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!

Friday, June 29, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #17 - Features

Happy Friday everyone!  Here where we live, today is the first OFFICIAL day of summer break for all the kids - yeah!  AND...we are gearing up to celebrate Canada's birthday!  Woohoo, long weekend!  We are also gearing up to celebrate a very special birthday, our littlest miracle turns ONE in a few days!  We have quite the week ahead of us!

When I pick my weekly features I usually try to pick a breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.  This week...well..my sweet tooth has taken over!  If you are featured, I sure would love for you to grab a BUTTON (and help promote my blog), thank you so much!

I was featured, I was Featured by Addicted to Recipes





Congratulations to this week's features!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I must start my day with coffee.  And Caramel Fraps are my hubby's favourites, so this will suit our family well!

Homemade Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Light from The Better Baker


I LOVE cinnamon buns, especially my Mom and Grandma's.  Hint hint...Mom and Grandma...if you are reading!  (ps, someone has also been asking for elephant ears...another hint!)

Cinnamon Roll Casserole from The Rickett Chronicles


Popsicles are huge favourites in our house.  All my boys LOVE them

Watermelon Lemonade Popsicles from Homespun with Love


Cherry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Pops from Vanessa's Values


And of course, I HAVE to have dessert.  And who can resist these?!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes from Crazy for Crust



All of these recipes will be pinned to my Pinterest account, posted on Twitter, and shared on Facebook!
Just a reminder, this week's Scrumptious Sunday Link Party goes live Saturday - at 8 pm PST. Can't wait to see what you bring to the party!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Guest Post - Tara from Noshing with the Nolands

Hi All, I am Tara Noland from Noshing With The Nolands. I am very grateful Dawn has allowed me to guest post today here on her beautiful blog. I have started blogging just over 4 months ago and I am loving it. Cooking has always been a passion for me and now even more so that I am able to share recipes with all of you. I started cooking and baking at a very young age for my family and friends. I have cooked lots of different cuisines but one of my favourite chefs was Julia Child. So I am so thrilled that I have been asked to do JC100 which is celebrating what would have been Julia Child's 100th birthday. I get to relive a lot of the recipes I made so many years ago and also try some new ones. I am given an assignment each week of one of her recipes and try to recreate that recipe as well as she has done it. Which honestly is pretty easy if you follow her flawless instructions. My husband and daughter share in the love of good cooking and dining with me. I have a daughter with a voracious appetite that is not picky at all because we have never let her be.

As I said before I have cooked a lot of different cuisines and the recipe I am sharing with you today is Moroccan. It is a caramelized onion and raisin over Moroccan chicken resting on a bed of couscous surrounded by vibrant orange carrots. A delicious meal, full of flavour and texture. This is a recipe that I came up with just playing around with some spices and flavours. My newest addiction is Umami paste and it is toted as taste number 5, after salty, sweet, bitter and sour. I am starting to add it to so many marinades etc. It is great! You can find it over at Laura Santtinni. A little goes along way to boast the flavour of anything.


Moroccan Chicken

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Marinade
1/3 cup olive oil

3/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. coriander seed, ground
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cloves
freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp. Umami paste
1 Tbsp. honey
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon

Mix all ingredients for the marinade together. Place chicken in a Ziploc bag and pour in marinade. Let sit for 6-8 hours refrigerated. BBQ on a medium low grill for 15-20 min. or until cooked through.

Caramelized Onion and Couscous

1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup raisins
1 Tbsp. sugar
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp. each pepper, ginger and nutmeg

1 pkg. couscous
chicken stock
bay leaf
salt and pepper
Cooked carrots
Parsley to garnish

In a large saucepan heat oil over medium high heat and add onion and stir. Cook covered for 15 min. and then add the raisins, sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick, pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Cook covered over low heat until very dark brown but not burnt about 45 min. Discard the cloves and cinnamon. The cloves are hard to see. I usually get Ken or Amber to help me locate them!! Keep the onion mixture warm. Cook the couscous according to the package directions substituting chicken broth for water and placing in the bay leaf. When the couscous is done remove the bay leaf and fluff with a fork. Season with salt and pepper. Place the couscous on a large platter in the center and top with the grilled chicken followed by the caramelized onion and raisin mixture. Surround chicken with the cooked carrots and garnish with parsley. This is a lovely feast that I am sure you will all enjoy!!

