Bites of My Life

The holidays are so bittersweet. There is so much build up and anticipation of the big day, and then in the blink of an eye it is over so fast. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Luckily my family has seemed to stretch it out over a few days so it doesn't come and go so quick. Not only do I love it for the food, and parade and turkey trot, but it has also become the winter holiday my oldest sis comes home for. Tucker time is in full force when the whole clan is together. So many food babies, glasses of wine, servings of pie, football games watched and calories consumed, but all for a good cause. 

-Chili season is here, bring on the Fritos.
-Our Thanksgiving pregame at the local burger place, Tucker's. It's only appropriate. 
-Trot trot trot!
-Cheers to Thanksgiving.
-Thanksgiving is already my favorite holiday, but all being together makes it even better.
-Even with a big meal ahead of us we still go heavy on the apps. 
-I'm biased but I just really don't think anyone's Thanksgiving plate is any prettier.
-I'm typically a pumpkin girl, but my pecan pie was the favorite this year!
-Basically celebs after getting on the jumbotron three times at the Thunder game on Friday.
-Amazing spicy ramen from Tamshii to warm us up from the freezing weather and ice we had all weekend. 
-A case of cabin fever led us to a Sunday strike. 
-One last night with Claire and Mike in town meant one last amazing meal. Naan fattoush and cardamom chicken and rice ended the weekend with a bang!

Annie

Happy Friendsgiving!

To be honest, I can't believe I haven't had a Friendsgiving before now. Friendsgiving has become pretty trendy in the past few years, but we all know I'm not afraid to jump on a trend bandwagon. Friendsgiving pretty much combines all of my favorite things. Friends, food and Thanksgiving. 

Our first Friendsgiving was a success. It was potluck style so everyone contributed something making it very easy on myself. All paper everything made clean up so easy. I had a little too much fun planning for this night, I'm already brainstorming next years...

My contribution was this Pumpkin Galette. This is a recipe I pulled from the archives of my Pinterest. I've had it pinned for so long waiting for an opportunity to make it!

Not that I thought the food wouldn't be good, but I was extremely impressed with what everyone made. I love how most people brought old family recipes to share . There was Kathleen's ham, Bailey's sweet potatoes, Alex's stuffing, Madeline's green beans, Katie's cheesy au gratin potatoes, Sarah's butternut squash salad, Sarah Beth's brussels sprouts, Katie's corn casserole, Coralee's caesar salad, Sister Schubert's rolls (the best) brought by Kenzie!

Lindsay's date cookies, my pumpkin galette, Kathleen's apple cider cheesecake, Maddie's cherry pie, Lauren's pumpkin cookies, Alexis's chocolate candies, Elaine's pecan pie, pumpkin pie from Lauren, and Katie's caramel marshmallow popcorn! Not pictured was all the cheese to start the night courtesy of Stacia, Betsy, Trinian and Taylor.

Morning of I was nervous there wouldn't be enough wine. There was wine for an army, and then some!

10 Friendsgiving tips:

1. Make it pot-luck. Create a menu of what is needed and have everyone sign up to bring something. A well rounded menu of apps, meat, veggies, sides, rolls and dessert.
2. Use paper everything for easy clean-up. I ordered these kraft colored eco plates and wooden disposable silverware from Amazon and then bought napkins from Target.
3. DIY your decorations. Keep it minimal because the food will do most of the decorating. I kept everything neutral and stuck with a kraft and gold color scheme, and little pops of fall flowers. I made a banner from glitter scrapbook paper and little signs for the dessert, drink and food table. I rolled out kraft wrapping paper over a white table cloth for the food table and used chalk to decorate. Throw it away at the end and clean up is a snap.
4. Have wine, lots of wine. The perfect thing for people to contribute if they aren't comfortable cooking a dish.
5. Have oven space, for those dishes that need re-heating. 
6. Make sure to have hot plates or dish towels to set the hot dishes on.
7. Have serving spoons and knives for the food and dessert.
8. Make a playlist. My Dinner Party playlist is my go-to for events like this. 
9. Purchase to-go boxes so everyone gets to take home leftovers. I ordered these boxes, and everyone loved it.
10. Once it's party time, don't stress just have fun. All the work is done!

