Bites of My Life

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It's mind boggling to me to think this time last year I was graduating from college. This past year has flown by. It's scary to think that time is going to keep getting faster and faster. Thinking back on the past year has me slow down and process all that I've accomplished, overcome, experienced, seen, eaten, etc. It may be bold, but this past year ranks as one of my favorites.

-Using the crock-pot makes me feel like a 40 year old woman, but it's kind of awesome coming home to an amazing dinner waiting for you. Used this recipe and then had dinner made all week!
-Three years at Barre3 for my favorite sister/instructor! 
-One of my favorite recipes I've shared in a while! Thank you to everyone who has already made my Avocado Toast Grilled Cheese, especially this OKC local food truck!!
-The puppies just keep popping up!
-Squeezing in some greens between the weekend carbs and sweets.
-Here's to their graduation and me getting the best neighbors in a few weeks!
-A fun (long) night out in my college town called for a lazy morning and awesome Sunday breakfast.
-Dad has been wanting to try his hand at recreating Bibimbap inspired from one of our favorite restaurants. He asked me to be his sous chef, and I think we agreed we made for a winning team. 
-Picked up dessert for our Korean meal after a stop at the asian supermarket!

Annie

Avocado Toast Grilled Cheese

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Last week on my Facebook page, I asked for your feedback on what kind of posts you wanted to see on Take A Bite. One request was for "trendy grilled cheese." I can handle that, I thought. (Not to mention I've had a random weird craving for a grilled cheese and tomato soup).

I wanted to come up with something relatively simple, but something original. I'll be honest I'm not a huge sandwich person, but I do love a good piece of avocado toast. It hit me one day while I was on a walk. An avocado toast grilled cheese!!! I went speed walking home to go research. Not very productive for my workout but whatever, grilled cheese were more important at the time. 

I took a piece of the ever so trendy avocado toast and paired it with cheddar and pepper jack cheese. I wanted the classic orange color from the cheddar, but the spice from the pepper jack. The avocado doesn't take away from the cheese flavor but instead sort of melts into this buttery smooth layer. It's kind of amazing. 

Avocado Toast Grilled Cheese
yields 2 sandwiches

Ingredients:
4 slices of your favorite bread (this is what I use)
1 cup grated pepper jack (buy a block of cheese then grate it)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
1/2 avocado
red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
olive oil

Directions:
Turn on your panini press or heat a grill pan over medium heat. 

Using a box grater, shred both cheeses and set aside. Take each slice of bread and brush olive oil on one side. Olive oil side down, pile a mixture of the cheeses on 2 slices. Mash 1/4 of the avocado on the remaining 2 slices. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. 

Top the cheese bread slices with the avocado bread slices. 

Put on the panini press until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Cut diagonally and serve. 

So William Webster does this satisfy your trendy grilled cheese request?

Annie

Bites of My Life

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First week of work down, and I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. It was harder than I thought to fall back into a routine. I'm kind of having that feeling when I first started my job last year after graduation. Do you ever get those moments when you are driving to work and think, I'm really going to do this everyday for the rest of my life? Everyday wake up, get ready, go to work, repeat. It can seem daunting but when I think harder about it I love the commitment and the responsibility of reporting to work and taking care of business. It's productive and accomplishing and gives me a sense of confidence.  Just a little thought bite for you to nosh on this morning. 

-Started the week on a sweet note celebrating a great friends birthday!
-Tacos all week in prep for Cinco de Mayo. Used my carnitas meat mixed with some BBQ sauce and pickled onions for a barbecue spin!
-Finally found my go-to CCC recipe and I still haven't gotten over it. You have to check out this recipe!
-So cool seeing people recreate my recipes. Libby really killed it with this one-thank you!!
-Missed our calling at flower arranging.
-Friday fiesta.
-Dinner at one of my favorite spots in town.
-Mother's day Grapefruit Moscow Mules. This just became my summer drink.
-Love getting to celebrate my momma on this day and everyday.

Annie

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

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You guys, I did it. I finally found my perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. If you have been reading this blog over the past few months you will know I have been on the hunt for a go-to CCC recipe. After several attempts, the test has come to an end. All previous recipes deserve some attention, but this one is it. Check out my recipe testing here, here and here. 

I wanted my cookies to be full of chocolate chips, just crisp on the bottom and around the edges, cooked but still soft on the inside, pretty to the eye and about 3 inches in diameter. I am pleased to tell you, I have achieved it. 

I also wanted my CCC to be no fuss. This was the most important aspect for my cookie recipe. No secret ingredients, no refrigerating, no weird flours, just a to the point recipe that makes excellent cookies. I promise you this recipe is easy and full of basic ingredients you already have in your cabinet. 

One of my favorite parts of these cookies is not having to wait for your butter to come to room temperature. Simply cut up 2 sticks of unsalted butter and melt it over low heat. You don't even have to let the melted butter cool, it just goes straight into the other ingredients. This is everythingggg.

One little spin I did do (which is optional) was chopping up my chocolate chips slightly. It's nothing crazy, I just like getting those little small flecks of chocolate throughout the dough. 

Keep reading for the steps on how to make these perfect, no fuss, chocolate chip cookies.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
yields 32 cookies, adapted from Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, diced
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
12 ounces, semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped (optional)*

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 

Place a saucepan on low and melt your butter, stirring occasionally. Make sure the butter does not get too hot to where it sizzles or bubbles.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl mix both sugars. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the sugars and whisk until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking to combine. Stir in the vanilla.

Slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter sugar mixture. I found a wooden spoon to be the easiest for this job. Once the dough has almost come together, but still a little floury, add the chocolate chips.
*I roughly chopped my chocolate chips, so I could get more chocolate in each bite. I also love those little shavings of chocolate sprinkled through the dough! 

Form 2-3 tablespoon size balls. I used a standard size cookie scoop, but would scoop twice, then roll them together to form one big ball of dough. Place them on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Do not overcrowd the pans. I got 8 balls of dough on a pan, at most. 

Bake for 9-11 minutes, rotating the pan around halfway through. Bake until just slightly golden. 

They are almost bakery-perfect in my opinion. I was soooo happy with how they came out. I'll be coming back to this recipe from now on.

I solicited a lot of taste tasters to make sure I wasn't just dreaming on how perfect they were and all came back saying, "this is it." The test is over. These CCCs are here to stay!

I mean just look at that. Full of chocolate chips, a crispy bottom and perfectly cooked but still soft inside.

Now go make yourself some of the best chocolate chip cookies. Bonus points if you make them for your momma for Mother's Day this weekend. Please share with me on social media if you do! #takeabite

Annie