12 Days of Christmas Recipes

I tried to “healthify” a family favorite Christmas cookie recipe (ginger cookies to be exact) yesterday and it was a crash and burn. Note to self: Christmas is the time for real Crisco shorting, sugar, flour, and molasses, don’t try to mess with the originals. That has been the extent of my baking lately. I just haven’t been in the mood to bake and recipe test lately. However I’m giddy to get back to Oklahoma for Christmas to bake cookies for Santa with my nieces and sip on brandy ices by the fire. Instead of serving up a new Christmas recipe, I compiled the best from TAB over the years into one post. Some cookies, homemade candy, festive cocktails, a few salads, and breakfast ideas.

I realized I had pulled 12 recipes and then wanted to play into the 12 days of Christmas so I’m up way past my bedtime trying to get this up while it’s still December 13th just so it makes more since being 12 days until Christmas!

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a Decorated Cookie for Santa

My signature sugar cookies get made without a doubt every year at Christmas. Over the years I’ve loved decorating these after Christmas Eve service with my sisters, having friends over for a cookie decorating party, and more recently I love getting to make them with my nieces. The original recipe calls for a thin glaze icing which is delicious, but I also love a stiffer decorator’s icing for piping. Recipe below!

Decorating Frosting:
1 cup shortening (room temp)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Almond extract
2 lbs. powdered sugar
1/2 cup cream or milk
food coloring of your choice (I buy mine at craft stores, the color is much more vibrant than what you buy at the grocery stores)

Using an electric mixer, cream shortening and extracts together. Alternate adding in powdered sugar and milk gradually until all combined. Divide into bowls and stir in food coloring. Get frosting into piping bags and get decorating for Santa, he deserves it:) Tip: an upside-down gingerbread man cookie cutter makes for an easy decorated reindeer and an upside-down ice cream cone cutter is perfect for a Santa!

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two Ginger Cookies

These, Perfect CCCs (of course), and my signature sugar cookies are hands down my top three favorite cookies and maybe dessert in general. As mentioned above I thought I’d try and be progressive and give them a healthyish spin with oat flour and coconut sugar, but just don’t even try. Enjoy the extra calories :)

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three White Chocolate Dipped Oatmeal Ginger Cookies

I developed this recipe a few years ago and it just worked! They take on the flavor of my favorite ginger cookies as mentioned above, but the added oats and white chocolate make them something special. My sweet co-worker Ashley makes them year round and I couldn’t love her for that more!

On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four Cranberry & White Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Too festive for words and delicious too. I have a weak spot for white chocolate. I love the way it tastes with the tangy dried cranberries and the added spices in these cookies give them extra festive flair.

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, fiiiiiiivvveee Brandy Ices

Hi I’m Annie, I like Rent the Runway, instagram, eating, hanging out with friends, and brandy ices. The OG OKC drink that is 1000% getting made this year. My recipe is dairy free to avoid a massive stomach ache.

On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six pieces of Peppermint Bark

Mint + chocolate forever. It’s no Williams Sonoma peppermint bark (the best!!), but it’s too easy for words and makes for great neighbor or co-worker gifts.

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven Christmas Cracks

Iphone photo circa 2014 is not doing this magical concoction justice. This recipe was shared with me from my blogger bestie (I feel 19 saying that but it’s the truth) Molly’s family. It too is a great neighbor or co-worker gift that is soooo easy to make. I haven’t made Christmas Crack in a while and I’m thinking this will have to go on my holiday baking list for sure.

On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight Snowball Cookies

My dad and I recently had a really good pecan sandie and went on a love fest for how good and underrated they are. I mentioned I’d make it my duty to find a good recipe for them to remake. I guess after blogging for 7 years you forget you already have a recipe for them?? These little Snowball Cookies are essentially pecan sandies just rounder and extra doused in powdered sugar.

On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine Wintergreen Salads

This is a little gem of a recipe I threw up on the blog late last fall. It’s remained pretty under the radar, but it needs more attention. It would make a wonderful addition to your holiday table. The little roasted fingerling potatoes are the best part!

On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten Acorn Squash Salad Bowls

Another festive salad that makes for a fun lunch over the holidays or a creative side dish. I don’t know about you, but I love acorn squash. We always grew up eating it. My mom would roast halves and we would eat it with butter and brown sugar lol. I’m now stuffing mine with greens, but still good (if not better).

