Join Me in My Addiction!

Thank you for visiting my blog...and for allowing me to share with you my addiction. I love to collect recipes. I love to read cookbooks. I have been collecting recipes for as long as I can remember, and on any given day there are one or two (or more!) cookbooks residing on my nightstand!

This blog is chronicling my adventure as I fulfill my resolution of trying (at least) one new recipe each week. I hope that you enjoy!

I invite you to join me in my journey, simply by clicking the "Join this Site" link below. And please feel free to comment on any of the recipes, and pin away. Thanks, I look forward to sharing with you!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Easy Sticky Honey Sesame Drumsticks

I'm always looking for an easy dinner to make for my boys, especially now that we are into the hot days of summer (record breaking heat wave last week!).  I saw this recipe in Canadian Living, and figured I needed to give it a try.  I did modify it to suit my plans - here is the recipe:

Easy Sticky Honey Sesame Drumsticks (source: Canadian Living, August 2013)
Easy Sticky Honey Sesame Chicken | Addicted to Recipes

8-10 chicken drumsticks
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Green onions, sliced (for garnish)

In a bowl, whisk together the honey, sesame oil and soy sauce,  Add in the minced garlic and whisk again.  Pour the mixture into a resealable bag, add the chicken.  Seal the bag and put into the refrigerator.  Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours.  I put ours together in the morning and let sit in the marinade all day.

Preheat oven to 400F.  Line a baking dish (parchment paper or tin foil) and place the chicken in the dish.  Pour the marinade over the chicken.  Place in oven and bake for abut 25 minutes (or until the chicken juice runs clear).  When done, remove from oven, put chicken onto a serving dish, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.  Serve and enjoy!

VERDICT:
This is an EASY recipe, perfect for hot summer days (as long as you have a/c in the house!).  The flavour is nice, and the drumsticks are a beautiful golden colour when cooked.  We enjoyed these, and will make them again!





Thursday, July 17, 2014

Throwback Thursday - Strawberry Lemonade

We are in the midst of a heat wave here, record setting temperatures!  Yesterday, it was 44 celsius in our back yard (that's 111 F!).  I love the heat of summer, though not the fires that come with the heat.  Here's hoping for some rain (lightening free) to help our forest fire fighters in their battles around the province.

Today's Throwback Thursday recipe is for Strawberry Lemonade.  Love making fresh lemonade for my family...check out the recipe here!

Strawberry Lemonade | Addicted to Recipes

Mom's Peanut Butter Bars

Growing up, my Mom often made us great treats for dessert.  Whether it was her chocolate chip cookies (secret family recipe!) or her cinnamon buns, we were lucky to have a Mom who liked to bake.  Another of our favourites were her Peanut Butter Bars (think Reese Peanut Butter Cups, but homemade) - she's been making these for us since we were kids.  It's easy to make, no baking required.  I used natural peanut butter and it turned out the same as using regular peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Bars (Source: My Mom's Recipe Binder)
Peanut Butter Bars | Addicted to Recipes


2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butter, melted
1 - 1 1/4 cups peanut butter
1 3/4 cups icing sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the graham crumbs, melted butter, peanut butter and icing sugar.  Press firmly into a wax paper lined 8x8 or 9x13 pan (depending on how thick you like your layers - bigger pan = thinner layers).  Put into the fridge to start to set, about 10 minutes.  Remove from fridge, melt chocolate chips, pour over the peanut butter layer.  Return to the refrigerator, allow the chocolate to start to set, approximately 10-15 minutes.  Remove from the fridge again, cut into squares (must do this now, or once the chocolate is completely set it will crack when you try to cut the bars later).  Keep refrigerated.  These also freeze well.

VERDICT:
These are a long-time favourite treat of mine!  Super easy to make.  As mentioned, I made these using natural peanut butter this time, and they turned out the same as using regular peanut butter - yay!

Monday, July 14, 2014

Meal Plan Monday

Ahhhh, the dog days of summer.  They are upon us now. I am on holidays. Which means in moments of silence (eg, when the toddler is napping), I have a few minutes to work on some posts.  I've been trying new recipes all along, even though I haven't been posting frequently.  Here's hoping I can get back into the swing of things now that life has slowed down!
Meal Plan Monday | Addicted to Recipes

I still prepare a weekly meal plan - it is SO helpful for us.  Here is this week's plan:

Sunday: Steak, Salad, Grilled Beets

Monday: Homemade Hamburgers and Salad

Tuesday: Pork Chops, Dawn's Baked Beans, Salad
 (in case you hadn't noticed...we have salad with every dinner)

Wednesday: Pork Kebobs, Leftover Baked Beans, Salad

Thursday: Soft Tacos (with Homemade Taco Seasoning), Salad

Friday: Grilled Salmon, Grilled Vegetables, Salad

Saturday: Clean out the fridge night! (leftovers!!)
 
Enjoy your meal planning!