Thanks again Dawn for this opportunity and I hope you come over to see what else we are cooking at Noshing With The Nolands. There is at least one new post everyday!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Fudgey Nutella Brownies with Cream Cheese Icing



A few weeks ago, Amy from One Artsy Mama posted on Facebook that she had never tried Nutella before.  Well, neither had I, and so I commented that I was in the same boat.  Sure, I see lots of recipes with Nutella in the link parties that I host and participate in, but I had just never ever tried it, or thought to try it in some baking.  Well, that all changed when Amy issued a challenge last week, inviting all of us - new and not new to Nutella, to join her at "Go Nuts Day" and to take part in her link party!  Of course I HAD to accept the challenge, and I was off, searching for a recipe for my family!

Over at Averie Cooks, I found this recipe for Fudgey Nutella Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting.  These sounded divine, so I chose this recipe for "Go Nuts Day"...here is the recipe:

Fudgey Nutella Brownies


4 squares Baker's Chocolate (semi-sweet)
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons espresso or brewed coffee (optional)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup to 2/3 cup Nutella

Preheat oven to 350F.

Foil line a 9 x 13 pan (or in my case, an 8 x 12 pan) with tin foil and spray with cooking spray.

Melt the chocolate and the butter.  You can do this in a saucepan or in the microwave.  I went the microwave route and heated the two for 45 seconds, enough to melt the butter, and then stirred the chocolate and butter until the chocolate was melted and mixed well. 

Stir in the sugar, followed by the eggs and then the vanilla.  If you choose to add in the espresso, do so now (I did).

Stir in the flour until just moistened, approximately 30 strokes. Do not overmix!  Pour the batter into your prepared pan.

Measure out your Nutella and drop/drizzle/dollop along the top of the brownie mixture.  Do not stir it in.  Use a knife to make swirls with the Nutella in the top of the brownie mixture.

Bake the brownies for 25-28 minutes.  Be sure to check at 25 minutes to see if a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow the brownies to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese (8 ounces), softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups of icing sugar (or more, depending on your icing preference)

Combine the cream cheese and butter, mix very well.  Be sure to scrape sides of mixing bowl with spatula to ensure proper mixing.  Mix until smooth.  Slowly add the icing sugar until desired consistency is achieved.  When the brownies are cooled, thinly ice them with the frosting.  Too much frosting takes away from the fudgey goodness of the brownies.

Store brownies in an air tight container in the fridge.  These will also feeze for up to three months.

The original recipe notes that this frosting recipe makes WAY more icing than you will need.  Please do take note!  You can cut the recipe in half and still have plenty of icing to frost the brownies.

VERDICT:
At first, I over-iced the brownies, and found that the icing, which is delicious, took away from the fudgey goodness of the brownies.  My husband agreed.  So, I took some of the frosting off of the brownies, and just like that...AMAZING.  Tasty, fugdey, brownies.  Next time I would probably skip the espresso, neither of us noticed the flavouring.  But we did notice the Nutella.  Not overwhelming, but still good.  Oh and we all enjoyed licking the Nutella spoons and measuring cup when I was prepping the dessert.  Our 5 year old just said "mmmmmmm" when he tried the Nutella.  A nice treat!