On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven Best Breakfast Casseroles

I talk about this casserole a lot, but it’s truly the best. The recipe was shared with me by my friend Madeline and the original recipe calls it Christmas Casserole so…

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve Merry Berry Scones

This recipe makes me miss my old roommate and friend Lindsay. She loved this recipe and still makes them for herself since she’s moved to LA. The rosemary in these scones are such a hidden surprise. They are great with coffee and would be wonderful on Christmas morning!

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“On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve merry berry scones, eleven best breakfast casseroles, ten acorn squash salad bowls, nine wintergreen salads, eight snowball cookies, seven christmas cracks, six pieces of peppermint bark, fiiiivvveee brandy ices, four cranberry & white chocolate christmas cookies, three white chocolate dipped oatmeal ginger cookies, two ginger cookies, and a decorated cookie for santa.”

Merry Christmas!
Annie

4th of July Recipe Roundup

What does the 4th of July look like for you this year? Are you traveling or doing a barbecue with friends? Maybe you are flying solo this year due to coronavirus still being very much a concern in our country. My whole family had a trip planned to Santa Barbara that we had been looking forward to since February. The 4th is always a bit of a flop for me, so I was looking forward to being with family this year. Plans have obviously changed and we are staying home.

I’m laying very low this year, but hope to be meeting up with a few friends by a pool at some point this Saturday. I’m thinking festive Perfect CCC’s or S’mores Cookies and The Baker Mama’s American Flag cheese board will be my contributions. I rounded up those + some favorite summer recipes from my site and a few from websites I trust. Hopefully, this list will help make your holiday a little more special no matter what your celebration looks like.

Sweets
S’mores Cookies
Cherry Peach Pie with Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Berry Cobbler
3-Ingredient Individual Strawberry Trifles
Sugar Cookie Pizza with Strawberry Icing or M&M Cookie Pizza (with festive M&Ms)
Perfect CCC’s (with festive sprinkles)

Sides
Watermelon and Heirloom Tomato Salad
Shaved Cauliflower Salad
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Avocado and Pistachios
Charred Corn Salad with Feta, Basil, and Jalapeno
The Mix
Watermelon Feta Pistachio Salad

And now a few recipes I’ve made or recommend from sites I trust!

The Baker Mama’s American Flag Cheese Board
Broma Bakery’s S’mores Rice Krispie Treats
Half Baked Harvest’s Bourbon Peach Baked Beans (I love this recipe!)
Barefoot Contessa’s Flag Cake (a 4th of July staple. I’ve made this exact recipe and is insanely good)
Elisabeth & Butter’s Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream
The Defined Dish Whole 30 BBQ Ribs (I’ve been craving ribs, is that weird?)
A Peony For Your Thoughts Red Potato and Sweet Corn Salad (APFYT was my sister’s old blog, we havne’t made this recipe in forever, but it is so good and I always think of it when it comes to barbecues).

I hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th!
Annie

Bites of My Life

Buckle up, there are 3 weeks of bites in one post. The holidays were great, I want to go back. I’m not quite ready to give back into routine. I mean I am, but I’m not. I’d be lying if I said coming back to Dallas wasn’t hard. I got so comfortable being home and with my family, and best friends. But we are here, I’m back in Dallas, and working to get my mindset wrapped around the new year and decade. It feels good don’t get me wrong. So fingers crossed, prayers being said, and sights set on a great 2020.

-This green juice from Trader Joe’s is my new secret weapon to add something healthy to my diet every day. I stocked up on a bunch during my last week in Dallas as prep before going home to all of the Christmas cookies, popcorn, drinks and treats.
-Cleaned out the freezer with one of my go-to’s, quinoa fried rice.
-If you missed my Brandy Ice recipe, head here now. I loved loved loved seeing how many people made them over the holidays!
-I ditched my car for a few days and challenged myself to walk more even with the weather being colder. I’ve become a recluse since it turned to winter and I loved pretending like I was in New York walking to work, to work out, the grocery store, etc.
-Christmas ice cream and hot cocoa and a Nancy Meyer’s movie to really lean into the season.
-The Amazon headband quad-fecta!! I have, I kid you not, worn one of these headbands every single day since I bought them. Did I mention they are 4 for $14?
-Had a huge group dinner with everyone back in OKC for the holiday. There were over 20 of us and it was so fun to all be back together.
-My parent’s tree (despite it being fake) is unreal! Full of gorgeous new ornaments intertwined with old popsicle stick ornaments we made as kids. The best!
-The Hall’s annual family friend Christmas party is one of all of our’s favorite holiday traditions.

