Oh Snap!

On Monday I had the most delicious gingersnap smoothie from Organic Squeeze. I love their smoothies, but passing over $8 for a drink is a little difficult for me. By the time I had slurped down the last drop I had already decided I was going to recreate this smoothie at home.

It was so smooth and spicy and tasted exactly like my Mom's ginger cookie dough. Breakfast that tastes like cookie dough gets an A+ in my book. 

This smoothie is all about the spices. There are a lot of them, but that's what gives it that signature gingersnap taste!

Gingersnap Smoothie
yields 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1/2 glass of ice
1/2 cup almond milk
 2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. molasses
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated ginger or ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender, add more ice or almond milk depending on how thick you want it. Pour in a glass and top with extra nutmeg!

Happy healthy holidays!

Annie

Christmas Crack

Tis' the season for Christmas treats! You probably all know my dear friend Molly by now, she's my blogger bestie and foodie twin. In holiday spirit she wanted to share with me her favorite sugary treat! 

Every year her family makes these delicious Christmas Crackers. I shortened the name because...well you just have to make them and then you will understand. Layers of salty Saltine crackers, topped with a toffee like glaze and melty chocolate make up this truly sinful treat! 

I made these for a tailgate party along with my rice krispies and they both quickly disappeared. I baked up another batch to bring home to my family and the same thing happened.

A beautiful glaze of pure butter and brown sugar. That's what Christmas is all about. 

I love this stage where the hot butter mixture melts the chocolate chips to then be spread all over the top of the cookies!

Christmas Crack
recipe c/o Bridget's Own Diary 

Ingredients:

1 sleeve (1/4 box) Saltine crackers

2 sticks of butter

1 cup of light brown packed sugar

12 oz/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

5 oz sliced almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 15" x 10" jelly roll pan with a 1" edge, line it with heavy duty aluminum foil.

Lay the crackers in the foil-lined pan with the edges touching and no overlap. Melt 2 sticks of butter and the cup of brown sugar over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. After 3 minutes, pour the boiling mixture over the crackers as evenly as possible. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 6 minutes. 

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly across the hot mixture. Wait 2 or 3 minutes for the chocolate to melt, then spread evenly with a spatula without disturbing the crackers. Sprinkle about half the bag of almonds across the top.

Cool one hour at room temperature, and then place the crackers in the freezer to harden for 45 minutes. Break into bite size pieces for eating and sharing!

Molly and her eye of capturing an image will always beat my mediocre iPhone camera skills. But here you see her families crackers being packaged to hand out to family and friends! 

Happy holidays and may your days be filled with lot's of sweets and Christmas Crack!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Happy Christmas break! Well, if your on break. After finals week, it feels so good to be home for the holidays! I have a stacked list of all I want to see, eat, make and do over the holidays, so it's time to get started!

-I just can't get over this Black Bean Brownie mix! Posted about it here and here. 

-It just about makes my week when someone makes one of my recipes! Clara said she ran to the store to get all the ingredients after I posted my Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats! Check out her post too!

-My biggest accomplishment of college this far is done! After putting in hours and hours for our capstone campaign, it is finally done! Such a great semester working with this group.

-My brussels sprouts hash was just about the best clean-out-the-fridge-meal I've ever made. Recipe adapted from Food52. 

-Packing to go home was easier than I thought after I accumulated 12 Scout bags this summer! All lined up and looking adorable I couldn't help but snap a pic. 

-Cutest idea for a Christmas gift! My roommates and I had so much fun picking out gifts for each other but I love these "Home Sweet Lahoma" (our houses name) custom wine labels!

-Christmas crack round two. I promise the recipe will get posted this week. I've been too busy making and eating it to post the recipe!

-Last night of 1st semester senior year. One more semester and I'm done...

Annie

Healthier Eats and Christmas Treats

Did you catch this Black Bean Brownie mix I posted in my gift guide yesterday? This summer, my fellow SCOUTern Savannah showed me Kylie's blog and I've been obsessed ever since! Kylie has a soft spot for sweets, but works to feed her sweet tooth with healthier sweet treats! 

Kylie recently started selling her own mix for healthy black bean brownies. Once I caught wind of this I quickly ordered three bags to give as Christmas gifts. One for Savannah, one for Molly, and then I had to save one for myself!

I have been wanting to try black bean brownies for a while so this was just the perfect thing! The mix is only $9 and they make the most delicious dark chocolate fudgy brownies I have ever had! Watch Kylie's video below to see how to make them!

A can of black beans, applesauce, one egg and the mix make up these brownies. Don't let the black beans scare you, they only make them better and healthier! A tip when making--I suggest using a food processor instead of a blender! I was limited to a blender and it just makes it a little harder to get them fully mixed!

Spreading the love via Snapchat! Merry Christmas friends!

You can buy your brownie mix here!

Annie

What I Think is a Legit Gift Guide

I love a good gift guide, I think I've mentioned this before. Emily, Liz, Julia, Meg and Katie, all have some great ones, but honestly, I don't think I've ever actually bought something I saw on a gift guide. They are all so cute, but usually filled with your run of the mill standard gift ideas. 

I've put together a few of my favorite things, some goodies I've found around the web, and a few things I'm actually gifting this year. Hopefully this gift guide is worth your time and helps spark some ideas for your own gift giving needs! 

1. Scout 3-Way Bag ($22). I have this bag and it is fabulous. It fits all of my toiletries and makeup when I travel. I love how the separate compartments keep my lotion from spilling all over my blush brush etc. 

2. Blue Eye Brown Eye calligraphy set ($60).  Lauren from BEBE calligraphy is my girl! I've taken her class twice and she taught me so much. You can now buy her beginner set and do on online class via Brit+Co.

3. Slouchy pom pom beanie ($9).  The perfect gift for friends or roommates! 

4. Yeah...ImmaEatThat black bean brownie mix ($9). I already bought a few of these mixes. I saved one for myself and sent two to my foodie friends Molly and Savannah. I made the brownies yesterday and they are incredibly fudgy and delicious (and healthy!) 

5. Gold ear buds ($9). For all those people getting the new iPhone 6 for Christmas, 1. I'm jealous 2. these would be perfect for them. 

  

6. Moscow Mule mugs ($17). A hot item this Christmas, but these hammered copper ones are my favorite!

7. Fujifilm instant camera ($100). In our generation of having to take a picture of everything, I'm all about this instant/polaroid camera. 

  

8. Beaded by W tassel necklaces ($30). You've heard me gush about my girl Whitney, but her necklaces make the perfect gift! Email her at beadedbyw@gmail.com to get your order in before Christmas. 

  

9. Olivia Pope wine glasses ($15). Perfect for your wino/Scandal obsessed friend or family member. 

10. Evelyn Henson iPhone cases ($34). I've posted about her prints, but I'm kind of squealing over her phone cases. 

Happy gift giving! 

Annie