Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches (Chipwiches!!)

It's officially summer. And I'm loving it. Thought, my allergies and lungs are not. Meanwhile I'm inside pining to be outside and reminiscing about my happy, allergy-free summers and ice cream sandwiches. I miss having the summer off and running around barefoot as a kid. And those chipwiches. Let's be real. There's nothing better than chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.

In fact, this past weekend, one of my friends waltzed into a 30s-themed murder mystery dinner party (more on this later, I promise) in a full blown suit holding an ice cream sandwich popsicle of sorts because an ice cream truck went by my house on his way in. It reminded me of childhood. Needless to say, he's a favorite.

Anyways, chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches are so easy to make and so much better homemade. When the cookies are reaaaaaal. To speed up the process, you can throw two cookies in the freezer every time you make a batch and you'll have home made ice cream sandwiches (or chipwiches!) at a moment's notice.

In the photo above, I used a chocolate cookie recipe (which I no longer have. Sad face) and this giant chocolate chip cookie recipe. Stuffed a scoop of ice cream between two cookies and rolled them in mini chocolate chips or rainbow jimmies (sprinkles). They're quite the crowd pleaser. I made these particular ones for a dinner party last summer. (Don't tell, but the actual cookies were leftovers from the night before!)

Be sure to work quick since the ice cream will melt while you are working. I popped them back in the freezer as soon as I could. I highly recommend against trying to stuff all of the cookies at once and waiting to put the completed sandwiches in the freezer.

If only I had learned how to make ice cream last summer. Then they could have 100% homemade. I fear you (and my waistline) will be seeing a lot of homemade ice cream this summer. Between that and learning how easy it is to fry cheater, biscuit donut holes (fresh donuts in 20 minutes!!) and potato chips may have been the best/worst discoveries I've ever made.

Also, it's almost July 4 and I'm super excited about the cake I'm making. Can't wait to show you :)

NOW READING: The Stand

Guys, I did it! I finally finished Stephen King's The Stand. All 1200 pages. And I loved it. All 1200 pages.

Gotta love a book with a side of cookies

It took months - probably 3 months. But, it was absolutely worth it. I highly recommend the book. The character are engaging, and plentiful. Some I loved, some I hated, some I feared, some I rooted for. Some surprised me - good and bad.

I naively thought the book would largely be about the Captain Trips outbreak itself - and I'll say that (hopefully without too many spoilers) I was (gladly) wrong. Though post-apocalyptic literature typically isn't my thing (I just can't bring myself to read/see the Hunger Games), but I loved this one. I think because it breaks from the typical mode of delivery at least in my mind.

My biggest disappointment in the book is Frannie's character development. She goes from a fiercely independent young woman (a character I always look for and typically love in books) to one who is dependent (maybe even co-dependent, though I won't say to whom). Very disappointing.

But, as I feel any good book (especially Stephen King), there's a balance. While Frannie's development was disappointing, Stu and Larry's was pleasantly surprising. Also, Kojak is my favorite (I may name my next dog this. Followed by Glen Bateman.

Read it. Read it now, and always be looking over your shoulder for The Walking Man.

20-Minute Donut Holes from Scratch

Donut balls. That's what Boyfriend calls them. Doughnut balls? (Also, can we all please agree on a spelling for donut?) I think it's ridiculous, Boyfriend says its more accurate. This is pretty much us to a T.

Whatever they are, they're delicious. And learning not to be afraid of deep frying was perhaps one of my greatest/worst discoveries. Not quite the 15 minutes that the title claims, but I would say 20 minutes – and that’s good enough for me. Technically they're cheater donuts because they're made from biscuit dough, but that kind of cheat is A-OK by me.

I split these in half and rolled one group in cinnamon sugar and the other in powdered sugar after removing them from the oil. To my surprise, even though it was easier to coat them in cinnamon sugar, it was so much better with powdered sugar on top. When a warm doughnut is rolled in powdered sugar, it turns into an ooey, gooey, marvelous glaze - no assembly necessary.

After a good sampling with the home audience, I gave some to Boyfriend with a ridiculously cheesy handmade note (Doughnut know what I'd do without you). Who enjoyed them to say the least.

This recipe is lightly adapted from Cooking Classy

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. melted butter
2 c. vegetable oil, for frying

+ sugar, powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar for rolling/shaking in

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients. Add in milk, buttermilk, vanilla and melted butter and stir until combined.
2. Heat oil for a few minutes in a deep saucepan (be sure it's at least 1-1/2 to 2 inches deep) over medium heat until above 200 F (if you have a candy thermometer)
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and fry in oil until golden brown, then rotate and brown the other side.
4. Remove and dry briefly on a paper towel. Roll donut holes in topping or place in a bag with topping and shake.

There's nothing like a homemade doughnut quick at your finger tips.

