretzels French Eclairs with pastry cream made from scrat

Recipe: Cream Cheese Stuffed Figs with Fresh Fig Caviar Compote

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I'm pretty sure the Gods on Mt. Olympus must have eaten these. Although my weekend did include the sighting of several mythological beasts, I didn't have to travel to Ancient Greece to experience this taste of ambrosia. In fact, I didn't even have to leave California.  Last week, my Nerdy-and-Proud family headed down to San Diego for Comic Con 2014.  My girls dressed-up as characters from one of their favorite shows:  Supernatural .  Our hotel turned out to be a complete dump (to put it nicely).  Our first sight, upon pulling in was of the upper balcony, where a guest had strung their laundry between columns -- delicates and all. Fortunately we were rescued from the roach motel by family who live in the area. The girls and their cousins pitched a tent in the backyard. The girls were thrilled to stay with their cousins, and my husband and I were treated to wine and appetizers that included these amazing stuffed figs when we returned from the c

Recipe ~ Fresh Squeezed Peach Sangria

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  Fresh squeezed peaches? That's right -- the secret to this light and refreshing summer sangria, with the flavor of  ripe and juicy fresh peaches, is in the technique -- hand squeezing. The recipe starts by making homemade peach nectar.  Ripe, peeled peaches are simply squeezed in a bowl to release their golden juice.  A small amount of sugar is added to the peaches to help release the rest of the juices.  Rested, then strained, the end result is pure ambrosia.  Here's how it can be used to make a delicious peach sangria: Fresh Squeezed Peach Sangria yield:  8 servings 10 large peaches (ripe, but firm enough to peel) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup peach schnapps 1.5 liters white wine (the Riesling from Barefoot is a perfect compliment to the peaches) Step 1:  Peel and pit 8 of the peaches.  Place in a large bowl.  Gently squeeze, with clean hands, to release the juices and to break into small pieces.  Stir in the sugar. Cover and refrige

Recipe ~ Mallow-Krisp Baked Mini Donuts

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  Doughnut or Donut? No matter how you spell it, people love them. Consider this: There are more than 10 billion doughnuts made in the U.S. each year! (source:  Huffington Post ) As a kid, my favorites were the powdered mini donut and anything with sprinkles.  In my adulthood, I've discovered the joys of a perfect maple bar or French Cruller.  But the distinction of favorite doughnut belongs to the "'Mello Submarine" from Psycho Donuts .  It's an old fashioned donut with marshmallow fluff and krispie rice cereal on top.  They're the delicious lovechild of a doughnut and a Rice Krispie Treat. They're super light, not too sweet and really do Snap! Crackle! and Pop! when you make them.   The 'Mello Submarine was my inspiration for a DIY mini donut recipe as my contribution to a donut blog hop with 9 other bloggers and organized by Vanessa of Our Thrifty Ideas .  Is your mouth watering yet? My creation consists of a baked

Recipe: Zucchini Fritters with Garlicky Tzatziki Dip
from Debbie Matenopoulos' "It's All Greek to Me" {Book Review & Giveaway}

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It's the 4th of July. Happy birthday, America! Today, as we celebrate our freedom, we're also looking back and paying homage to our ancestor, Anastassios Kolovos, who at the age of 16, in 1908, immigrated to  the U.S.A. from Vlahokerasia, Greece. Anastassios represents the first chapter in our family's American story. Celebrating our cultural heritage has always been important to my family, and one way we stay connected with the traditions of generations past is through food.  I'm always eager to learn more about Greek cooking, so I was excited when I was invited to join the book tour for " It's All Greek to Me -- Transform Your Health the Mediterranean Way with my Family's Century-Old Recipes " from Debbie Matenopoulos.     In Debbie's warm and authentic style, she weaves incredible family recipes, anecdotal storytelling, and stunning photography that will transport the reader to the Greek family table, and de