Summer TDL

/
Usually after the Fourth of July, it seems like summer is on the downhill slope. The good thing about working and not having to go back to school is that I can really end my summer whenever I want to. That being said, I'm instating summer all year round!!! 
I've had a little summer to-do list on my phone for a while now, but haven't gotten around to checking many things off my list. With my "never ending" summer I have all the time in the world to get my to-do list done. On a more real note, I want to start actively checking things off the list! 
1. Make a killer homemade ice cream recipe, like this one!

2. Practice my grilling skills, this one utterly failed last night so I have some work to do.

3. Rent bikes and ride around town. We have this little bike rental program in OKC and I have yet to take advantage of it!

4. Make s'mores. Fancy or classic, it's just a summer staple. 

5. Re-instate Wine Wednesday. We had all the plans in the world to do this every week during the summer. It's happened once...

6. Visit the farmer's market to pick up a week's worth of produce. 

7. Take a mini vaycay to SoCal. This one is possibly in the works! It may not happen until the fall, but then again, my summer is never ending:)

8. Make a picnic and enjoy it in the park. 

9. Take a food photography class. Brit+Co has one for $20!

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
I'm a big list maker. I'm one of those people who writes something in on my TDL after I've already done it, just so I can cross it off. Productivity drives me! Writing this post was on yesterday's to-do list, check! Happy girl to get that done. Stay tuned to see if I get everything checked off my Summer TDL!
Annie

Bites of My Life

/
Working on Saturdays make having Mondays off so worth it. My work schedule is a little all over the place. It has its ups and downs, but getting to sleep in, blog in my bed on Monday morning instead of late Sunday night, and getting to wake up and bake really start my week off right. Sorry this post didn't come earlier this morning, but like I said there was sleeping and baking and Today Show watching to do. 
My posts have been far and few between. I've been lucky to squeeze in one extra post alongside Monday's Bites, but its time to pick it up. I have some posts up my sleeve so be checking in this week! Also, give me a follow on Snapchat (annietucker93) for in between post bites! Today you'll find an inside scoop on my next recipe post. 
-A new load of cookbooks I get to dive into thanks to my shop mom:) Expect recipes and reviews to come!
-Maddie roomie turns 23!
-Day 2 of birthday celebrations at Third Eye Blind.
-Quick, easy and delicious coconut chicken and veggies for a home cooked Friday night dinner!
-Meet Topanga! I wish I could claim her. 
-Tropical vanilla acai bowl for a Sunday morning detox. 
-Lots of love for these wedding shower decorations. If I'm ever half as good as my mother in entertaining and decorating, I'll be happy.
-All hail these caramelized peach and lavender scones. How Sweet It Is strikes again.
-Summer Sunday supper.
Annie

Bites of My Life

/
Que post-holiday weekend depression. Friends, fireworks, sunburns and food babies, it was a splendid 4th of July in Annie world. It was a low maintenance and relaxing holiday, just what I needed. Coming up this week, we have a special roomie birthday to celebrate! This summer has been all about celebrating the big and little things. A celebration a day keeps the doctor away!
-Favorite part of my evening walks is being constantly smitten by adorable houses. This cutie had monogrammed cushions on their porch chairs, swoon.
-Fish tacos for dinner taken up a notch with grapefruit salsa and candied jalapeños! Salsa made by roasting corn, red onion and green bell pepper together mixed with cut grapefruit, salt, pepper and lime juice!
-The feedback to my Perfect Green Smoothie is making my heart smile and tummy growl! Nancy, your smoothie is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing! See more green smoothie makers on my Facebook!
-Real world life=tupperware lunches.
-Got to get back together with my Yelp crew for a night of bites and wine tasting, not a bad mix!
-My bestie turned 22 and she deserved all the celebrations!
-Toasted the holiday weekend with a glass of rose' and an amazing dinner at Kitchen No. 324! Got to pick up the new issue of Edible OKC too. Look at that cover!
-A few more swings at Topgolf and I'll be ready for a real course...wishful thinking!
-#tradition. This recipe is a clear winner. 
-Ulti pool day with our new friend! 
-4th of July pre-burger bites. Spinach dip and baked artichoke pesto!
-We may not have been at the lake, but we made up for it with our 4th of July staycation!
Annie

Lavender Brownies

/
At this point I'd say it's pretty obvious I'm lavender obsessed. Lavender cookies, lavender lemonade, lavender cupcakes, I've made this lavender granola before, lemon lavender pound cake, I've put lavender in my smoothies, the list really goes on. To keep the merriment going, today I bring you Lavender Brownies! 
I honestly found this recipe while searching for a recipe for lavender honey ice cream. I told you I was obsessed. I had all the plans in the world to make some lavender ice cream but these brownies intruded. No worries, ice cream to come!
To get the lavender into the brownies you pulse the sugar and lavender buds together in a food processor (perfect way to break in my new Cuisinart I got for my birthday, I'm so weird). This is the same method as used in these cookies. During my baking spree last Friday I apparently turned into this flavored sugar making machine. See below my lavender sugar and grapefruit sugar. Speaking of did you catch yesterday's Grapefruit White Chocolate Brown Butter cookies?

Butter and chocolate are melted together with the addition of the sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon. Don't worry these brownies don't taste like a flower or anything. The lavender really adds a lot and helps cut the richness of a traditional brownie. 

Lavender Brownies
yields 9 brownies, adapted from Homesick Texan
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. dried lavender buds, plus additional for garnish
4 oz bittersweet chocolate
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup flour
flaked or corse sea salt, optional
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 8x8 or 9x9 square pan. 
In a food processor, pulse the sugar and lavender together until combined and the lavender is small.
In a saucepan on low, melt the chocolate and butter together. Once melted, turn off the heat and stir in the lavender sugar, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Add the beaten eggs until well combined, then stir in the flour until everything is mixed. A thick batter will form!
Pour your batter into the pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until a knife or tooth pick comes out clean. Pull your brownies out of the oven and sprinkle with the sea salt and lavender buds. I like to rub the lavender between the palm of my hands to create smaller pieces to garnish with. Wait for the brownies to completely cool before you try to cut into them!

**You can find lavender on the spice aisle at Sprouts or other specialty grocery stores or spice markets. 

Try them, you just must. Dunk them in a glass of milk too for added deliciousness. 
Annie