-My little elves decorating cookies for Santa!
-Christmas morning cranberry orange bread and coffee. Not pictured sausage crescent rolls and mimosas.
-Cranberry mules to go with Christmas dinner. We just added cranberry juice and fresh cranberries.
-Meat, potatoes and mom’s Christmas salad. Always a win!
-Christmas night brandy ices, the whole family loved them!
-Headed to Memphis between xmas and NYE for Price and Kenzie’s wedding. Kenzie and I lived together my past two years in OKC. It was a really great weekend being back with two close friends for their wedding!
-Brandy Ice at The Jones only for NYE. I quickly grabbed a glass just to make sure it was up to par. It was :)
-Another Jones NYE party success has me feeling #blessed for this marketing team that developed in 2019!
-I finished out the night with some of my very best friends. AKA no one else I’d rather end one year and enter the next with.

-Greens, salad, vegetables!!! It seemed like so long since I had all of these in one meal. #holidaysgotmelike…
-Gotta get that luck in for 2020, so Hoppin’ John for New Year’s Day lunch.
-Popcorn is the best snack Y or N?
-Some ball pit snuggles and belly laughs with my favorite girls before I headed back to Dallas.
-Avocado toast on Ezekiel bread with tomato, just like my girl Melissa Wood.
-Easy peasy filling meal: sweet potato with almond butter and cinnamon.
-Trying to not eat all the almond butter straight from the container, as well as trying to be more eco and wallet-friendly by creating my own almond butter packs. I pre-portioned out 2 tablespoons in my little salad dressing containers.
-Not doing Whole30 this January and not trying to obsessively diet. I had lots of pizza and this amazing ice cream Saturday and loved every bite.
-Half Baked Harvest’s Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower for Golden Globe watching and dinner this week!

Here’s to the new decade, new year, new month, new week!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Thankful, grateful, blessed. << my feelings coming off Thanksgiving mega week. I mentioned this to friends and family a couple of times in the past few days, but I was slightly dreading my extra long week at home. Dreading may not be the right word, but I was weary of being out of my routine and living out of a suitcase for 9 days. When it came down to my last couple days at home I didn’t want to leave. Having my whole family under one roof (mom, dad, sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces, even Gabe) made for the best time at home. I’m happy to be back in Dallas and to make fun holiday plans, but I’m also eagerly counting down to being back in OKC for Christmas! This time of year just craves time with family and oldest friends!

-The makings of my banana cream pie included a pie crust rolled out on crushed graham crackers. My contribution to our work Thanksgiving! I used Cook’s Illustrated recipe.
-Best Breakfast Casserole got a little photo update!
-It’s not Thanksgiving morning without a slice of our Pumpkin Bread while watching the Macy’s parade.
-Thankful for my momma, sisters and Hallie (and dad and brother-inn-laws and Elle)!
-Picture of the big meal or the hours in the kitchen wasn’t worth it.
-Are you a one slice of pie person or a sampler plate? We had 8 pies and I sampled 4 :)
-No Spend November came to an end on Black Friday with an impulse buy of 1/2 off OPI nail polish and restock of my favorite lip color.
-Wrote our letter to Santa with the cutest kit from All Good Things.
-One last, but important event of the holiday weekend included Hallie’s baptism!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Happy Thanksgiving week! I’m SO excited it’s here. I’m lucky to get to be home for a whole week leading up to the big day. After a great weekend just hanging with my mom and dad, going to Norman for gameday and starting to prep and shop for Thanksgiving dishes yesterday, I’m ready for it to get here. These few days leading up will be just as fun. We have a work Thanksgiving today and a day of meetings tomorrow, so the days are sure to go by fast. Oldest sis Claire and her husband Mike get here Tuesday and then the holiday can officially begin!

-Swapped pumpkin for peppermint mocha in my bulletproof and it was everything!
-Decked the halls a little early! Love how my little apartment looks at Christmas.
-Best time of the year, is when this is back on the shelves. Best dairy-free egg nog IMO!
-Makeshift shakshuka in a saucepan lol. I had to throw away my 8in frying pan and was craving this dish. Improvise, improvise, improvise!
-Has anyone else had an opal apple? I couldn’t resist the yellow color! I sliced mine and ate with pumpkin pie spice on top.
-Kappa roots run deep, and I loved getting to spend lunch with KKG Dallas Alum including the star of the show, my friend Maegan from The Baker Mama! She was OU KKG!
-Home just in time to help put up Elle’s Christmas tree!
-Saturday’s in Norman >
-http://www.takeabiteblog.com/blog/2016/6/20/cherry-peach-pie kicked off the holiday baking. I swear by my recipe!

Annie