Easy Homemade Pop-Tarts

More valentine posts, are you sick of them yet? This one involves sugar so you can't be too mad. This homemade version of the beloved childhood treat were made for my sweet galentines. I wanted to bake my gals something sweet, but something different. I'm pretty pleased with how these pop tarts turned out, not to mention they are supa easy. They also took my back to my D.C. days getting homemade pop tarts at Ted's Bulletin

Store-bought pie crust, jam and icing. Not usually my style to go the store-bought route, but in this case it totally works. 

Easy Homemade Pop-Tarts
makes 18

Ingredients:
3 boxes of store-bought pie crust, 2 rolls of dough in each
1 jar of red raspberry jam, or any flavor
1 egg
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. of milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
food coloring and sprinkles

Directions:
Take one sheet of pie dough and roll it out a little thinner than it comes packaged, this will give you more area to cut-out from. Using a pizza cutter or a knife cut out your rectangles. In the picture above you can see how I managed this. Let me tell you, it's hard cutting rectangles from a circle surface area, but with some precision, you can get about 6 rectangles from what you are working with. Lay these out on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Spread a small tablespoon of jam on each piece of dough, making sure you don't get too close to the edges. 

Now it's time to roll out your next pie dough and cut 6 more rectangles. Before you layer these on top, beat an egg and brush the whole rectangle with the egg wash. This will act as glue to keep the top and bottom pop-tart layers together. Using a fork, crimp the edges together and pierce the top. Finish rolling and cutting your dough, filling with jam, and assembling your tarts onto cookie trays. **Make sure and save your scraps of crust to bake! I sprinkled mine with cinnamon sugar and my roommates and I happily gobbled them up!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While your oven is preheating, place your cookie sheets of pop tarts in the fridge to firm up. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown!

While your pop tarts are cooling, it's time to make the icing. Whisk up the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and food coloring if you choose. Using a spoon, spoon on a small amount of icing and spread it over the center area, my icing had a mind of its own and spread everywhere, but hey, it's "rustic" right? Decorate with sprinkles and you now have the cutest treat ever! **Tip- pop them the toaster oven or microwave before eating!

This list of directions is a little long, but these pop tarts are actually very easy!

These little guys were so fun to make and even more fun to giveaway to my girlie friends. Like I said, they are fairly simple so if you are in a bind and in need of a last minute valentine treat, these should fit the bill! 

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Stay tuned tomorrow for a DIY on how to package up these pretties!

Annie

I Heart U

Valentine's Day is the cutest holiday in my opinion. I've expressed my liking for this day before, but there is nothing more girly than hearts and candy and pink. Seems like the day was made for me if you asked me! Why not have a day dedicated to telling people how much you love them?

My heart starts fluttering the second the Valentine candy hits the shelves! I spent a good portion of yesterday putting together Valentines for my friends! Since I can't virtually give you all something, I've rounded up some Vday goodies and treats from around the web to show you how much I <3 U!

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I propose you wake up Saturday morning and make yourself an egg in a heart. Then proceed by making one of these  heart-shaped cookie trees and decorating with foil heart balloons or DIY conversation heart balloons! These pink tassel earrings and kiss kiss shirt make for the perfect Vday outfit, especially while you chow down on some xoxo brownies and valentine bark. Don't forget to send a cute card to someone you love. They would probably enjoy these chocolate heart pretzels too! Finish your day with a cup of tea in one of Ashley Brooke's "more sugar please" mugs, paired with a deceivingly healthy cupcake for a sweet ending!

Now if this wasn't enough lovey dove goodness for you, check back tomorrow for delicious #takeabite treat recipe!

Annie

Will You Marry Me?

You will after you eat these cookies. Marry Me cookies get their name from the delicious taste and possibility of someone offering to marry you after making them. It's not guaranteed, but they do have some magical powers. My mom first made these cookies while I was still at home over break. They rolled out about 3 dozen so she ushered me off with a big bag full before I went on my ski trip. I left them on the counter of the ski house we rented while I unpacked and came back downstairs to them almost all gone. 

I couldn't take the credit so I had to make my own batch once we got home. They were as big a hit the second time around. No proposals, but I mean I'm 21, not really trying to get married yet!!

Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and pecans, all wonderful components ready to be dumped into the dough (and a few small handfuls into my mouth). The way these cookies come together is different than most cookie recipes. The butter and sugars are melted together on the stove, then instead of transferring to an electric mixer, you continue to combine all the ingredients in the pan on the stove. There are then stages of chilling the dough before baking, but I promise they turn out wonderful. 

