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

Stuffed

There is no better way to describe "stuffed" than the way you feel after Thanksgiving. I feel like i have pecan pie and dressing and all the other food I ate last weekend coming out my ears I'm so full. In attempts to tone it back a bit this week, I found myself stuffed in a different way. Stuffed acorn squash that is. 

Roasted acorn squash filled with protein packed quinoa, white beans and nutrient dense kale has me feeling a little better about what I'm stuffed with. Check out a similar recipe from last year, for a little more acorn squash goodness.

Kale, Quinoa and White Bean Stuffed Acorn Squash
serves 4

Ingredients:
2 acorn squash
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups chopped kale
1, 15 oz can white beans, drained and washed
1 cup cooked quinoa
2 tsp. parsley, finely chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
red pepper flakes
salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy parts and discard. If your squash has a little tip on it, cut it off to create a flat bottom so the squash can sit up on a plate. Drizzle with a tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the squash face down on roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes or until tender. 

In the meantime, heat the remaining olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add in the onions and garlic and cook until translucent. Add in the kale and let it cook down. Add the beans and quinoa and combine. Squeeze in the lemon, add in a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or as much as you can handle, and season with salt and pepper. Add the filling to each crevice of the squash, garnish with chopped parsley and serve!

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Annie

It's Getting Chili

Once the temperature drops I pretty much crave chili for every single meal. It's the ultimate cold weather, warm you up meal. Chili is easily one of my favorite foods. I've attended too many chili cook-offs to count, made several pots myself and eaten an unhealthy amount of Fritos all for the sake of an excellent bowl of chili.

I've rounded up a pretty stocked list of different kinds of chili. Turkey chili, white chicken chili, veggie chili, etc. I adore all kinds of chili, buuuuut if you ask me nothing beats my momma's. I know everyone says that, but I'll fight you on it that her's really is the best. It even won my high school chili contest back in the day. No beans, ground beef, lots of spices, and tons of Fritos. Scroll through for some pin worthy chili recipes, but keep scrolling for momma Tucker's chili recipe!

1) Quick Bison Chili

2) Carne Asada Beer Chili

3) Chipotle Turkey Quinoa Chili

4) Spicy Chicken Chili with Pumpkin Beer Biscuits

5) Lentil and Quinoa Chili

6) Crockpot Chipotle Pulled Pork Pumpkin Chili with Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

7) White Chicken Chili

8) Salsa Verde Turkey Chili, made by me here.

9) 5-Ingredient White Chicken Chili, made by me here.

10) Warming Lentil Chili with Pumpkin

11) And now, the only chili recipe you need.

Mom's Chili

Ingredients:
2 lbs. lean chili meat
1/2 lb. lean ground chuck
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 heaping Tbsp. chili powder
1 heaping Tbsp. cumin
3/4 heaping tsp. oregano
1/2 heaping tsp. sage
2 heaping Tbsp. cornmeal
1-1 oz. Williams chili seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup Heinz chili sauce
1-6 oz. tomato paste
1-1 lb. can fire-roasted tomatoes
Fritos, sour cream, cheese, green onions to garnish

Directions:
Over medium heat, add a little bit of olive oil to a large stockpot or dutch oven. Sauté ground meats, onion, green pepper, and garlic until veggies are tender and the meat is almost cooked through. Add remaining ingredients, combining well. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover your pot, and simmer for 2 hours. Add more seasoning if desired. It's all up to your taste buds. Garnish with lots of cheese and Fritos. I like to do a bottom layer of Fritos, then a big helping of chili then lots of cheese, sour cream, green onions, and more Fritos!

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

Happy Friendsgiving!

To be honest, I can't believe I haven't had a Friendsgiving before now. Friendsgiving has become pretty trendy in the past few years, but we all know I'm not afraid to jump on a trend bandwagon. Friendsgiving pretty much combines all of my favorite things. Friends, food and Thanksgiving. 

Our first Friendsgiving was a success. It was potluck style so everyone contributed something making it very easy on myself. All paper everything made clean up so easy. I had a little too much fun planning for this night, I'm already brainstorming next years...

My contribution was this Pumpkin Galette. This is a recipe I pulled from the archives of my Pinterest. I've had it pinned for so long waiting for an opportunity to make it!

Not that I thought the food wouldn't be good, but I was extremely impressed with what everyone made. I love how most people brought old family recipes to share . There was Kathleen's ham, Bailey's sweet potatoes, Alex's stuffing, Madeline's green beans, Katie's cheesy au gratin potatoes, Sarah's butternut squash salad, Sarah Beth's brussels sprouts, Katie's corn casserole, Coralee's caesar salad, Sister Schubert's rolls (the best) brought by Kenzie!

Lindsay's date cookies, my pumpkin galette, Kathleen's apple cider cheesecake, Maddie's cherry pie, Lauren's pumpkin cookies, Alexis's chocolate candies, Elaine's pecan pie, pumpkin pie from Lauren, and Katie's caramel marshmallow popcorn! Not pictured was all the cheese to start the night courtesy of Stacia, Betsy, Trinian and Taylor.

Morning of I was nervous there wouldn't be enough wine. There was wine for an army, and then some!

10 Friendsgiving tips:

1. Make it pot-luck. Create a menu of what is needed and have everyone sign up to bring something. A well rounded menu of apps, meat, veggies, sides, rolls and dessert.
2. Use paper everything for easy clean-up. I ordered these kraft colored eco plates and wooden disposable silverware from Amazon and then bought napkins from Target.
3. DIY your decorations. Keep it minimal because the food will do most of the decorating. I kept everything neutral and stuck with a kraft and gold color scheme, and little pops of fall flowers. I made a banner from glitter scrapbook paper and little signs for the dessert, drink and food table. I rolled out kraft wrapping paper over a white table cloth for the food table and used chalk to decorate. Throw it away at the end and clean up is a snap.
4. Have wine, lots of wine. The perfect thing for people to contribute if they aren't comfortable cooking a dish.
5. Have oven space, for those dishes that need re-heating. 
6. Make sure to have hot plates or dish towels to set the hot dishes on.
7. Have serving spoons and knives for the food and dessert.
8. Make a playlist. My Dinner Party playlist is my go-to for events like this. 
9. Purchase to-go boxes so everyone gets to take home leftovers. I ordered these boxes, and everyone loved it.
10. Once it's party time, don't stress just have fun. All the work is done!

I'm so thankful for these friends, Friendsgiving, and a new tradition!

Annie