Thank you Amy for issuing the Nutella challenge and for hosting us at "Go Nuts Day"!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Strawberry Lemonade

A few weeks ago I shared with you a recipe for Strawberry Infused Vodka...that sure was tasty...and since then I've also made some Blueberry Infused Vodka, another delicious treat!  Both of these pair nicely with Sprite/7-Up and the Strawberry version really paired nicely with Strawberry Lemonade.  Ever since I made this lemonade, I have been craving more...good thing I have more lemons!  Now if only the weather would smarten up!  Here is the recipe:

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade (Source: My Baking Addiction)


1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Fresh strawberries
1 cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 6-8 lemons, freshly squeezed)
4-6 cups cold water

Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan.  Heat over medium heat until the sugar is disolved, stirring occasionally.  Allow to cool.  This makes your simple syrup.

Squeeze/juice the lemons.

Take the strawberries and 1/2 cup water and puree in a blender.

Combine the cooled simple syrup, pureed strawberries and the lemon juice in a large pitcher.  Add water - start with 4 cups and taste.  Add more water as your taste prefers. 

VERDICT:
Oh.My.Goodness.  This was so so good!  What a perfect summer drink, I look forward to enjoying more to cool off from the heat of summer.  The lemonade was a hit with everyone in the family!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #17

Happy Sunday Everyone!  It's time to PARTY! Scrumptious Sunday Link Party #17 is now open.  I am looking forward to reading all your recipes this week!

Don't forget, all featured recipes will be shared on my blog, and on my Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #16 - Features

Hello everyone!  My apologies that I am a day late with this week's features.  Turned out to be a busy last half of the week, topped off with my oldest son's graduation from preschool yesterday!  It was a fantastic day, my husband took the day off work and was able to join me, our boys and the rest of the preschool class at the year end field trip and party.  We went to a petting zoo and the kids got to go on pony rides, we had a BBQ and then a little graduation ceremony, complete with caps and diplomas!

Once again, all of you AMAZE me with the fabulous recipes you share each week.  I love reading all your posts and am always so inspired.  If you are featured this week, I would sure appreciate you grabbing a button for your blog.

I was featured, I was Featured by Addicted to Recipes







Congratulations to this week's features:

Very Berry Italian Cream Sodas from Sumptious Spoonfuls


Peach-Pineapple Salsa from The Kitchen is my Playground


Peaches and Cream Breakfast Paninis from Little Kitchen Big Flavors


S'mores Popcorn Balls from Theresa's Mixed Nuts


Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick from Dishing with Leslie


Just a reminder, this week's Scrumptious Sunday Link Party goes live tonight - Saturday - at 8 pm PST.  Can't wait to see what you bring to the party!





You'll find me over at One Artsy Mama!

I am super excited to be party of Amy's Fun in the Summer Series over at One Artsy Mama.  Today is the first day of her summer fun, and lucky me gets to guest post first!  Please head over to One Artsy Mama and check out the recipe that I am sharing for homemade Creamsicles!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Lazy Daisy Cake with Coconut Topping

In my tribute to Fathers this week, my second post is one of my Father-in-Law's favourites.  If you missed my post earlier this week, it was my Dad's favourite recipe - be sure to check that one out too! 

My Father-in-law's note in his email to me with his chosen recipe read "is a favorite dessert which my mother used to make. It is a recipe from WWII when butter was rationed. Again not just my favorite but a hit with the guys, except Brother J, as it contains eggs (Brother J is allergic to eggs). As the name implies it is very easy and quick to make and best eaten fresh out of the oven with minimal cooling time. It is called a "Lazy Daisy Cake"

Here is the recipe:  (Source: Nana D's recipes)

Cake
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt

1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon butter


Preheat oven to 350F.

Beat eggs well. Beat in sugar gradually.  Stir dry ingredients together and beat into first mixture with vanilla.  Heat milk and butter. Add to batter and beat well.  Pour into buttered 8 or 9 inch square pan. Bake 30 minutes.

Coconut Topping
Just before cake is to come out of the oven, boil together:
5 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp cream (I have used milk)
1 cup coconut

Spread on hot cake and return to oven till bubbly.  Serve warm.


