Bites of My Life

Four days, four days, four days!! I'm starting to get the Christmas giddiness. This week plans to contain Christmas recipes, Christmas movies, last minute Christmas parties and lots of Christmas music. 

After getting to celebrate friends' graduation this weekend, I was feeling all kinds of weird feelings. Graduation back in May was so strange and brought all kinds of unexpected feelings for me. I can't really describe it but they kind of came back. Weird realities of how I really am getting older, have so many more responsibilities, and how I don't have a month off of school for winter break...

-Blueberry tahini oatmeal. Blueberries and tahini are a surprising great combo.
-My little Christmas cottage.
-Verde Turkey Chili made a comeback this season. 
-Got in a snowball fight and came out with some snowball cookies, recipe to come.
-Pushed the store bought aside and made my own peppermint bark, recipe also to come!
-Friday spent with my favorite people.
-Welcomed more friends to the post grad club this weekend.
-Sunday sweet potato.
-Quinoa fried rice and a side of popcorn for Miss Universe viewing, go Miss USA (an Oklahoma native).

Annie

Bites of My Life

So it was like 65 degrees everyday in Oklahoma this past week, not okay. Where is the snow and the brisk winter days? I'm boycotting and still wearing cozy sweaters and drinking hot chocolate. I've got the holiday spirit running through my bones. Cookies, treats, presents, happy hours and holiday parties. Keep it coming Christmas. 

-Eating cookies for breakfast is totally acceptable with all the holiday treats lying around.
-Jumping on the persimmon bandwagon and adding them to my morning oats, although, still on the fence about them.
-Not many things get me going in the morning like a warm cup in the a.m.
-You can't miss these Merry Berry Scones. The flavor combo is unreal. 
-The outside is almost as important as the inside!
-So proud of sis and her new job, already kicking butt one tailored suit at a time.
-If you haven't tried tahini in your smoothie, it's time to take a walk on the wild side.
-All the veggies.
-A swanky Saturday with the best of people.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Typically coming off a holiday I always feel a little sad and a case of post-holiday depression. Although, I love this time of year because after one holiday there is another around the corner to get excited for. Trees and lights going up, Christmas hymns at church and Christmas movies on tv, festive food and lots of friends and family time. There just isn't that much not to love about this time of year. 

Yes there is the stress from all the hustle and bustle, but there is too much good and cheer to let it get me down. Yes mom, I'm still mad you had the tree delivered instead of letting us go out to the tree farm to pick it up, but getting to hang up all of my homemade kindergarten ornaments with you made it a little better.

-Kale, Quinoa and White Bean Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe up last week and leftovers on repeat.
-This combo never gets old.
-Roommate date with this picnic plate from Packard's.
-These scones. Just wait.
-I've had a bottle of Trader Joe's red curry sauce in my pantry forever. Finally used it up to make some amazing chickpea curry.
-After a full day of work, Saturday night was spent unwinding doing my favorite thing.
-Spent Sunday afternoon touring the most quaint houses in one of my favorite OKC neighborhoods.
-Their houses Christmas decorations made it even better, like this adorable chalkboard wall ready for Santa to come down it's imaginary chimney. 
-Dad killed Sunday Supper with these braised eggs and lamb. We licked the whole pan clean with big pieces of naan that now I'm mad we didn't leave any leftovers.

Annie

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

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