Bites of My Life

Today marks 80  "bites" post y'all. Eighty Mondays have gone by since I started writing Take A Bite. Despite whatever I should be doing that's usually more important, like studying for finals right now, I'd always rather choose putting time into my blog. 

Take A Bite is like a like a best friend to me. I love having a place to express my weird thoughts, or sharing things I love, or posting what I cooked for dinner the night before, but most of all I love hearing when y'all love it too. When someone tells me they read TAB I usually first, blush, then second, get embarrassed, then last, realize how cool it is that someone actually takes the time to read my grammar-error filled posts. 

This weekend I had a friend come up to me and say she reads TAB everyday. She gets to work, signs into her computer, first checks Cupcakes and Cashmere (respectably) then checks Take A Bite. To hear that someone reads Take A Bite as part of their morning routine, or uses my recipes to make dinner or a fun treat is kind of awing. It's just one of those things that I don't really believe people take the time to read, I just do it cause I love it. So thanks Meredith you pretty much made the rest of my year!

-Santa's Workshop already started wrapping presents! Santa also buys his cute wrapping goods at Chirps and Cheers in their new Midtown location.

-Santa has also been making his own Christmas cards to give to those on the nice list!

-I stretched leftover Thanksgiving turkey all the way until last Thursday. A throw-whatever-you-have in-the-pot soup! Turkey veggie and chickpea soup it is!

-Mission: clean out the fridge before I go home for a month has begun. A tomato, spinach, and a little curry powder omelet for dinner!

-Molly knows me well and knew I'd love her mom's Christmas (Crack)er recipe! She sent over the recipe and I made up this Christmas crack for gameday. It was a hit and I'll definitely be making it again before the holidays. 

-My other game day treat was Cookie Butter Rice Krispies! Both recipes will be posted later this week!

-My sweet señorita is about to leave me for a whole semester of studying abroad in Spain. I know she's going to be amazing, but is it selfish to say I need you to stay? Like actually need. 

-Last OU game day as student...check!

Two tests and one presentation until Christmas break freedom!

Annie

Time to Get Distracted

For most college kids, we are all in the midst of studying for the dreaded "f" word. Finals. I'm sure you can agree that you are better at getting distracted from studying than actually studying, so let me help you out and give you a few more distractions. Whether you're at the library studying, if your bored at work or if you are lucky enough to not have anything to do and are just simply bored, here you go. 

Finals week, as told by Buddy the Elf. 

Ariana Grande does Christmas.

The ultimate gift guide I posted about last year is back for 2014!

I know I mention them in almost every link post but my heart goes out to LBHS Class of 2004!

2014 in one song.

2014 in one song, the covers version (incredible).

Check out more of Us the Duo's covers here, seriously my new obsession. 

Wanting to host a Christmas party? The Everygirl already has it planned for you.

Co-worker, client or the the one who has it all? Here's a gift guide for each person in your life. 

Senior year had me like...

Nick and the gospel choir perform 'Jealous' on The Voice.

2014: the year of kale.

Healthy (and my favorite) study snacks.

Now that I completely distracted you and you are starting to freak out about all you have to get done, download the self control app on your computer and say bye to social media.

Annie

Bites While You Watch: Christmas Edition

Since it's officially Christmas season I wanted to shake things up and revamp my Bites While You Watch post. This time I'm doing food and movie pairings with my favorite Christmas movies.  I'm a sucker for a good Christmas movie and shamelessly watch them in the dead of summer sometimes. I've picked a dish from each movie or a recipe that reminds me of them. I spy an ultimate movie watch party in my future full of lots of bites and Christmas cheer!

Eloise at Christmastime--whimsical sugar cookies

Eloise is one of my favorite fictional characters, so you can bet Eloise at Christmastime ranks high on my list of favorite Christmas movies. I was always jealous of her big pink Christmas tree that decorated her Plaza hotel penthouse. Bake up some of my signature sugar cookies in Christmas shapes, but break outside the norm and decorate your trees and candy canes with pink and purple icing! Eloise would sure love these!

Elf--spaghetti

Hold the syrup, pop tarts and sprinkles, but whip up a big bowl of spaghetti and jump on the couch to spread some Christmas cheer. 

The Holiday--fettuccine

Christmas fettuccine anyone? Miles apart, Iris and Amanda both enjoy fettuccine on Christmas Eve in the movie.  I don't know if you've ever recognized it, but my mouth always waters at this scene because it looks so good. Random I know, but next to you watch it you'll know what I mean. 