VERDICT:
Now, when I made the cake, the coconut soaked up any of the "bubbliness" that I was expecting as per the recipe, but I was assured that it tasted just like it should.  I made the cake while my in-laws were visiting a few weeks ago, I figured, might as well make one of my Father-in-Law's favourites while he was here visiting!  He must have thought it was OK, he had two helpings at dessert.  And my hubby and our oldest son...well...the cake was gone the next day!

Would love for you to follow me on Facebook!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Sunshine Award!

This past week I was so honoured to have been awarded the Sunshine Award from not one but TWO of my fellow bloggers!  Such a pleasant surprise....THANK YOU SO MUCH to Krista at Everyday Mom's Meals and to Nicole and Susan at Flavors by Four!




The Sunshine Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers.

The recipients of the Sunshine Award are: "Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogoshere."

The way the award works is this:
1) Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.
2) Answer 10 questions about yourself.
3) Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award!

Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Here we go! Ten questions:

1. Favorite color: Blue

2. Favorite animal: Cat

3. Favorite number: 10

4. Favorite drink: Milk (non-alcohol), White Wine (alcohol)

5. Facebook or Twitter: Facebook for sure.  I'm on Twitter but still learning!

6. Good Book or a Good Movie: Both!  Though I spend more time reading than watching movies.

7. My Passion: My family...I love my husband and our boys so much.  It was a long road to get where I am today, and for that I am so thankful!

8. Giving or getting presents: I really enjoy giving the perfect gift to my loved ones.  And I do love the gifts that my children make for me :-)

9. Favorite day of the year: I've always really liked June 15...for no real reason, just like the date. Kind of like how I pick players for my hockey pool - if I like the sound of their name, I pick them LOL.  However, I also LOVE Christmas day!!
10. Favorite flowers: I don't have a favourite flower.  I love most flowers though!  At the moment, I'm loving peonies :-)

And here are the 10 FABULOUS blogs that I am passing this award along to (please go check them out!):

1) DJ's Sugar Shack
2) Peace, Love, Recipes
3) Mainleybakes
4) My Favorite Finds
5) Chocolate, Chocolate and more
6) The Better Baker
7) The Sasse Life
8) A Little Inspiration
9) The Grant Life
10) Not Just a Housewife

*It was so hard to pick just 10, there are so many blogs that I just love!!!

Thanks again Krista (Everyday Mom's Meals) Nicole and Susan (Flavours by Four)!

Monday, June 18, 2012

My Dad's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

If you are a reader of my articles over at Okanagan4Kids, then you know that June is all about our Dads, and my article was all about my Dad and my Father-in-law's favourite recipes.  I saved my husband's favourites for special posts here on my blog this month as June is also his birthday month.  So, like my May article, about my Mom and Mother-in-Law's recipes, I asked my Dad and my Father-in-Law to share with me their favourite recipes.  Of course, I was a little cheeky and did say that I had veto power on what they chose (again, my Mom's buns were off limits, and my Dad knew right away that I wouldn't be making liver and onions...his favourite...but torture in my eyes LOL).  My Dad so kindly shared with me his recipe for his favourite cookies...also the cookie that my oldest son loves and loves to steal from the cookie jar and Grandma and Papa's.  Today I am sharing his recipe, and on Wednesday I will share my Father-in-Law's recipe - be sure to check back for that one! 

Here is today's recipe:

Dad's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Source: My Dad!)

2 cup of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 cups oats (anything but instant oats)
1 1/2 cups of raisins 

Preheat oven to 350F

In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter.  Add in eggs, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla - mixing on low.  Increase speed to high and beat until fluffy and the colour lightens. 

Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until no flour is visible. Do not overmix - over mixing develops the gluten, making a tough cookie. Now add the oats and raisins; stir to incorporate.

Fill cookie scoop with dough - about two tablespoons.

Drop 2-inches apart onto baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake 11-13 minutes (on center rack), until golden, but still moist beneath cracks on top.

