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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

The Ultimate Kit Kat Birthday Cake
Featuring My Favorite Chocolate Cake Recipe

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I've been working for years to perfect my signature chocolate cake recipe -- a cake that is moist, deeply chocolatey , and can be stacked umpteen layers high.  The batter is versatile -- baking up perfectly peaked cupcakes or easy to level layers.  The best part is, it hardly takes more time to throw together than a mix!  When you have the perfect recipe, it's easy to get creative with all the possibilities for complimentary fillings, frostings and decorati ons.  This week my youngest daughter turned eight.  She's a huge fan of Ki t Kat bars, so when she asked th at I bake her a choco late cake , I knew ex actly what I'd make for the birthda y girl.   This towering chocolate confection feeds 10, generously.  It consists of 6 layers of decadent sour cream chocolate cake , homemade ch ocolate frosting, and lots of Kit Kat bars. Print With Image Without Image The Ultimate Kit Kat Birthday Cake Yield: 1 tall 6" cake Autho

The Easiest & Quickest Way to Make Lace Crowns {Tutorial}

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Lace crowns are utterly enchanting. But they can be time consuming to make. Not these. Whether you plan to adorn one royal head or a whole party of princesses, this new shortcut method for making lace crowns from crochet lace are royalty-read y in just a few hours. In early 2012 I fell head-over-crafty-heels for the lace crowns I had seen online (at Bitter Betty Blogs , Girl Inspired and Joyfolie to name a few) .  The crowns were sensational and the technique was simple.  Yet the fabric stiffener used in the projects often needs 24 hours to completely dry.  I'll admit it -- I'm an impatient crafter.  So I immediately started experimenting to find a quicker way to make lace crowns.  In February, I published my " Lace Crowns: Quick Microwave Method ".  Using the same materials as the other tutorials, I was able to shorten the time by using a microwave oven.  The method is quicker, but has a few quirks, so I've been longing to come

Recipe: Hello Dolly Cookies

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Imagine if you will, a Magic Cookie Bar and a Chocolate Chip Cookie got together and made a delicious little baby cookie. That's what we have here. The "Hello Dolly Cookie", also known as the "Magic Cookie Bar" has been around since the 1960s. The origin is up for debate, but no matter what you call it, the original bar-like treat is inarguably delicious and easy to make. The recipe below is an actual cookie version of the classic bar. They look a lot like chocolate chip cookies, but are chewier and have that whole salty/sweet thing going on. This is a great recipe for kids because it's so easy to make. If you want your cookies to look professional (and bake-up evenly), invest in a few portion scoops. I recommend a #30 for cookies. It's a generous size cookie, like the ones you get at Mrs. Fields or Nestle stores. Here's one I recommend: Hello Dolly Cookies (yield:  approx. 28) 1 ½ cups fine Graham Crack

Recipe: "Dirty" Rice with Chicken and Andouille Sausage {a one-pot family favorite}

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Aww geez, has it really been since December since I last posted?  Where has the time gone?  Well, school's out, which means that this teacher has a little more time on her hands.  I've been enjoying a little me-time, and in the process of sitting back and enjoying the silence, I realized how much I've missed connecting and sharing through my blog. So, over the summer, I'm hoping to share some of the recipes that I developed for my family and my students over the course of the school year.   I'm starting with an absolute family and kids-of-all-ages-approved one-pot dinner:  "Dirty Rice and Chicken".  This dish ranks high on my list of ultimate comfort foods.  It is so delicious, so flavorful, and very easy to make.  We always make a double-batch in our oversized Bayou Classic cast iron pan (love this thing!!) so the kids can enjoy leftovers all week.  My kids enjoy it simply warmed up, but I've been know to shred the chicken and wrap it all up

The Party Dip Your Guests will Flip For -- Warm Pimento Cheese Dip

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This Christmas, we decided to change things up in the dinner department with a completely  Southern-inspired menu: Warm Pimento Cheese Dip Marcus Samuelsson's Southern Fried Chicken Cheddar Biscuits Jambalaya with Louisiana Hot Links Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Yukon Gold Whipped Pototaoes Potlikker (Collard) Greens with Pork Jowl Bacon Classic Chess Pie Banana Pudding It was marvelous!  I've hyperlinked the recipes we used in the menu above -- all very highly recommended. Here is our recipe for Warm Pimento Cheese Dip  -- our riff on a Southern classic.  We warmed up this traditionally cold cheese dip and got it all gooey and melty.  Serve it like a fondue with chunks of  French bread, or with tortilla chips like Queso dip.  Warm Pimento Cheese Dip PRINT Prep Time:  8-10 minutes Cooking Time:  8-10 minutes Total Time:  15-20 minutes 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup whipped cream

Recipe: Brown Buttery Buttermeal Cookies

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The other day, my family was driving home on our long daily commute from school and work when we struck up a conversation about cookies.  One of my girls chimed in, " My favorite cookie is Buttermeal !"  We think that she meant to say chocolate chip oatmeal -- in particular the ones with macadamia nuts, coconut and semi-sweet chocolate chips made by her Uncle Deuce. And yet, we were all struck by how instantly appealing the idea of a "Buttermeal" cookie sounded.  So, we spent the rest of the car ride talking about what would go into a Buttermeal cookie if one were to actually exist.  We concluded that it would be buttery like shortbread and would have the subtle nutty flavor of oatmeal. This weekend, I experimented by riffing on a few well vetted Irish Shortbread recipes and ultimately came up with what the family deemed the perfect Buttermeal Cookie .  They are simple to make and are addictively delicious.  If you like shortbread, buttery cookies, and are ke

Recipe: Pork and Green Chile Street Tacos

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This recipe is always a favorite with my culinary students.   It is easy to make and the results are exquisite.  The trio of green chiles strike the perfect balance of bright green pepperiness, smokiness, and mellow heat.  They cook down with onions, garlic and sto ck into a rich and flavorful sauce.   The tender pieces of pork practically melt in your mouth.  These tacos need no further embellishment -- just load up a warm tortilla and go! Print With Image Without Image Pork & Green Chile Street Tacos Yield: 10-12 tacos Author: Jenn Erickson Prep time: 15 M Cook time: 30 M Total time: 45 M A trio of fresh green chiles mingle with tender pieces of pork that practically melt in your mouth. Just load it up on a warm tortilla and go! Ingredients: 1 pound trimmed boneless pork shoulder, cut into bite-sized cubes kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced 4 ounces Poblano Pepper (2-3 large),