White Christmas--hot chocolate

"Snow, snow, snow, snow!" This classic Christmas movie deserves nothing but classic hot chocolate paired with it! Fun fact, White Christmas is my all time favorite Christmas movie!

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York--ice cream sundae

Better than the first Home Alone if you ask me. Kevin must have known about Eloise's Plaza Hotel penthouse because he too checks-in to the luxurious hotel. Right after he checks-in, Kevin treats himself to a rather large room service ice cream sundae. Pull out all the toppings and treat yourself, it's Christmas after all. 

While You Were Sleeping--mashed potatoes

"These mashed potatoes are so creamy, very mashed" Kind of an inside joke between my sisters and I, but there is a part in this Sandra Bullock flick where she is at her "future in-laws" house and the mom repeats how creamy and mashed the potatoes are. For some reason it caught on with us and it's one of our favorite movie quotes. 

Okay so now my question is what's your favorite Christmas movie and favorite Christmas dish? Do any of my pairings match up for you?

Annie

Abbey's Irish Coffee

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen me post about these irish coffees. A few weeks ago we got our first really big cold front in Oklahoma. I think I ate chili and soup for every meal that week and had about 10 cups of tea. For a little warm fuzzy, my roommate Abbey texted our roommate group text saying she was on her way to the grocery store to get the things to make irish coffee. None of us complained, but instead hurried home. 

We might have made the coffee a leeeeetle strong the first go-around, I mean my hands were shaking after a few sips, but I still drank it to the last drop! The warm cup of coffee mixed with Baileys and sweetened with brown sugar makes for the most delicious winter happy hour drink!  

Abbey's Irish Coffee
recipe per cup of coffee

Ingredients:
1 cup of coffee
2 Tbsps. Baileys Irish Cream
1-2 tsps. brown sugar (depends on how sweet you like your coffee)
whipped cream*
chocolate shavings

Directions:
Brew a cup of coffee, stir in Baileys and brown sugar. Top with whipped cream and using a zester, shave chocolate over the top to garnish! 

*I suggest Reddi-Whip. Just give in and buy the cream-in-a-can. You know you love it plus who doesn't love spraying whipped cream directly into their mouth?

Silly Annie, I really skimped on the whipped cream in this one. Abbey's Irish Coffees are best served with whipped cream piling out of the cup and lots of chocolate shavings! And don't forget to #takeasip!

Annie

Bites of My Life

The holiday season just really is the best time of the year. All the food and events and time with friends and family can seem cliche, but it's always such a joyous time! I thought I wasn't ready to go home, but the second I unloaded my car I was in full Thanksgiving mode! Kathleen was home, Claire and her boyfriend Mike got in late Tuesday,  and the whole fam was back together until mom woke up Wednesday really sick. 

Dad, sisters, the boys and I had to go into full feast takeover. I'm pretty proud to say we cooked the whole Thanksgiving meal by ourselves beside what mom had gotten done earlier that week. I even made the gravy which is always the most intimidating dish to make and I think it was the best ever. *pat on back. Poor mom barely got to eat any Thanskgving food, but we ate enough for her too! 

The feasting obviously didn't end, because my family's form of entertainment is cooking or eating. More meals, some shopping, a thunder game, a night out with my sisters, trying a new restaurant and one last brunch summed up the weekend. 

-An almost end of the semester celebration!

-A little rum in pumpkin pie never hurt anyone.

-Roasted asparagus, crispy prosciutto and a fried egg with hollandaise. Saw Ina cook up this meal last week and knew I had to make it for my foodie fam. 

-Onion burger and a Pumpkin Pie shake from the burger place in town I like to pretend is name after my family. 

-Festive deviled eggs made by my cousin!

-Amazing smoked salmon dip to snack on before the feast. 

-Claire and I perfecting our apple pie yet again!

-The most colorful Thanksgiving plate. 

-The sweetest card from Kathleen asking Claire and I to be her maid of honors!

-A holiday isn't complete with a friendly game of Scattergories.

-BCLT with egg added on at The Mule with a side of rings. As if Thanksgiving didn't leave me in a food coma already. 

-Finally popped into Sara Kate Shoppe. I love store displays at Christmas. 

-The best few days with these people.

-A successful night of thundering up.

-Meatballs a la Pizzaria Gusto. Amaze new restaurant in OKC. 

-Poached eggs over grilled polenta and tomato sauce from Stella. Hard to say it because I don't have a number one favorite restaurant, but Stella is really high up there. 

The crazy thing is, is in a week and a half I'll be done with school for the semester. It's crack down time for final presentations and finals. Wish me luck.

Annie