MD Comes to OKC

BB MD of BOD comes to OKC to visit TAB! Enough acronyms for you?

Translation:
BB = blogger bestie. I wouldn’t say we still use this term because we are real life besties instead of just blogger besties, but back in 2014 when Molly and I first virtually met, we were BBs through and through.
MB now MD = my sweet sweet Molly Bridgett but now the Mrs. Molly Duncan
BOD = Bridget’s Own Diary aka Molly’s corner of the internet.
OKC = only the greatest big league city you’ll ever meet!
TAB = hopefully you know, but I’m talking about old Take A Bite

If you’ve read Take A Bite for a while, you know Molly! We initially met through blogging (yes, it’s true), but have since met up at ACL weekend, OU/Texas games, Houston, Dallas, her wedding, and talk multiple times a week.

We had talked about it multiple times, but I was so excited when Molly texted me letting me know the plane ticket had been booked and she was heading to OKC end of January! I pulled out my OKC City Guide (yes I use my own city guide) and started crafting out our weekend.

We had talked about it multiple times, but I was so excited when Molly texted me letting me know the plane ticket had been booked and she was heading to OKC end of January! I pulled out my OKC City Guide (yes I use my own city guide) and started crafting out our weekend.

If you are local to OKC or plotting a trip to “the city” soon, the weekend went something like this…

Friday:
Dinner at The Jones Assembly

Saturday:
Barre3, lunch at Kitchen at Commonplace, midtown shopping at Commonplace, Shop Mode, Salt + Water, Chirps and Cheers and Sara Kate Studios.

A hot tea pick me up at Coffee Slingers then natural manicure at Well Beauty.

Wine flight at Anatomy Wine Bar and then dinner at Goro Ramen.

Sunday:
Brunch at En Croute

I loved showing off my city, but even more, enjoyed getting to make stops I don’t get to make everyday.

They say to play tourist in your city. But really, you should do it. I was a host, but felt like a tourist. I felt like I was looking at Oklahoma City in a new way. I’ve always loved where I’m from, but I was so excited/proud getting to show off my friends, fam and favorite spots in little ole Oklahoma.

Meet you in Chapel Hill MD! (or maybe D.C!!)

Annie

Bites of My Life

Food coma, weekend coma, busy week, groundhog saw his shadow, early spring. That is my jumble of thoughts looking back on last week as I’m trying to keep my eyes open while finishing this post, so goodnight.

-While Molly was in town the weekend before we swapped some recent favorite dinner dished. Molly has been cooking up a storm up in Chapel Hill (check out their Dunc Dins in her saved highlight), and suggested I try these asian spaghetti squash noodles. Tried them, loved them, can’t wait to make again.
-A few months ago i read an article on how we’ve all been cooking spaghetti squash the wrong way. To cut down on cook time and to ensure longer spaghetti like strands, cut your squash into 1 inch rings. scoop out the center of each ring, then drizzle with salt and pepper and bake at 400 for 20 to 30 minutes. It’s the best way, y’all.
-Tried the brandy ice at The Drake on Friday. While it struck a cord, Junior’s still takes first place in my book. Also, while I have you, are Brandy Ice’s just an Oklahoma City thing or do you indulge in your neck of the woods too? Please comment below.
-Came for the croissants, stayed for the cinnamon buns! if you haven’t take a Sur la Table cooking class, you should. And may I suggest starting with the Saturday morning croissant class. We loved it! (not pictured, the multiple attempts to recreate the scene from It’s Complicated).
-Post brats, beer and pretzels! A very happy German 30th to Uncle Joe!
-I know Kerrygold is the “it” butter, but I’m tend to lend toward the cheaper ingredients when baking. However, after the instructor from our croissant class said she only uses Kerrygold when baking, I got intrigued. She said if she was going to take the time to make a baked good, she might as well use the best ingredients she could. So, I upped my Perfect CCC recipe again by using the butter of all butter. And I must say it made a difference.
-Homemade French Onion Dip a la (my favorite) Bon Appetit. I posted the recipe in the caption of this post, but I also polled everyone on insta all to see if you preferred getting the recipe from instagram or on the blog or both. 80% said instagram caption, 20% blog and a few DM’d me saying both. What do you prefer?
-”Best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever had.” Proud to share this quote from a friend who told me this after having a Perfect CCC at our Super Bowl Party.
-I still have a stomach ache from all of this.

