Bites of My Life

Gilmore Girls, cookies, happy hour, work, workout, eat repeat all led up to head out of town to the big D for OU/Texas weekend. Once in Texas it was shopping, eating, friends, late nights and a not so average gameday. We won, but I lost a bit. I love a weekend away, but nothing feels better than walking in your front door after a few days out of town.  

-Protein packed Monday with this round up of protein bars I got at the store. 
-I see matcha and I'm intrigued. I tried Trader Joe's matcha mix and it is as good as it gets. Highly recommend!
-Monday's work from home included lunch al fresco instead of al desko.
-Kathleen and I thought we were the only true Gilmore Girls fans who would wake up at 7am for #HappyBirthdayGilmore. Got to our local #LukesDiner (Cuppies and Joe) and were about 250 in line...turns out we aren't the only GG freaks. Skipped the line and opted for coffee at Hank's down the street. This all while wearing flannels and backward baseball caps...
-A friendly game of kickball happens every Wednesday this fall. I may not be the best player, but I provide the halftime snacks!
-Cauliflower fried rice made authentic by being served in a leftover take out box.
-First comes the dough, then comes the best cookies ever. Recipe posted last week. 
-Double the tikka c/o TJ's. Both are take a bite approved!
-Roommates by day, college rivals on Saturdays.
-My gameday turned out a little different and I sadly had to swap my fair corny dog for crackers and ginger ale. 
-Still easing a queasy stomach with the #1 comfort food and a lazy Sunday on the couch. 
-Testing out making my own coconut milk coffee creamer, taste TBD.

Annie

Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chip and Coconut Cookies (Best Cookies Ever)

I've firmly decided cookies are my favorite thing to bake and eat, when it comes to dessert. Cookies are fun to make, the dough is always great, they are equally great straight out of the oven and even a few days later. They are the best for sharing with friends and family and easy to stash in the freezer to pull out when you need a last minute dessert. 

I think I really got on the cookie train after my quest to fine the perfect CCC! Found here:) I made recipe after recipe and never got tired of baking cookies. My sweet roommate Lindz had her two childhood besties come stay with us way back in April. One of her friends had been following my chocolate chip cookie quest and said I had to try this recipe. The recipe is titled "Best Cookie Ever Recipe." With a name like that, how do you pass it up?

The recipe has been sitting on my phone, hiding, until I recently resurfaced it. No questions asked, I needed to make the "best cookies ever" stat! They are chock full of goodies (my favorite kind of cookies). Oatmeal, chocolate chips, pecans and the best-coconut. They'd even be great with some espresso powder, pretzels, potato chips, butterscotch chips etc. added in. Really whatever your heart desires. 

They are just one of those All-American cookies everyone will love! I baked off a ton last week and took them to our kickball league. I got thumbs up all around as we washed them down with Coors Light. It was a winning combo in our bellies and on the field. 

Best Cookies Ever
yields about 50 cookies

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 cups quick cook oatmeal
12 oz. bag of chocolate chips (2 cups)
2 cups coconut
2 cups chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars on high for two minutes. Scrape down sides. Add vanilla extract and eggs. In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until combined. Then add in all the goodies - oats, chocolate chips, coconut and pecans. 

Using a cookie scoop, place golf ball size balls of dough on your cookie sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, don't over bake! 

This recipe makes a ton! Perfect for sharing and storing leftover balls of dough in the freezer. I have about a dozen and half waiting for me to pull out tonight to bake off then take as house guest treats while I crash at the "Marge Motel" for OU/Texas this weekend!

Enjoy the best cookies ever!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I think October may rival to be one of my favorite months. The season really starts to set in, the weather actually starts to change and the month kicks off the holiday season. In saying that, this weekend indeed kicked off what is to be some good weeks ahead...I can feel it. 

My dearest sweetest best girl Katie got married and I was lucky to have a small part in her day. A gorgeous (unheard of) night, weather wise, set the tone for her big day. We drank, ate and danced the night away. The next day I spent lounging, lounging and some more lounging on the couch with family, friends, football and Chinese food. Then ended the weekend with a homemade pizza party. Let's go October!

-Crushing so hard on this salad right now. I've eaten it five times in the past week. You have to try it!
-My favorite lunch that keeps making an appearance.
-New BA and BC on the TV. Perfect afternoon!
-When you wear a royal blue jumper thinking you'll be "different." I guess great minds think alike!
-The day finally came for KG's wedding. She, it and everything was perfect! #Katiegotbax
-I've waited years for Starbucks almond milk. It's here and it's everything. 
-Obligatory pumpkin patch picture. 
-Whipping my front porch into shape for October. 
-It was a grilled pizza showdown for Sunday supper! Kathleen and John, Mom and Dad and myself were all responsible for our own pizza toppings. I think mom and dad won...

