Bites of My Life

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the necessary downtime that comes with the space between Christmas and New Year’s. Our Christmas was low key, but great. I love getting to hang at home for days and do all of my favorite things like making Christmas cookies, sitting by the fire at my parents house, watching Christmas movies, going on a late night walk to look at lights, and making new memories. I’m working a few days this week and have zero plans for NYE, anyone else? I’m not mad at all about easing out of 2020 without any big hoopla. This past year doesn’t deserve it’s own holiday LOL. Even with the start of 2021 looking a heck of a lot like 2020, there’s always a sense of weight off your chest with a new year, and I’m here for that feeling!

-Cleaning out the fridge before going home for the holidays had dinner looking like scrambled eggs for more days than I’d like to admit. Made them fancy and called them cacio e pepe eggs by adding a ton of black pepper and parm!
-Festive family Friday night right upon pulling into OKC. Great way to kick off the holiday week!
-The brandy ices were strong, the gossip was stronger! A hilarious night with some of my closest gal pals after getting back in town.
-It’s not Christmas without Spode!
-Home means cooking for my parents, one of my favorite things to do. I made Half Baked Harvest’s Butter Chicken. It certainly took more than 30 minutes but it was fabulous.
-Delicious and festive coffee date with my work bestie to get our minds right before a busy last day of work before Christmas.
-While I take my cookie decorating pretty seriously, getting to make a mess with this little three-year-old is worth putting my perfection aside.
-A favorite newer tradition is spaghetti and meatballs for Christmas Eve dinner. We cheat and buy meatballs from Whole Foods, but let the sauce simmer on the stove all day and through our church service (online this year😢).
-Proud of my little charcuter-wreath!
-Homemade Brandy Ices for Christmas dinner adult dessert!
-Post-holiday de-puffing. I used these chinstrap masks and Arbonne eye pads. (Selfless photo to also show off my new robe I got for Christmas)!
-Sunday night cranberry gimlets. Sure why not? Fully influenced to make these after seeing the recipe for pomegranate gimlets in Ina’s new cookbook!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Counting down until Christmas. I can’t believe that I’ll already be turning around to head back to OKC at the end of this week to settle in with fam for the holiday. Before we get there, I had a busy week catching up with friends and celebrating my two great friends Jordan and Wills on their marriage! The original plan was Alys Beach March 2021, but with covid changes and really not wanting to wait that long, they moved things up, downsized, and still had the most special winter wedding right here in Dallas. It was such a good weekend. I also caught the bouquet for the first time after attending mmm maybe 25 weddings.

-Made a v good indian spiced lentil and quinoa soup for meals last week. The recipe is from a friend, so I hope to make it again and get better photos to post the recipe!
-Spotted on a walk by my sister. Christmas decor that just makes sense. 2020: stink, stank, stunk.
-Christmas tini date to see Hudson House’s holiday decor.
-Love these black overalls with a turtleneck and booties or sneaks in the winter. So comfy.
-Barbie bride Jordan ready for her big weekend!
-Why must we look so ugly to get pretty? Loving these chin strap masks I finally ordered.
-Stunning downtown set up for a wedding at The Joule hotel.
-Pastel bridesmaids on deck!
-Post-wedding couch potato with Christmas movies all Sunday.

Annie

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

Bites of My Life

Make-up Thanksgiving was a success. After two weeks of quarantine I was able to safely go home and be with my family including my oldest sis and brother-in-law who were in town! It was just a really good few days at home. Cliche but true, when I say how thankful I am for my family. Over everything else.

-After two weeks of quarantine, I arrived in OKC just in time for family pizza night!
-Got in a walking rut, but I’m back on my routine. Upgraded my walks with 1lb. bala weights which is just enough added oomph.
-Was asked by my friends at Golden Ratio to come up with a Christmas coffee recipe for their social feed. I made one of my faves, Irish Coffee (visit the link for my circa 2014 recipe), but upgraded it with expensive dairy-free whipped cream and coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. ;)
-My favorite Thanksgiving contribution - my homemade pie crust.
-Hallie is the best cuddler in the whole world. You can’t help but hug and squeeze this girl when holding her.
-Mom’s Thanksgiving table is always one of my favorites!
-I branched out from the back of the Libby’s can on my pumpkin pie this year and it was a big winner.
-Some of the best sister time we’ve had in a while. I love these two and these little munchkins too!
-Friendship bracelets —> family bracelets. My quarantine bracelet making kit was a hit!

Annie