Remove from oven; let cookies sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

VERDICT:
Mu husband has delcared these his absolute favourite cookie.  Of course, I felt they needed a little chocolate, but then again, I am happy to add chocolate to almost any baking (like bacon, it just makes things better!).  These cookies did not last long in our house at all...a new cookie monster has popped up and ate them all up!

Would love for you to follow me on Facebook!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #16

First, sending a very Happy Father's Day wish to all the Dads out there!  We are awaiting our son to come home from camping with my parents, and then we will be spending some time together celebrating my husband!  I hope he likes his gifts...our 5 year old has made him a few special things!

Now...LET'S PARTY!  Scrumptious Sunday Recipe Link Party #16 is now live...come and share your favourite recipes!


Saturday, June 16, 2012

You'll find me over at Everyday Mom's Meals!

Hello everyone!  Today you will find me posting over at Everyday Mom's Meals as part of Krista's "Weekend Company" series!  I am so thankful to Krista for the opportunity to share one of my recipes with her readers.  I am a big fan of her site, and a regular participant in her weekly Church Supper link party.  Please stop by and check out my recipe, as well as her site!  Here's the link again to Everyday Mom's Meals!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #15 - Features

It's Friday...which means it is time to share the weekly features from this week's Scrumptious Sunday party!  Everyone AMAZES me each week with all the fabulous recipes that are shared.  I hope you got a chance to check some of them out!  If you are featured, please grab a button and help spread the word about this party - thanks!

I was featured, I was Featured by Addicted to Recipes






Congratulations to this week's features (looks like I am in a berry mood this week!):

Bing Cherry and Strawberry Mojitos from Hot Eats and Cool Reads

(I had something similar this evening, using my Strawberry Infused Vodka!)

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie from DJ's Sugar Shack


Whole Wheat Blueberry Surprise Cupcakes from Pamela's Heavenly Treats


Mock Applebee's Walnut Blondies from Wonderfully Messy Mom's Recipes


Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake from Chocolate, Chocolate and More


I will be featuring all of these wonderful recipes on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow me at via these too!

Don't forget, Scrumptious Sunday Link Party #16 will go live on Saturday evening at 8 pm PST. I am so looking forward to seeing what you share with me next week!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Sweet and Spicy Double Cooked Ribs

It's Father's Day week....and over the next week I will be sharing favourites from my husband, my Dad and my Father-in-Law.  Today I am re-posting one of my husband's favourites (another of his is the Nanaimo Bar Ice Cream Cake that I posted last week!).  I am pretty sure these will be on the menu this weekend!

Here is the re-post :-)

Tonight for dinner we had ribs. Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not like ribs. But my husband LOVES ribs and our eldest son now loves them too. I found this recipe for ribs, and tonight my hubby told me that these were the best ever, and that even Gordon Ramsay would love them. That says a lot! (and I'm certainly no Gordon Ramsay or MasterChef in the making). 

Here is the recipe:

Sweet and Spicy Double Cooked Ribs
These ribs are a 24 hour process, but they are so worth it! The meat just falls off the bone, which makes my hubby very happy!

INGREDIENTS

Baby back pork ribs
2-4 garlic cloves, sliced (depending on your garlic preference)

Rub:
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin

Sauce:
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup thai chili sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrins)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 clove crushed garlic

DIRECTIONS:

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place ribs on tin foiled shallow roasting pan or cookie sheet(s), bone side down. Scatter the sliced cloves of garlic over the ribs. Cover and bake for 2.5 hours. Cool slightly.

2) While the ribs are baking, in a small bowl, mix together the white sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, chili powder and ground cumin. After the ribs have cooled, rub the spices all over. Wrap tightly with cling wrap and refrigerate overnight.

3) Approximately 1 hour prior to serving, in a small saucepan, mix together the brown sugar, cider vinegar, kethup, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, diced onion, dry mustard and one clove of crushed garlic. Simmer over medium-low heat, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Reserve enough for basting, the remainder will be your dipping sauce.

