A Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Make the yule-tide gay

Next year all our troubles will be miles away 

Once again as in olden days (Happy Birthday Claire!)

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Will be near to us once more

Someday soon, we all will be together

If the fates allow

Until then, well have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Can you believe we are only three days away from Christmas? I love this time of year and all the joy and excitement it brings, but it's also bittersweet knowing in just a few days it will be over and we have to wait a whole year until the next holiday season. 

Since getting out of school I've done a lot of sleeping, eating and working. It's been fabulous. I like to lay low during breaks. I enjoy just hanging around with my parents and being calm during such a busy time of year. It's the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be quickly rushed through without really enjoying everything the season brings. 

This holiday is a little different than years past. It's the first time oldest sis Claire won't be here for a Christmas or her birthday (Christmas Eve), it will just be mom, dad and I on Christmas Eve, as Kathleen spends the day with her fiancé, and we also won't have my dear grandmother. She passed just before Christmas last year. I think it was so sudden last year I didn't think about it, but this year feels different without her.  There are a lot of changes around here, but I'm somehow easily at peace with it all. That says a lot coming from a person who doesn't like to mess with tradition. No matter the changes it is still a season of hope, love, joy and peace! Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas! 

-Gingersnap smoothie goodness to start the week off right.

-Awesome hearty mushroom soup from Nourished Food Co.

-Homemade lo mein for a sister dinner.

-After dinner dessert was homemade fig newtons.

-My happy place followed me to OKC. Welcome to Midtown Chirps and Cheers.

-Stuffed acorn squash via this recipe. 

-Warm vermicelli bowl for a cold December night.

-Gingersnap smoothie recreated for a 1/4 of the price. Recipe posted last week!

-It's all about the presentation.

-An afternoon delight while working at the pop-up shops!

-A taste of Germany now that Fassler Hall opened in the city.

-Foodie Christmas gift exchange from my blogger bestie. 

-Spent my weekend working at the Holiday Pop-Up shops! I have a special place in my heart for these little shops!

-My Cookie Butter Rice Krispies got a touch of holiday spirt added to them!

-Happy to be in the same place with two of my favorite people!

Annie

Wrap It Up

It's almost here, it's almost here, Christmas day is almost here! "I absolutely loooove Christmastime!" Eloise anyone? If you know me well, you know I like checking things off my to-do list and being as productive as possible. 

This year I was a little down to the wire, which let's be honest stressed me out a bit, but all the shopping and wrapping is finally done.

I'll be honest again, I judge a book by it's cover. So when it comes to wrapping up my gifts, it's all about presentation. Last year I went all out with yarn pom pom balls and Christmas trees adorning my gifts. This year, I kept things more simple by using custom giftwrap from Tiny Prints!

I added a little personal touch to some of their wrapping paper designs by changing the colors and adding my name to the paper. Like I said before, it's all about presentation! Yarn, ribbon, candy canes and bows helped spice them up a bit too!

I mean how cute do these look under the tree? Only 6 sleeps till Christmas!

Annie

Oh Snap!

On Monday I had the most delicious gingersnap smoothie from Organic Squeeze. I love their smoothies, but passing over $8 for a drink is a little difficult for me. By the time I had slurped down the last drop I had already decided I was going to recreate this smoothie at home.

It was so smooth and spicy and tasted exactly like my Mom's ginger cookie dough. Breakfast that tastes like cookie dough gets an A+ in my book. 

This smoothie is all about the spices. There are a lot of them, but that's what gives it that signature gingersnap taste!

Gingersnap Smoothie
yields 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1/2 glass of ice
1/2 cup almond milk
 2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. molasses
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated ginger or ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender, add more ice or almond milk depending on how thick you want it. Pour in a glass and top with extra nutmeg!

Happy healthy holidays!

Annie

Christmas Crack

Tis' the season for Christmas treats! You probably all know my dear friend Molly by now, she's my blogger bestie and foodie twin. In holiday spirit she wanted to share with me her favorite sugary treat! 

Every year her family makes these delicious Christmas Crackers. I shortened the name because...well you just have to make them and then you will understand. Layers of salty Saltine crackers, topped with a toffee like glaze and melty chocolate make up this truly sinful treat! 

I made these for a tailgate party along with my rice krispies and they both quickly disappeared. I baked up another batch to bring home to my family and the same thing happened.

A beautiful glaze of pure butter and brown sugar. That's what Christmas is all about. 

I love this stage where the hot butter mixture melts the chocolate chips to then be spread all over the top of the cookies!

Christmas Crack
recipe c/o Bridget's Own Diary 

Ingredients:

1 sleeve (1/4 box) Saltine crackers

2 sticks of butter

1 cup of light brown packed sugar

12 oz/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

5 oz sliced almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 15" x 10" jelly roll pan with a 1" edge, line it with heavy duty aluminum foil.

Lay the crackers in the foil-lined pan with the edges touching and no overlap. Melt 2 sticks of butter and the cup of brown sugar over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. After 3 minutes, pour the boiling mixture over the crackers as evenly as possible. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 6 minutes. 

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly across the hot mixture. Wait 2 or 3 minutes for the chocolate to melt, then spread evenly with a spatula without disturbing the crackers. Sprinkle about half the bag of almonds across the top.

Cool one hour at room temperature, and then place the crackers in the freezer to harden for 45 minutes. Break into bite size pieces for eating and sharing!

Molly and her eye of capturing an image will always beat my mediocre iPhone camera skills. But here you see her families crackers being packaged to hand out to family and friends! 

Happy holidays and may your days be filled with lot's of sweets and Christmas Crack!

Annie