A clean up tip:

• Let oil cool while you enjoy the donuts. Unlike bacon grease, vegetable or canola oil won't solidify at room temperature. Poor leftover oil into an empty soda can or water bottle and place (carefully) in the trash can.

S'mores Dip

Smores are one of those things that SCREAM summer to me. THEY SCREAM it. I love them so much like any normal functioning human being. But you know when you can't have smores? In January. When it's snowing. Enter the quick fix.

A couple of months ago, I hosted a game night with lots of appetizers. But, who wants to stop in the middle of a rousing game to go tend to dessert? This was the perfect fix. I put the chocolate and marshmallows in the cast iron skillet ahead of time and then quick popped it under the broiler for a few minutes and served with some graham crackers.

Perfecto. Game on.

Ingredients:
Chocolate Chips
Marshmallows
Graham Crackers

Directions:

1. Cover the bottom of a cast iron pan with 1/2 to 1 inch of chocolate chips. Top chocolate with a layer of marshmallows cut in 1/2
2. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes, but keep a close eye on it
3. Serve with graham crackers

Sausage, Egg and Pancake Breakfast Muffins

I love these breakfast muffins. There's something about a hand-held breakfast that seems so fun and convenient. Also, I love the sweet and savory combination. Love it. A while ago, I made this version with canadian bacon, and decided to switch it up (ok, we didn't have canadian bacon in the house). Boyfriend came over when I made these and he really liked them, which is always the seal of approval for me.

Ingredients:
4 slices of sausage, crumbled
5 eggs
1 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. yellow cornmeal
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. milk
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Maple syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. Cook sausage in large skillet until it's brown and cooked through. In a small bowl lightly beat 3 eggs, 2 Tbsp. water and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook eggs in a hot skillet over medium heat without stirring until eggs begin to set on the bottom and around edges. With a spatula, lift and fold for uncooked portion to flow underneath. Cook until set but still moist. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
2. Brush twelve muffin cups with cooking spray. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Combine milk, oil and remaining two eggs in a separate bowl. Stir into flour mixture. Fold in scrambled eggs and cheese. Spoon into muffin cups.
3. Place a few sausage crumbles on each muffin. Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until light brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pan on rack. Run a table knife around edges of muffins to loosen; remove from pans. Serve with syrup. Serves 6.

To say

To say it's been a while since I posted might be an understatement. It might also be an exaggeration. It's one of those things where I just can't sometimes. I just can't get the motivation or find the words. Especially lately.

How I feel jaded when I live here is beyond me. Red Mill, Clinton, NJ This is my town.

I've been feeling a little ... run down. Beaten up (not physically). Jaded. Old. It could be that I finally (yes, finally) turned 23 (I don't think that's it) or that I've had some long hours lately (but I love my job). I think its just that I'm looking for a change. Something exciting again. After all, I've been living at home and working in That Big City for almost 2 years (1 year, 50 weeks, if we're being technical about it).

I think it might be time to move out. On the one hand, I'm saving so much money that it's very hard to move out. Plus the proximity to boyfriend and many of my friends from high school makes it that much harder. But, at the same time - I kind of feel stuck here. FINE. I just want to move out so I can do my own grocery shopping. I'm so fortunate to be able to live in my parent's house and that dinner is always ready when I get home (and by that I mean it's been ready and sitting out for about 2 hours since I get home after 8), but to me real autonomy is preparing and cooking my own meals.

And I want it. I just dream of being in control of that. Which is odd, because most people I know hate the idea. I do my best to cook on the weekends, but so does my sister and my dad. Which makes the kitchen a little crowded and sometimes there's a kerfuffle over who gets to cook dinner. We're odd that way.

Anyways, my point in all this was. I haven't written. And I'll do better.

Maybe.

elbow

Last night I went to perhaps the best concert of my entire life at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Honestly, one of the top ten experiences of my life, despite some anxiety beforehand. We saw elbow. Knee opened for them - Head and Shoulders couldn't make it because they had bad dandruff.

Just kidding. We did see elbow though. John Grant opened for them - he seemed like a cool and very interesting guy. Boyfriend and his friend really like elbow - if I were to be truthful, I hadn't listened to them much prior to the concert. I only recognized three songs they played, but I really liked their whole set.

They're one of the few bands that is better live than on CD. The lead singer (and John Grant also) has a gorgeous voice. And the members of the band seem like they're genuinely best friends in real life. He interacted with the audience. There was a couple their who loved elbow so much they used one song as their wedding song - and yelled up to the stage asking elbow to play it. Ironically, it was the next song played. Heartwarming and adorable. Also live strings.

The venue was pretty cool too. It had a nice assortment of standing room and bleacher seating. We got there 5 minutes before John Grant started singing and we ended up standing in the third row from the front.

So. go listen to "Grounds for Divorce" and "One Day Like This" and any other elbow song you can find. And also maybe visit the Electric Factory.