4) Preheat grill for medium heat.

5) Place ribs on grill. Grill, covered, for about 12 minutes, basting with the reserved sauce, until nicely browned and glazed. Serve with remaining sauce for dipping (and don't forget the finger bowls!).

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Strawberry Banana Loaf

Many of you will notice that I've commented about this before, and I will probably comment about it again...we love banana bread in our house.  So much so that our oldest son knows that it takes 3 bananas to make banana bread, so when we get down to three in the banana bowl, he often asks if we can save them to make banana bread.
 
Over the weekend we had company and the bananas didn't get eaten.  We were so busy, we just seemed to forget they were there.  Imagine how pleased my son was to discover over breakfast today that there were 3 very ripe bananas sitting in the banana bowl (it sits on our kitchen table).  "Mommy, can we make banana bread today?"  "You bet!" was my happy answer.  I love baking with my son, it's great bonding time :-)

Well, for whatever reason, I started flipping through one of my cookbooks, looking at banana recipes.  I came across one for Strawberry Banana Loaf, so I asked my son if he would be interested in trying a new kind of banana bread, and his response was quite positive...with one request, that we add some chocolate to the bread too, so away we went, making our Strawberry Banana Loaf!

Here is the recipe: (Adapted from Company's Coming: Muffins & More)

2 eggs
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup strawberries, sliced
2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy.  Mix in oil, sugar, bananas and strawberries.  I added the strawberries last to make sure they didn't get too mashed up in the mixer.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Mix thoroughly.  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring only to moisten.  Pour into a greased loaf pan (9x5x3).

Bake for approximately 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.  Cool slightly then remove from pan to a wire rack.

The original recipe stated to wrap well and allow to ripen for one day.  We couldn't wait that long, we waited a few hours until after dinner.  So we'll have to see tomorrow how the flavour changes!

VERDICT:
We all agreed that this was a nice change to banana bread.  A nice blend of complementary flavours (strawberry and banana - yum!) and I love the addition of the oats.  I did add some chocolate chips along to top on 1/4 of the loaf for our oldest son, and he was a big fan of that addition too.  This one is a keeper, we will be making it again, especially with strawberry season upon us!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Strawberry Infused Vodka

A while ago my hair stylist told me about how dangerous strawberry lemonade can be...especially with a little bit of vodka.  She sent me her lemonade recipe, which of course I can't find anywhere (sorry Roxy!), so I searched for a new one., found it, made it, and well...I'll be sharing that one with you soon :-)  Yes, I am a bit of a tease. 
Before I could make my strawberry lemonade, I wanted to make some Strawberry Infused Vodka to add to that lemonade, to kick up that strawberry-ness just a little.  And it makes for a nice, adult drink!  I had no idea that making an infused vodka was so stinkin' easy...thanks to Shutterbean for the recipe and tutorial!

1 pint of fresh strawberries
2 cups vodka

Wash, hull and slice the strawberries.  Fill a mason jar. Measure out the vodka, pour over the strawberries.  Seal.  Let the vodka/strawberry mixture sit for up to a week - on your counter, in the pantry, just not in direct sun.  Give the mixture a good shake everyday.  When you are ready, strain the mixture. Strain it well...get as many of those little bits out that you can!  I also squeezed as much juice as I could out of those strawberries.  You will now have some beautiful, sweet smelling, nectar-like vodka that you can store in little mason jars in the fridge and add to your favourite drinks.

It's easy peasy!!

VERDICT:
My husband was doubting me when I said that I was making Strawberry Infused Vodka.  Maybe because I don't really drink much (been busy making babies for the last 6 years!) - so he was rather shocked when he opened up that jar full of strawberries that was sitting on the counter, took a whiff, and WOWZERS what a surprise.  This was before the infusion had really set in, so it was more of an alcohol smell than the sweet strawberry smell that it is now.  And it is just that...such a beautiful sweet smelling concoction...I just want to chug-a-lug! LOL.  We added some to our strawberry lemonade, and well...YUM!  You'll have to come back and try the recipe for strawberry lemonade...posting soon :-)

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #15

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope that Mother Nature has been kinder to you than us...we've had so much rain this past week!  Here's hoping for summer to kick into full gear soon! 