Annie

Streaming Bite: The past two weeks I’ve been all caught up in the hooplah of the Fyre festival documentaries #TeamHulu, but I started You last night and the fist episode has me hooked. Anyone else watching?

Bites of My Life

Last week deserves more of a spotlight on the weekend! I don’t want to give away full details as I am working on a separate post to fully document the weekend, but Molly came to visit me in OKC! I had a blast crafting our weekend plans, and couldn’t wait to share my city with her! If you know me and Take A Bite, you know Molly and Bridget’s Own Diary. Catch a glimpse in this bites post and a full recap coming soon.

-Easiest way to come off vacation and ease into the week is to keep your food healthy and simple. I always overindulge in my diet and my wallet while on trips. So I kept my post-California dinners simple, cheap and healthy with roasted veggies and chicken sausages (with lots of dijon for dipping). How do you transition after vacations?
-If you love food and romance, I recommend Delicious, but esteemed chef and food writer Ruth Reichl. I was gifted this book by my sister’s mother-in-law, who clearly knows me well! Next up on my 2019 reading list is this one. Shop my reads on amazon.
-MB(now D) made her way to OKC this past weekend and our first stop was rightfully so at The Jones. Dips + Spreads extra dough was the highlight of our girls night dinner!
-A trip to Kitchen at Commonplace for the food and the perfectly styled photos.
-I geek out over a place where the space and food are equally photographable.
-OKC people, have you been to Salt + Water? We popped in on their last day in their temp space, but they are taking residence off Lee Ave downtown and they are your top shop for all things natural beauty.
-I love these wellness shots from KOR. I love to pick one or two up from Whole Foods when I’m feeling sluggish, on the edge of a cold or after eating all the things.
-You may remember this meal when I posted it after the first Sur La Table class I took with my mom and sister. Well, we recreated our ‘Tuscan Kitchen’ meal for family Sunday dinner and it was just as good as when we made it in class.

Annie

Super bite: With the Super Bowl this Sunday, I have agreed to bring Perfect CCC’s and this Bon Appetit French Onion Dip. Are you hosting or attending a SBLIII party? This Onion Souffle Dip or Avocado Verde Dip would be great (hellllllloo post from the archives). And for a sweet treat I recommend this or these.

Bites of My Life

I’m not doing my best at delivery a “bite of my life” so far in 2019. 4 weeks in and only 2 posts to show for it. However despite the lack of posts, there is still plenty to share! The year started with me going through a major rut in my work and kind of in my personal life too. With a little perseverance and prayers and I’m really starting to feel the wind change! Things are looking up.

As far as work, instead taking some work load off my plate, I countered by adding on more. In the form of fun projects, clients (yup!!), grabbing coffee with those who inspire me and taking courses to continue to gain new ideas. As far as personal life goes, I turned to retail and travel therapy. Nothing like a couple new sweaters and a trip out of town that can’t pull you out of a slump!

-Fun project/client #1 has to do with one of the coolest new spots in town.
-Exhibit A of taking a course to help me stay inspired and creative in my field.
-One of my retail therapy purchases includes this headband from H&M that I feel entirely too good in when I wear. It’s the little things people.
-A local beer crawl with all your besties is the perfect way to spend the cold/boring January weekends.
-Whole 30 Chicken Piccata from the Whole30 queen, The Defined Dish on tap for dinners last week. Note, I omitted the chicken stock in the recipe because I was meal prepping and didn’t care to have a sauce.
-Perks of traveling United early in the morning. I love these stroopwafel’s with coffee and tea!
-My travels led me back to the west coast for the second time in the past 3 months! The weekend had big intentions of being a surprise, but life happens and so does the stomach bug, and sometimes you have to tell the birthday boy his friends are showing up in 12 hours and ya got to rally!
-Newport Beach I love you.
-Cliche “best weekend with the best people” kind of feeling.