Love & Links - May 12

I browse the web. I find links I love. I send them to everyone I know with multiple ideas, usually in all caps. I can't wait to get home and start them. But, I have a serious problem with follow through. Here's a collection of links that got me unreasonably excited this week.

These pretty spring pot pies look so yummy. 

This pasta recipe looks so easy and so fresh and so good.

I'm intrigued by the idea of making my own nut butter, but I really need a food processor, I think. 

These lemon yogurt parfaits seem like they would be perfect for a spring brunch.

These are adorable, but I kind of think I'd hit my head on alll of them.

I just dream of seeing places like this.

All the strawberry desserts.

No words --

That 3 PM Wall

So today I started working at 1:45 AM. and I stopped working at 8:30 PM (save a few short breaks). On these rare and oh so pleasant days that 3 PM Wall I hit seems that much harder.

Every day around 3 PM I get a little sleepy and work seems that much more difficult. But, today called for one thing and one thing only (ok it's actually three things). Iced coffee in a Flash cup and delicious strawberry bread my mom bought from the Amish in Florida.

This bread.. I will be replicating. This is one of the very few times when my mom was wrong about something. She said that it wasn't life changing and I oh so very much disagree. Life changing - maybe it's because I'm sort of morally opposed to strawberries in bread. Blueberries and blackberries are ok in bread, but strawberries freak me out a little bit (even though I've definitely made strawberry muffins). Even though I love fresh strawberries.

I should have learned my lesson by now. Especially since I shared a delicious strawberry muffin with my dad in New Zealand in March 2013 at one of the places we stayed. but for whatever reason, this bread sold me.

I promise to post a recipe soon. maybe. I really shouldn't be making promises I might not be able to keep.

Also, does anyone know a good iced coffee recipe? I'm on the hunt.

Sunday Funday: May 4 (& Love 7 Links)

Happy StarWars day! To all my nerdy friends out there (ok, the vast majority of my friends).

Truth: I've never seen StarWars alway the way through. Someone always goes to the hospital, but that's a story for another day.

So much has been going on. SO much. Like I can't even tell you. And I think this is why I haven't written lately. I find it completely overwhelming to even try to tell you.

Guys. We're planting a garden. And I'm getting excited for our CSA.

Love & Links

This is gorgeous. and I can't wait to make it. I might make it for my birthday. I'm a fan of birthday layers.

I'm really into the idea of creating a themed dinner around a movie themed around food. Love this list of food themed movies.

And I might eat some homemade potato chips during that movie. These rosemary ones look so yummy, but I'm also a closet salt and vinegar fan.

I'm totally into homemade ice cream. I've done it twice so far this year and have big plans for this summer, including this ginger ice cream.

One of the only reasons I want to move out and be on my own is so I can be in control of my own meals. I can't wait to do my only grocery shopping. This will so be on my list.

This Slate article on Ruth Wakefield (the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie and one of my heros) totally expands upon everything I know about her and puts her way further on my personal hero list. Lady was a genius.

I just love fresh herbs. If I ever move out there will be herbs everywhere. Everywhere herbs.

I've been hardcore craving BLTs lately. I don't know if its because its almost summer aka the time when tomatoes actually taste good or what, but this one look so good - but perhaps I'll sub out chipotle mayo for sriracha (there's too many r's in this word).

Remember that one time..

Remember that one time I said I was going to try to be consistent about things? And then how I was radio silent for a month? Like not even a peep?

Even my Instagram has been uncharacteristically quiet. It's not that I haven't thought about posting. I think I only had like 5 Instagram posts in all of April. Five. That's way less than my normal.

It's not that I haven't even had anything to post about. In the past month I've gone to happy hour, hosted a pizza game night, gone to a Mad Men themed party, gone to Rutger's Ag Field Day and a Ukranian Easter Egg Ceremony. Oh, and our rescue dog tried to play tug of war with my ponytail bun.

I just haven't. Maybe it's because work has been crazy busy. Like Crazy. Maybe it's because I severely lack on follow through. Maybe its because I'm flaky, but in a wonderful way - like a good biscuit, or a croissant.

But, I will share one thing with you before I sign off - as I sit here typing in my backyard, chatting with my dad on perhaps the world's most gorgeous Saturday morning waiting for Boyfriend to get here so we can go thrifting - I have an irrational fear of bees.

A lot of people claim to be afraid of bees. But, trust me no one is afraid like I am. I mean, I'm a generally fearful person. I have a healthy fear of nature (thought I love it) and an unhealthy fear of bees. Most people have a fight or flight response. I freeze in an absolute panic and have to force myself to move. This, I've always known, but reinforced last fall at a haunted hay ride/corn maze.

The bees chased me away from the picnic table on our deck. My dad watched and laughed. And this is my perfect Saturday. Also, we're discussing purchasing wetsuits. And I promise to post more recipes soon. Maybe.