I'm so thankful for these friends, Friendsgiving, and a new tradition!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Oh buddy I am so ready for Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday is only a few short days away and I can't stand the wait. The holiday feels a little different this year not being in school and not getting a real break. I still managed a few days off from work to hang out, eat and be with family. But there was always such a peace of cramming in those last few tests and projects then driving straight home for almost a week off to relax and unwind in the comfort of home. 

This year there will be lots of relaxing, lots of family time and lots of food, it's just different.  Being the youngest, I've always tried to hang on to traditions the longest because I feel like I wasn't around long enough before everyone started growing up and wanting to change them. It's interesting as I grow up and realize how I've adapted to the change. I'm not as much of a traditionalist as I used to be. I'm okay with the changes here and there and the idea of adding new traditions. We have new family who joins us, new recipes we try and new homes to enjoy them in.

I started a new tradition this year that is easily going to stick around for a while. On Friday, I hosted my first Friendsgiving. I had a little too much fun prepping and decorating for the event. All of my closest friends came together in my little baby house to enjoy amazing food and fun times spent together. Everyone really rolled out on the food too, no cop outs with store bought junk. All delicious family recipes that we all got to share with each other. I'm so thankful for friends and family, traditions old and new, and for this time that makes you reflect on it. 

-Step aside pumpkin, it's gingerbread time. Swapped out my pumpkin oats for gingerbread oatmeal. Made by adding molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Topped with crystalized ginger and a little AB!
-CCC recipe round 2!
-This is what happens when I go to Kathleen's house. I steal her clothes and she makes me pumpkin soup. That's what sisters are for. 
-Not so plain siggis with a little pumpkin butter and granola swirled in for a happy desk breakfast.
-I haven't gone to the grocery store in forever and I don't plan on it until after Thanksgiving, this means mooching off my parents for a free dinner. If I pay them a visit they don't see it as mooching, so it's a win win!
-Happy reading with my new cookbook "Happy Cooking" by miss Giada.
-The best surprise by my aunt and cousin and my favorite little chunk of a second cousin at work last week.
-An evening spent as fleuriste pupils. We can now add how to make sushi and create gorgeous flower arrangements to our repertoire of skills.
-My contribution to Friendsgiving, a pumpkin galette. 
-My first Friendsgiving was just perfect. A full recap to come!
-Everyone outdid themselves with the food. Not a single dish wasn't sampled by me.
-A little boomering and soonering on a freezing Saturday, was well worth it for the win in the end!

Annie

Turkey Time

How to pregame your thanksgiving.

Remember to treat yourself this Thanksgiving, including pie for breakfast.

Why you should cook with your mom.

My favorite Thanksgiving playlist.

Another playlist for the 4 stages of your Turkey day.

Top 5 tips for Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving from my favorite girl Gaby. My Friendsgiving is tomorrow!!

What your Thanksgiving plate says about you.

Are you more Thanksgiving or Christmas? Thanksgiving, duh. 

Thanksgiving is not for the weak.

How to recover once it's over.

And a recipe to help you detox.

And the reason for this season.

It's exactly one week until the main event! It's almost turkey trot, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and PIE TIME!!!

Annie

Chocolate Chip Cookies Round 2

I mentioned a few weeks ago how I am on a quest to find my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. First attempt I made these pillow-like cookies. I kept testing and recently made another batch of cookies. This recipe was sent to me form Molly. She saw my mission and passed along her family's favorite recipe. 

With a few alterations they came out nice! Thin, lots of chocolate and and just a good ole cookie.

This recipe uses two different kinds of flour and requires you to chill the dough. I made mine with mini chocolate chips to ensure a piece of chocolate in every bite.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Round 2

Ingredients:
2 cups cakes flour
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. coarse salt
2 1/2  sticks unsalted butter, room temp (1 1/4 cups)
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
12 oz. mini semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies

Directions:
Combine flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

When time to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop 2 Tbsp. sized cookies onto sheet, 2-inches apart so they have enough room to spread out.  Bake for 10 minutes. 

My first batch burned, but only because we had a little spillage from the night before's dinner and it caused a big smokey mess. Once I got that cleaned up the cookies turned out great, but still on the hunt for my go-to CCC recipe. Fortunately that means more chocolate chip cookies to come.

A fine recipe indeed but still working on finding my go-to. More testing to come!

Annie