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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

Chinese New Year Red Evelopes for Kids -- Free Printable -- Year of the Ram

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Hello friends! January has come and is almost gone. The Asian New Year is almost here! By request from a reader, I've updated my free Asian New Year Red Envelope Template to reflect The Year of the Ram.  Isn't he the cutest? Clicke HERE for the template.   Please feel to print, assemble and share good fortune with those you love. ------------------------------------ I've been busy teaching culinary classes, but hope to get back to blogging regularly soon.  In the meantime, please check out our class blog -- www.pghsculinaryarts.com , where you'll find all of the delicious recipes I use with my students. 

Easy Holiday Appetizer: Salmon Cucumber Canapés

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  If you can slice a cucumber, you can make this delicious twist on the classic party appetizer.  With the help of a zesting tool and a pastry bag, you can take the presentation to the next level.  To really wow your guests, you can even cure your own salmon.  It's easier than you probably think.   My Culinary Arts students made these for a school board meeting a few weeks ago.  Add them to your sophisticated entertaining repertoire...   Salmon Cucumber Canapes Makes approx. 48  2 Slicing Cucumbers (not English) these are the ones most commonly found in grocery stores with the dark green skin. 1 8oz. package cream cheese 1/4 cup sour cream  8 oz. smoked salmon (lox) or citrus cured salmon (see below)* Fresh chives for garnish Optional Tools A pastry bag fitted with a star tip   A citrus zester ( THIS is the one we use) Step 1:  Cut the ends off of the cucumbers.  Use the single blade side of your citrus zester to create eight evenly spaced stripes

A New Holiday Recipe Favorite: Cranberry Apple Slab Pie

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I am so excited to share this recipe! It's Visions of Sugarplums, Mom's Apple Pie and a Norman Rockwell holiday all rolled into one perfect pastry. I developed this recipe for Cranberry Apple Slab Pie for my advanced culinary arts class because, well, we had some leftover fresh cranberries in the fridge and the students were craving something sweet. Although I love baking, I'm not really a "sweets person" ( not to be confused with "sweet person".  I hope those that know me find me sufficiently sweet ).  What I mean is that I can pass right on by most pies, ice creams and pastries.  This little beauty, however, stopped me dead in my tracks.  The buttery puff pastry and cream cheese filling balance out the sweetness of fruit filling.  With every bite, you experience sweet, tart, creamy, buttery, and flaky.  Serve with vanilla bean ice cream for ultimate bliss. Cranberry Apple Slab Pie (Makes 2 pies, 6-8 servings per pie)

Spanakopita: Holiday Entertaining with Greek Spinach Pie
#FallForGreek with Debbie Matenopoulos (+giveaway)

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Back in July I had the joy of bringing my family's Greek heritage to life in the kitchen when I participated in the It's All Greek to Me Blog Tour celebrating the release of the new cookbook from Debbie Matenopoulos .   Remember these beauties?  My family and friends loved Debbie's Zucchini Fritters with Garlicky Tzatziki Dip .  You can find the recipe HERE .   With holiday baking and entertaining on the horizon, fans of Debbie's book are spreading the word -- #FallForGreek -- with a November Blog Tour.  I am delighted to be sharing another one of Debbie's easy-to-follow Greek recipes from her beautiful cookbook. Rich in family memories, Greek history, heirloom recipes, and mouth-watering photographs, It's All Greek to Me is worthy of a space on the most discriminating home chef's shelf of favorite cooking tomes. Ask my family about their favorite dish and you'll get a few different answers.  For my husband it's pastit