Annie

Fall Panzanella Salad with Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons

"That screams fall," said my roommate after taking one bite. It sure does and now I pretty much want to eat it every day in the coming season. 

If you aren't familiar, a panzanella salad is local to Italy, made of bread and tomatoes, sometimes onions and basil, and dressed with olive oil and vinegar. Panzanella now comes in many shapes and forms. For instance, this recipe uses cornbread as the bread component. I have a soft spot for cornbread. My family makes a basic cornbread that we put with just about every soup, stew, and chili we make. But pumpkin cornbread, I can't. I'm SOLD!

I love the layers of flavors and textures and temperatures in this salad. Warm roasted fall veggies, cold crisp apple and toasty pumpkin cornbread all with a maple vinaigrette. It's dense enough to have for dinner, but excellent for lunch too. 

A cornbread mix will totally suffice in this recipe since you are making them into croutons. If you can find a pumpkin cornbread mix-buy it, if you can't-make one, or just use regular cornbread. It will still be delish!

Fall Panzanella Salad with Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons adapted from Purely Elizabeth
serves 4 as a main dish, 6-8 as a side dish*

Ingredients:
2 cups butternut squash, diced into 1/2 in. size pieces
2 cups brussels sprouts, quartered
1 medium red onion, chopped into small wedges
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt and pepper
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 honey crisp apple
2 cups pumpkin cornbread, diced into 1/2 in. size pieces **see note
10 oz bag tuscan kale

Dressing:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
salt to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Chop butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and onion. Place veggies in columns on a foil lined roasting sheet. Drizzle olive oil over veggies. Season everything with salt and pepper. Sprinkle cinnamon over only the butternut squash. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender, stirring halfway though.

In the meantime, cut your cornbread into 1/2 pieces and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. Once the veggies are done, reduce the heat to 400 degrees and toast the cornbread for 10-15 minutes until the edges are crispy.

In a small mason jar or bowl combine dressing ingredients. Chop the honey crisp apple into a medium dice. 

To assemble; put kale in a large salad bowl. Top with roasted veggies, apple, croutons and drizzle with dressing. Toss and serve. 

*Single girl serving: Have all the components ready to go, but only toss one serving with the dressing. Keep everything else in the fridge to pull out each night for dinner. Store the veggies in the fridge and reheat, only cut part of the apple you are going to use and store the croutons wrapped in foil sitting out on the counter.

**Note: I used this pumpkin cornbread mix which is sadly now discontinued, but this recipe minus the pecans or this recipe are great. Regular cornbread would work too. Save the time and use a mix. You shush 'em up when you toast them anyway!

I kid you not when I say I have genuinely gotten so excited for dinner knowing I have this waiting for me. It's got it all going on. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

I'm freezing. In regards to weather I haven't said that since probably last February. Woke up this morning for a Barre3 class and my usual walk. I had a sweatshirt on, but still had to make a stop at Starbucks for some tea to warm my insides up. It was so cold (57 degrees <--- I'll be laughing in a few months at this) and I loved it! 

-Been making this loaded salad like crazy lately. Full with seasonal produce like sweet potatoes, beets, avocado and honey crisp apples. Tossed with homemade pumpkin dressing (recipe)!
-Tuesday night lights watching sis's cheer girls and BIL's 8th grade footballers. They pride themselves on being the real life Tammy and Coach Taylor. 
-Post game froyo. Seasonal choices of PSL, snickerdoodle and pistachio.
-10 things I already love and 10 things I'm trying now that OKC's Trader Joe's is open. Did you see my post? 
-Get me out of the office and in to a coffee shop if you want me to really be productive. Lucky for me, my job allows that. 
-The sweetest little package, with the best surprise inside! I get to be a bridesmaid for for my Madeline and I can't wait!
-Geeked out when I saw this superfood turmeric, ginger and beet Larabar, but it kind of tasted like grass...
-How gorg is Nancy's version of my Pumpkin Green Smoothie? She is a smoothie bowl queen!
-Put a dent in my wallet, but couldn't be more excited to spend it on TJ goods!
-Beer tasting and my besties for a perfect Friday night. 
-Fair food should always come jumbo size and should always leave you with a stomach ache. This Indian Taco did just that. 
-Came for the Eli Young concert, stayed for the rodeo and silver bullets. 

Annie