Journey Into Deliciousness

Fruity Pebble Rice Krispie Treats

Grade: A

Time it takes: 15 minutes (all prep, not including the time it takes for the treats to cool and dry)

Yield: depends on how you cut them up - I ended up with 14 or so bars

Source: The Novice Chef - a food blog (Fruity Pebble Rice Krispie Treats)

Chris needed something to bring to work for a pot luck. I had recently run across this twist on traditional rice krispie treats and thought it looked too cute. So, I decided to make up a batch for Chris to bring as his contribution to the pot luck - and to try a few for myself. And whats an easier treat to make than rice krispie treats?

Man I couldn't get enough of these before they were sent off. They tasted like a fruity rice krispie treat, but when you added in the element of dipping them in white chocolate...wow. I dipped just the tip in the white chocolate, so all the fantasticness was concentrated on one small part of the treat. Next time I would dip just a little bit of the longer edge in white chocolate so you can get a little bit with each bite.

They are so colourful I could see them going over well at a kid's birthday party, they add a touch of whimsy. Combine it with one of those popular rainbow layer cakes and you've got yourself a colour explosion.

Click below to expand for the recipe!

Steak Skewers in the Oven

Grade: A (for the steak) C (for the veggies - but a remedy below!)

Time it takes: 40 minutes, plus overnight marinating (10 minutes easy prep, 20-30 minutes baking)

Yield: Enough steak for 5 skewers

Source: Marinade from The Life of Spice - a food blog (steak marinade and steak kabobs); oven baking technique from foodnetwork.com - courtesy of Emeril Lagasse (Ka-Bam Kabobs)

To go along with the chicken fettuccine alfredo, and to satisfy Chris' tastes, I made steak skewers for Christmas Eve dinner. Since I don't really enjoy steak I didn't try any, but Chris said the he loved the steak marinade and they were cooked perfectly. The only thing was that the veggies weren't done enough for him. I was planning on skewering potatoes with the kabobs and then realized they would definitely not have enough time to cook at 10 minutes. Instead I oiled and seasoned the chopped potatoes and put them on a baking sheet in the oven for 45 minutes at 450 and they came out perfectly. Next time I think I will do a baking sheet of all the veggies I would put on the skewers (mushrooms, onion, and bell peppers) and roast them for about 20-30 minutes by themselves, and keep the steak on the skewers exactly the same. A little more juggling in the end, but everything will be done how it should be that way.

Click below to expand for the recipe!

Crispy Honey Ginger Chicken Tenders

Grade: A

Time it takes: 45 minutes plus 2 hours or overnight to marinade (25 minutes baking, 20 minutes prep)

Yield: Serves 2

Source: Stephanie Cooks - a food blog (Crispy Honey Ginger Chicken)

I love chicken. I love it so much. It is delicious. It is especially delicious when it is bite sized and dippable. So, breaded chicken tenders are right up my alley. Usually I just cut up my chicken and bread it in the normal boring way, which is fine. But, I decided I should jazz it up a bit when I found this recipe in my favourite folder. I love honey and ginger, so this seemed like a winner.

Guess what? It totally was. Nicely crispy, and full of flavour. Also I always have the ingredients on hand, minus the buttermilk. But, I can handle picking up buttermilk at the store. These are way better than what you can purchase at a fast food place or get from a bag in the freezer section. Definitely worth the little added effort.

Click below to expand for the recipe!