Bites of My Life

Week 6, we have arrived. Pretty much just going through the motions at this point? Anyone else feel like they are in a quarantine daze?

-Been starting my day with a “Vitamin C Elixer” so I call it. Just a mix of citrus you have on hand, for me that’s a splash of grapefruit juice, orange juice and lemon, with a pinch of cayenne and hot water. I don’t know if it does much, but it makes me feel like I’m starting each day on the right foot.
-Take A Bite celebrated 7 years last week!
-A few of my quarantine staples.
-While in Oklahoma City, one must drink a Club Special (and a brandy ice, which I have not crossed off my list yet). This regional cocktail is an Okie fave and mine. 1/3 part vodka, 1/3 part limeade, splash of sprite, splash of club soda and a lime!
-Used this recipe as a guide for our “use what you have carbonara.” Swapped Italian sausage for guanciale and added peas, because pro peas in carbonara.
-Turned Perfect CCC’s into pizookies, and no one was mad about it.
-Went Live on Instagram with my friend Elyse yesterday making our Coffee Cake Cookies. These cookies are truly so good!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Different. Probably a word we all used a million times this past week and especially when referring to Easter. It was different to not be in church on Sunday morning. It was different to not have family over for a big brunch. It was different to not have the sounds of The Masters streaming in the background all weekend. It was different, but it was still great. Great for the invention of technology and getting to watch and hear a beautiful sermon from the comfort of the couch. Great to get to watch my nieces hunt eggs, even if it was from a distance and from inside the car. Great to support a local restaurant I love by opting out of cooking and purchasing our Easter meal from them instead. Great having the reminder that even though this time period is “different,” it is out of my control, it’s not to be feared, it’s being taken care of by the greatest of them all.

-Easter has now passed but my Easter Recipe Roundup post is still fun of 25 recipes perfect for spring!
-Loaded baked potato. Something I would never make for myself, but indulging with a smile on my face since I haven’t had to pay for groceries since the middle of March!!!
-Spring is looking extra cute on the houses spotted on my 1 of 3 daily walks.
-My all-time favorite salad in Dallas, at home! We’ve made this a few times and surprisingly had most all of the ingredients without having to go to the store. Saved the recipe in highlights.
-Reality but rockin’ in.
-A lot of Defined Dish recipes have been going down for dinner around here. A lot of coconut aminos have also been used. Mom and dad love the meals but are less than enthused about coconut aminos replacing soy sauce…
-Started Friday morning with a group zoom workout with some of my best friends, with another best friend leading the class. Something we would really never do if it wasn’t for quarantine. #perk
-Grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, tequila and topo chico. Writing this makes me want to make another. Really winning in the spring quarantini category.
-Just mom, dad and I and a store-bought meal. Different but delicious.

Annie

Bites of My Life

As we enter week 4 of social distancing, it’s feeing more and more normal. However I think this upcoming weekend is going to be hard and one of the hardest for a lot of people. With Easter this coming Sunday, but everyone still having to shelter in place, it’s going to look different. Some traditions will have to be set to the side. This is something I hate to see, but have grown to adapt to and accept change better as I’ve gotten older. There is so much change happening right now, and I hope and pray you are all hanging in there!

I’m working on an Easter baking blog post that I hope to get up tomorrow. If you can’t be with loved ones, maybe you plan a facetime baking date? Lemon loaf baked with your family or friends with the help of technology? That’s a new tradition I can get behind!

-Finally made #thestew. I loved it, but this recipe already had my name written all over it before I even cooked it. Turmeric, coconut milk, chickpeas, sold.
-The worst part of quarantining in OKC is that my little nieces are down the street and I can’t play with them. Got to say hi from 6 feet away though!
-Finally tried my hand at Dalgona/Whipped coffee! Have you seen this social media sensation? I’m still tweaking my recipe but shared my tips on IG highlights.
-Best friend zoom turned murder mystery. Oh and I was the one who got murdered….
-Did you see my April Fool’s post?
-Not that we are snobs, but we are kind of food snobs. We felt out of character eating frozen pizza, but not for one second did we think it wasn’t delicious. Props to my dad for stocking the freezer with TJ’s finest.
-Experimenting with a little something that involves these butterfly prints!
-Since everyone is breaking bread during quarantine, I couldn’t be left out! Used this recipe and it turned out great!
-Started my Friday baking bread, ended my Friday baking Perfect CCCs on Facebook Live!
-And then really topped off the day with this broccoli bolognese which I highly recommend.
-Just me, Gabe and my ankle weights for a Saturday stroll.
-Week 3 of quarantine IG Live’s, this week making my Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars! Full video is saved on instagram.

Annie

Bites of My Life

A few virtual happy hours, learned a new skill, live streamed workouts, supported local restaurants through take-out, went on about 10 walks and started watching Tiger King. Am I a quarantine queen yet? In all seriousness the gravity of coronavirus gets more real by the day as people nearer and dearer are being effected. It’s looking like the next few weeks/months will be spent at home, and I’m just really thankful for technology, and being under the same roof as loved ones. Staying in and counting my blessings.

-Forever thankful for my wild bunch of Kappa college besties. We are spread out amongst Oklahoma, Texas and London, and it somehow took quarantine to get us to do a group video chat for the first time. Realizing this needs to keep up even after Covid-19.
-When you gave up chips for lent and order tex-mex take out. Cucumbers don’t replace tortilla chips let me tell you that.
-Under-eye patches all morning is a work from home luxury I’m leaning into!
-Spoiled spoiled spoiled by quarantining at my parents! Amazing meals every day.
-Hooked on these protein banana pancakes! Indulgent but healthy and the recipe is saved in my highlights!
-Spent 9 hours on Friday learning how to edit videos. Check out my amateur handy work here.
-Finally got around to making the famous “Clayton’s Margaritas.” Despite adding too much egg white, for not liking margaritas, these were great.
-Prepping for another Instagram LIVE Sunday by flat laying my ingredients, but also taking this as a moment to show off my new leggings that I’m obsessed with (which are giving me Carol Baskin/Tiger King vibes but I’m going with it).
-These IG Lives are just too fun to be honest! Blueberry Banana Muffins were a hit with everyone who tuned in! This recipe is a few years old and I forgot how dang good they are.

Annie

Bites of My Life

How are you doing? How are you holding up? How is working from home? We are now at the start of official self distancing week two. While it feels like we are all falling into a rhythm it’s still just so strange. Conversations I’ve had often go like this, “I just can’t believe this.” or “I feel like we are in a movie.” and the worst “How long is this really going to last?” The truth is we don’t know. We are not in control. We can all do our part to help, but God will get us to the finish line. While I’ve struggled to make that my guiding principle through this, I’m confident it’s the truth.

-Very lucky to be at my parents during all of this. Their stocked fridge has me feeling very thankful.
-Lots of hugs and kisses from my nieces before we all decided it would be best to stay 6 feet apart for a while :(
-Walk then wine with my bestie Maddie. Last week was hard for a gajillion reasons, but especially for Maddie after having to reschedule her wedding.
-Wannabe Bibimbap Bowls being made in the #quarantinedkitchen.
-My go to “quarantini” has been a combo of tequila, lots of lime juice and Le Croix.
-Wondering if wearing plastic gloves at the grocery store will be the new normal even after Covid-19?
-Finished this book last week and highly recommend for a mind escape!
-Sunday morning avocado toast, Pioneer Woman and a side of Calm gummies.
-Perfect CCCs went live on Instagram yesterday, did you watch?