Bites of My Life

Merry Christmas my friends! I say this every year, but I hate how fast Christmas comes and goes. My family had a quaint little gathering of our immediate family, minus Claire :( It was simple, but so nice. We ate fabulous food, baked lots of treats, stayed in pjs all day and listened to Christmas music on repeat. There were shrieks and squeals over gifts received and some tears of joy over things like a purse-Kathleen, and me-new dishes. The things I get excited about...

-On a Siggi's kick last week.
-Chick-Fil-A hack turning my spicy chicken sandwich into a spicy chicken salad.
-The best salad in town! Get it here.
-A festive look through my lens at work. 
-Last minute Christmas treats made the blog in time for the big day. 
-New brekkie obsession, loaded sweet potato with berries, AB and granola.
-Phobulous pho with pops!
-Holiday's are a non-stop eating fest, so a counter of apps is needed. Cheese ball, olives and cranberry pomegranate salsa.
-Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters, White Christmas style.
-Pioneer Women cinnamon rolls took the cake on Christmas morning!
-Nothing beats a big holiday meal.
-An Ina inspired dessert. Scoops of ice cream with Christmas cookies.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Last week was a mix of busy activities, parties and birthday dinners as well as cozy nights in, movie marathons and early bedtimes. Kicked off the week with my company Christmas party. I work with such a fun group of people to celebrate with, including Santa. Ate and drank at a few new restaurants (OKC's best kept secret, for the moment). Welcomed the first snow of the season, a Thunder win, and a movie marathon on the couch while bitter cold temps hung out outside. 

Countdown to Christmas can officially begin. I can't believe I'm saying that. I'm looking forward to hopefully a busy week, then a slow weekend to really enjoy the holiday!

-Because it's not a holiday party without festive cookies. My fav.
-Santa Claus is coming to town, and company Christmas parties.
-Ditch the dishes, acorn squash becomes your bowl in last week's recipe post.
-Restaurant decor on point.
-The dreamiest european style cheese shop and bistro opened up in the neighborhood this week. Our experience had ups and downs, but if you are local please go visit En Croûte. Pronounced like this. 
-Breakfast for dinner because lazy and an effort to clean out the fridge. 
-Foodie friends are the best friends!
-Cozy tomato basil soup a la roomie was perfect for Sunday's high of 20 degrees...
-Trader Joe's Seafood Paella. YUP! (but I didn't eat the mussels, freaked me out too much sitting in a frozen bag for that long).

Annie

Bites of My Life

All food for this week's installment of 'Bites of My Life.' This is pretty much how this time of year goes. Lot's of cooking, baking, eating and drinking. The highlight of the week was when I got to switch out cooking as a hobby to cooking for work! The new restaurant my company is opening had a catering and needed an extra hand. I happily put on my apron to take a break from behind the computer.

Last week also consisted of a couple Christmas parties, Christmas shopping and Christmas baking. More of the same on tap for this week. 

-Can't get enough of this greek salad concoction using Trader Joe's frozen falafel. 
-White Chocolate Dipped Oatmeal Ginger Cookies, don't miss last week's recipe.
-This is what I call perfection.
-Festive avocado toast for a Christmas catering.
-A festive twist on a French 75 was the cocktail of the evening. 
-Got to step in as sous chef to help with a party my company was catering. On the menu was avocado toast, deviled eggs, mediterranean dips, and all the cheese, smoked salmon and charcuterie your heart can handle. It was way too fun.
-Sweet potato stuffed with roasted brussels, pomegranate perils and a dollop of hummus. 
-A london fog latte with homemade lavender marshmallow to keep me warm while shopping the holiday pop-ups.
-Pastrami with a side of joe at Kitchen No. 324.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Christmas time is here! Fully feeling all the holiday vibes after a visit to our local tree farm to pick up our tree yesterday. The past week I squeezed in some Christmas movies, attended a Christmas concert, finished my shopping (humble brag), decorated our little house and now I'm planning recipes to whip up this week. Any holiday recipes you are looking for? Beware I'm on a cookie craze right now...

-Avocado oil, s&p and lots of 21 Seasoning Salute form Trader Joes. 425 degrees for 25 minutes makes for the best roasted brussels.
-I've never been an egg nog fan, but this almond milk nog from Califia Farms has been the best after dinner treat or as a chug with breakfast!
-Crushing on this greek falafel salad I whipped up for last week. Get the deats here.
-Acai in OKC! Head to Organic Squeeze asap, they are everything.
-Kat's a bride again! Kinda... a year and a half later she finally got her bridal portraits done!
-Victory in Norman, OK for OU vs. OSU. 
-Sweet celebrations for Miss Matty!
-Mom's chili and decorating the tree. Keeping traditions strong!
-All is bright!

Annie

P.S. if you are still shopping, hopefully my gift guide round up can help!

Bites of My Life

The post-holiday slump starts now:( I hate how fast holidays come and go. Thankful that Christmas is around the corner, but to think I have to wait a whole year until dressing, pumpkin pie and creamed corn again, it's just plain sad. 

The Tucker Thanksgiving was top notch this year. The whole fam plus some, hours in the kitchen, multiple food babies, leftovers up to our ears; shopping, walking, drinking, eating, board games, football games, golf games, etc. I wish it didn't have to end! 

-Rice cake, almond butter, pumpkin puree and cinnamon for a quickie seasonal breakfast.
-Cranberry moscow mules to start the festivities!
-I am a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving dishes, but I risked it for the biscuit and updated our pies with homemade crust and the addition of cranberries to our apple pie!
-Cause the apps before the feast are just as important.
-Not to toot our own horn, but nobody does Thanksgiving better than my family of foodies. 
-The classic pie sampler plate to really send the Thanksgiving food baby into it's 3rd trimester. Cran Apple, Pumpkin and Pecan with homemade whipped cream!
-Sister squad. 
-A very happy #manksgiving! Congrats to Courtney and Hunter!
-Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, took a day out of my life. Kathleen and I spent a solid 6+ hours on the couch marathoning all the episodes. I can't help but love it because it's Gilmore and all, but I was also a little ehh about it. It seemed a little silly and like they were trying to hard at parts. Give me your thoughts!

Annie