Scrumptious Sunday Link Party #15 is now live! Hope you will come and link up your favourite recipes! Click the link above to get started!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Scrumptious Sunday #14 - Features

What another amazing week full of recipes! Thank you so much for choosing Addicted to Recipes as one of your blogs to visit.  I truly appreciate each and every one of you, and adore all of your recipes!  If you are featured, please grab a button!



I was featured, I was Featured by Addicted to Recipes






Congratulations to this week's features:

Homemade Pop Tarts from The Better Baker


Slam Dunk Chicken Salad from My Turn (For Us)


Baked Coconut Shrimp from Cookin' Up Good Times


Pad Thai Pizza from Lady Behind the Curtain


Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chipotle Chocolate Cake from Cookin' Up Good Times



I will be featuring all of these wonderful recipes on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow me at via these too!

Don't forget, Scrumptious Sunday Link Party #14 will go live on Saturday evening at 8 pm PST. I am so looking forward to seeing what you share with me next week!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Green Monster Smoothie - Crazy Cooking Challenge

It's that time again, time for the Crazy Cooking Challenge!  This month, our task was to make a smoothie...any smoothie we wanted, we just had to find it from another blog.  After some thinking about what I wanted to try in a smoothie, and a little bit of searching, I finally found a new recipe to try - the Green Monster Smoothie, courtesy of Two Peas & Their Pod.  I did amend the recipe slightly from the original.  Here is how I prepared the recipe:

Green Monster Smoothie
1 large orange, peeled and segmented
1/2 large banana, broken into chunks
6 large strawberries, sliced
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup 1% milk
6 ice cubes


I used our Bullet as our blender died and we haven't yet replaced it.  So, I prepared all of the ingredients, and divided them equally between two bullet cups.  I blended each drink, garnished with some orange and strawberry, and served.  Easy breezy!

VERDICT:
We enjoyed this smoothie, and I must admit, I think it perked me up more that my usual morning cup of coffee.  All the fresh fruit and the spinach, tasted great together.  The Bullet did leave som orange chunks in the smoothie which was about the only down side to this challenge!


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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Peanut Butter Pretzel Fudge

I have never tried making fudge before.  I love fudge...but just never have tried.  Somewhere along the line someone told me that it was hard to make, so I've always been a little afraid.  But I have been dreaming about fudge.  Chocolate.  With peanut butter. And pretzels.  Oh me, oh my.  Then I found this recipe that is for 5-minute fudge.  Could this be the time that I try making fudge?  Yes...indeed!!
Here is the recipe (Adapted from Carnation, Classic Five Minute Fudge)

1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk (I used Carnation)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups marshmallows
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup pretzels, broken into smaller pieces, but not too small!

Line an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with waxed paper.  Set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt.  Bring to a rolling boil.  Stir constantly.  Boil for 4-5 minutes (set the timer!) or until the mixture starts to thicken.  You must ensure the mixture has boiled for at least 4-5 minutes or the fudge will not set.  Remove from heat.  Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter and vanilla.  Mix until everything is melted and well combined.  Add in the pretzels, stir just to combine.  Pour into the baking pan.  Chill until set.  Once set, carefully remove the fudge from the baking pan by lifting the wax paper.  Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 1 inch pieces.  Enjoy!

VERDICT:
Oh....my....goodness.  My husband...the non-chocolate guy...hasn't stopped sneaking pieces of fudge.  He L-O-V-E-S it.  And I am so so so happy.  It's exactly what I had been dreaming about.  Satisfies the sweet craving, adds in a little salty AND a little crunchy.  Oh, it is so very good :-)  It could be dangerous!  I wonder how long the pan will last...