Annie

BIG Bites of My Life

I blame the holidays for this, but I’m combing three bites posts in one. Lot’s to read, so I won’t bore you here. If you are willing to take an extra big bite, carry on, if you give up before the end I understand.

Week leading up to Christmas…

-Easily one of my favorite recipes, and I love that it is many of y’alls too. This Crock-Pot Verde Turkey Chili is best in the winter and can be made Whole 30.
-Trying ashwaganda for the first time. I’ve been hearing of it’s many benefits to combat stress, but hadn’t tried it until recently. It tastes pretty earthy and I am still looking for the best way to mask that, but I will let you know when I do. Picked up this golden milk mix before the holidays too. The perfect drink to wind down with during the chaotic season.
-Worked/ing on eating more veggie friendly breakfasts instead of oatmeal and smoothies during the sugar filled holidays. Hooked on a version of this sweet potato hash inspired by my friend Lauren.
-Collagen hot cocoa swept insta before Christmas and I happily jumped on the train. Posted my recipe here.
-2nd Annual Cookie Decorating Party! A fun new tradition my best girls and I started last year.
-Sucker for a good snack spread. Hummus and cucumbers, salami and olives and baked brie for my girlfriends to counteract all the icing and cookies we ate…
-If you know you know. And if you’re night ends here, you know it was a good one.
-Here we go a wassailinggggg! Mom’s wassail is a staple at the holidays!
-Christmas Eve Eve traditions run deep with this group!

Christmas Week…

-More cookie decorating because that’s what you do at the holidays. Used my Signature Sugar Cookie recipe which is the OG recipe Santa asks for every year.
-Dad and I always on the puzzle grind come the holiday season.
-As our family grows, it also get’s small in some instances. Just me, mom and dad this Christmas Eve, but celebrated the night with church, spaghetti and meatballs (we used this recipe for the sauce and it was perfect) and a late night walk through the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, just the three of us!
-Tucker tradition of OJ/mimosas with raspberries on Christmas morning. Served along side our traditional sausage crescents and new tradition of this cranberry orange bread.
-Our littlest family member was so sick, but powered through Christmas. And loved her kitchen gadgets gift from Aunt Annie :) Toast and coffee anyone?
-It’s a GRIL!! We found out back in September that Kathleen and John were pregnant with their second baby. We anxiously had to wait until Christmas to find out the sex. Best news ever that Elle is getting a little sister.
-CopperBoom! Never taking this sweatshirt off. Thank you Kathleen!
-I love for Tucker holiday meals. Beef tenderloin, twice bakes, glazed carrots and our family Christmas salad.
-Remember that golden milk mix I mentioned earlier? I used it to flavor this smoothie bowl and I highly recommend. Frozen cauliflower, some ice, vanilla Arbonne protein powder, oat milk, little almond butter, topped with chia seeds, cacao nibs and pecans.
-2018 was the year of reading. And I blogged about it.
-My London girl is back in the USA, better yet Fort Worth (for now, but hopefully for longer coming soon)!!
-We’ve been coming to Fort Worth for OU weekends since our freshman year of college thanks to The Felton’s! Glad that some things never change!

First week of 2019…

-Balloons ready to DROP for NYE at The Jones.
-Who else has to eat black eyes on New Year’s Day? BEP or no luck for the year!
-All the groceries to get back in the swing of things post holidays.
-Celery juice trend ain't stopping anytime soon. Clear skin, smooth skin, look and feel of hair, reduced eczema, less bloat it helps it all!
-S N O W. We got about 3 inches unexpectedly this week. And funny thing about this picture is I took it at about 10pm, but it looks so bright from all the white!
-Snow day lunch at home consisting of my Spicy Red Pepper and Tomato soup, gala apple and rosemary Flackers (my new obsession).
-The Defined Dish’s Hibachi Chicken with Magic Mustard sauce lived up to the hype~~
-My favorite part of my job is when I get to taste all the fun concoctions our bartenders and chefs come up with. Exhibit A, this Oreo inspired beer cocktail.
-Always love a quick Dallas trip.

Annie