Marry Me Cookies adapted from this recipe 
yields 2-3 dozen

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 1/4 light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup oats
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and stir until sugars are incorporated and smooth. Chill the mixture for 10 minutes.

Remove from the refrigerator and stir in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix together. Stir in the white chocolate chips, chocolate chips and pecans. Roll by hand into medium-size balls or use a scoop, and place on sheet pans (greasing is not necessary because of the melted butter). If desired, tuck extra chips and pecans over tops of dough mounds for a lovely appearance.

Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Chill, on sheet pan for 30 minutes in the fridge or just a few in the freezer. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and bake for 14-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool for several minutes on pan, then transfer to cooling rack.

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If you are over pink, red and hearts galore, these are a perfect, yet subtle Valentine treat! 

Annie

Bites of My Life

A busy but great week getting things done while still having fun. I mentioned how much fun we had last weekend at the rodeo, so we couldn't resist the rodeo round 2. Fun weekends really fill up my cup. 
Before heading out of town I had a fun blogger collaboration, a giveaway post and some extra blog support. This all helped remind me why I really love Take a Bite and the reason I do it. I've also been so inspired by friends starting new adventures in business, blogging and future plans. It's such a trying and changing season for my friends and I, but so exciting seeing things unveil in front of us. 
-With all online classes and a work-from-home internship, I spend a lot of time staring at my computer. I have been relying on the socialization aspect of coffee shops to get my work done without going crazy sitting in my house all day. 
-White fish topped with a grapefruit, avocado and feta salsa with roasted purple sweet potatoes on the side for Monday's dinner. A "use what you've got" version of this
-It's so much fun connecting with other bloggers, especially when food is involved. Did you catch my recipe swap with The Everyday Adventurer last week?
-A veggie wrap balanced out with beer battered fries during a work lunch testing out the new Slaughter's Hall in Deep Deuce OKC!
-Boomer for our Sooners!
-Provence 1970, a story about iconic foodies and friends such as Julia Child and M. F. K. Fisher. I'm trying to read more in 2015 and this rec by Molly seemed right up my alley. 
-So much fun highlighting my great friend Claire and her artistic ability on TAB last week! She is now taking orders for 5x7 prints! Email her at clairemartindeaigns@gmail.com and follow on Instagram
-Back to Fort Worth on Friday for a Rodeo weekend round 2. We started off with an amazing and healthy lunch at Pacific Table where I got this beautiful brussels sprout salad. 
-Took advantage of the beautiful Texas weather for Saturday brunch on the patio at Joe T. Garcias. 
-Love playing cowgirl with my girl Megs!
-This ain't my first rodeo anymore! Beer, bulls, and cowboys at the final round of the FWSSR!
-Another great Fort Worth weekend under our belt finished off with sushi outside at Central Market before heading home!
-Annie

GIVEAWAY: Heart Art

**UPDATE** Claire is now taking orders for custom 5x7 prints! Follow along on Instagram or email  her at clairemartindesigns@gmail.com to order!
I have some pretty great friends, and as you can see, some pretty talented ones too.  Claire is one of my dear friends, she was my freshman roommate and now, a secret artist. She's been holding out on us. 
Claire is an interior design major and has always had an eye for style. With her artsy instincts, she started doing these adorable sketches in her free time. You can't find them anywhere but hiding in her sketch book, so I took the initiative to show off her talent to all of you. 

I've mentioned it before, but I'm pretty fond of Valentine's Day. A day filled with pink and candy and love? I see nothing wrong with that. To share a little love around the holiday I had Claire draw up these Valentine prints to GIVEAWAY to you! I'll be giving away two 5 x 7 prints, so keep reading to find out how you can enter! 

Claire also drew up this adorable sketch that I had to snatch for myself! It's now proudly sitting on my desk and the background on my phone. 
But honestly, how good is she? The girl needs to open an Etsy shop or get a website so we can start buying these. Maybe this post will help push her;)

So, want to be the lucky winner of one of these prints? There are a few ways to enter...
1. Like Take A Bite on Facebook
2. Comment on this post 
2. Comment by tagging two friends on my Instagram
Enter one way or all three, the more ways you enter the better chance you have at winning! Let me know in the comments how you entered. Two winners will be announced Friday at noon! 
Annie