Pumpkin Green Smoothie

Basic betch coming atcha. The way girls go cookoo over pumpkin everything the second September hits is a little nuts. But, I can't help but fall into the trap myself. Pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors and deserves a little attention after being looked over from January to August. 

I've made pumpkin smoothies before, but never a green version. The smooth creamy texture of this smoothie is everything and I know you'll love it! Packed with nutrients and the taste of pumpkin pie is a win win. Pumpkin is great for your immune system, eye sight, skin and digestion. It's packed with fiber and healthy nutrients. Throw it in your morning smoothie for that extra boost we all want and need. 

Pumpkin Green Smoothie
yields 1 smoothie

Ingredients:
2 cups (or 2 handfuls) spinach
1/2 cup frozen mango or 1/2 of a frozen banana
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 avocado
1/2 tsp. fresh ginger (pinch of ground ginger if you can't get fresh)
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
splash of vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond milk

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a high powered blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass and slurp it down!

I promise I won't go pumpkin crazy on you, but I'm sure this isn't the last of the pumpkin recipe posts. Pumpkin season is here!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Days are getting shorter, and temps are getting lower, fall is on the brim. I woke up yesterday after a perfect girly weekend for my bachelorette Katie. I woke up, walked outside to a deck over looking the lake and got hit with that crisp smell of fall. There is nothing more delicious. I know you know what I'm talking about. 

After a short week (that felt so long, why is that?) I headed out for Katie's bachelorette bash. It was the perfect weekend of extreme amounts of junk food, mimosas in the morning, laying out dockside, Joe T Garcia's, and cheesy bachelorette fun. I snoozed all afternoon yesterday after getting home, which is a sign of a great weekend. Woke up in time to catch Miss America! Currently girl crushing over winner, Savvy Shields from Arkansas (where she was a Kappa!!!!). 

-Crispy hatch green chili sausages and greens for dinner last week, following this recipe.
-You've Got Mail is the quintessential fall movie and how I'm coping not having Parenthood to watch at night anymore. Bawled the whole last episode. Make Parenthood your next Netflix binge if you haven't already. 
-Another week of tastings for this project I get to help see come to life! 
-An eclectic array of Asian supermarket finds. Tupperware, wasabi sesame seeds, wasabi peas and ginger chews. 
-Huge snack attack last week. I blame the airport candy from last weekend for getting my sugar cravings going. I went ham on the big bins at the store. Check my insta to see what made it in!
-Greeted with this feast of a spread to commence KG's bach weekend! My crack mix made an appearance!
-Mimosas in the morning. Breakfast casserole not pictured. 
-Edible lingerie, the tasteful kind.
-So much love for our bride to be. Felt like the days of seven girl in the kappa house getting to all be together.

Make sure and catch last weeks Bacon Wrapped Dates recipe and What I'm Listening to post!

Annie

Bacon Wrapped Dates

I couldn't let this perfect party appetizer pass without sharing the recipe! I made these bacon wrapped dates with almonds and goat cheese for my good friends wedding shower a couple of weeks ago. I ate about half the platter, but they were still a hit! The creamy cheese or salty almond stuffed in a sweet date then wrapped in bacon, it's just the most sinful little bite. Great for parties of all kinds; dinner party, wedding shower, birthday or football watch party!

The recipe comes from my new favorite book Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. The book is chalk full of cozy family recipes. I plan on cooking through the book and sharing more of Shauna's insight on daily life and daily bites, so stay tuned!

Bacon Wrapped Dates adapted from Bread & Wine

Ingredients:
8 oz package of dates, pitted if you can find them
4 oz goat cheese
1/4 cup almonds, roasted and salted (optional)
16 oz pkg. bacon

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a roasting sheet (with sides is best) with foil and set aside. 

If your dates are not already pitted, you will need to pit them. Make a slice lengthwise along the date. Open it up like a little book and remove the pit. Stuff half the dates with almonds and half with a little shmear of goat cheese. Shauna informs you to steer clear of any nut, she says it reminds her too much of the pit, which it does. But I love the crunch! Maybe next time I'll do a little combo of the cheese and almond stuffed inside!

Cut your bacon in half or thirds depending on how long your strips are. Wrap a piece of bacon around the filled date and place it seam side down on your foil lined baking sheet. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until brown. Drain on a paper towel and serve at room temp!

I urge you to go pick up a copy of Bread & Wine. It's the perfect read as fall is arriving! But in the meantime, you can just make batches of bacon wrapped dates to tide you over!

Annie

What I'm Listening To

Wednesday last week I posted up at Starbucks to GSD. It was pouring rain, it was hump day, I had a green tea in hand, and Starbucks was killing the mood playlist. I love a good rainy day playlist that gets all the vibes going. Cue ILYSB comes on.

The song was familiar, but I had no idea who sang it or what it was called. I'm not one to ever really listen to the words of a song or pay attention to the title of it. Shazam works wonders for people like me. Found out it was ILYSB (I love you so bad) by LANY (pronounced Lay-Nee). This group loves a good acronym. Annnnnyway, I added it to my Spotify and have listened to it over and over and over since. I'm just a few listens short of being completely sick of it. I linked the live version above, but you can find ILYSB on itunes, Spotify, SoundCloud etc. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Today's bites post is stacked with photo bites of last week. A full camera roll of weekly images, typically means it was a great week. I suppose I was trying to squeeze as many memories possible into the last week of summer. I wore white everyday, bought a car (!!!!), finished Whole30, visited a city I've never been to, reunited with college friends, welcomed the start of college football, and sat poolside for probably the last time in 2016.

I breezed through the week quick as quick in anticipation of my trip to Houston for OU's first game of the season. Game outcome aside, the weekend was too good. Molly opened her doors for me to stay at "AirbMB" for the weekend. Unfortunately MB was Austin bound for the weekend, but we got a quick 30 minute catch up sesh to make it count! The weekend also included multiple catch up sesh's with college friends near and far who all came together for the game. Lots of memories made and too much fun had. I'm still exhausted and caught up on a high from the weekend. I'm letting it end graciously though as we say farewell summer/hello fall. Let the best season begin.  

-All white everyday last week before the fashion police say I can't. 
-Shared a few ways I knock pesky morning headaches. 
-Spaghetti squash primavera for the last bites of Whole30.
-Golden Milk. You have to try it if you haven't, perfect way to end the day.
-A somewhat celebratory lunch at Mexican Sugar after purchasing my first car!!! My car accident a few weeks back ended up being a blessing in disguise.
-CCC dough rolled into balls and frozen to save for a rainy day, unexpected guests, or those strong sweet tooth cravings.
-A matcha a week keeps the doctor away...
-A trip to Houston meant a quickie meet up with MB before she headed out of town and finally a visit to her place of work at Biscuit.
-Lunch at Local Foods was suggested on more than one account. It lived up to all the hype!
-All smiles pre OU upset. 
-If only all college football games came equipped with a bloody mary bar. Hello feta stuffed olives. 
-A diner breakfast to round out the Houston bites and to soak up Saturday night. 
-Some rude (smart) person thought it would be a good idea to put a mini Dylan's Candy Bar right next to my Southwest gate. I arrived and left Houston with a big bag of candy store candy. Sour gummies and chocolate covered everything.
-One last dip!
-Labor day steaks and veggies to send off summer!

Annie