Bites of My Life

Last week was really nice. Days were productive, but not overly busy, despite missing three days of work the previous week. I was able to enjoy the amazing fall weather we have been graced with and even better got to enjoy some much needed fall baking. Need as in needed for my sanity. I get off my tracks a bit if I go too long without baking. 

-I was in post-wedding depression the better half of last week so I opted to drink my morning smoothie out of the commemorative "Elmgreen" bar glass that was handed out at as a favor from Claire's wedding!
-Brought back this Fall Panzanella Salad with Cornbread Croutons from last year to have for lunches last week!
-Perfected the best baked salmon. Perfectly seared then baked to perfection!
-Stopped by my parents to pick up a few things on Tuesday and found this stew on the stove. I quickly invited myself for dinner. Mom used this recipe, but subbed quinoa for rice. 
-All the best recipes hide in this book. I love when I get to use it! I gathered all of our family favorite recipes and compiled them into a cookbook to gift each family member last year for Christmas. 
-See all these things... get ready for the end result, coming in recipe form later this week!
-Chili is my favorite food. Hence my love for the event mentioned next. Pictured here is a sampling I had of duck chili with creme fraiche and green onion topping. But nothing beats my momma's chili. 
-A local marketing company puts on a Chili Cook-Off downtown every October. I've attended as a patron the past 3 years, but was so excited to help represent The Jones Assembly as a contender this year!
-I love rice cakes, anyone else? They kind of taste like Styrofoam but are also kind of delicious. Smothered in almond butter and paired with turmeric scrambled eggs leads to a delicious weekend breakfast. 
-Trader Joe's Multi-Grain O's on top or bottom of my smoothies all last week. It is that extra little umph my smoothies were needing and satisfies the "crunch" amongst all the sips!
-After spending Friday night in Tulsa for Octoberfest, I had the most relaxing Saturday. AKA laid on the couch all day (which I never do so it felt amazing). Got up once to go to the store after Lindsay and I settled on making this for dinner. Having the leftovers for dinner tonight and I'm eager to get home to heat them up because it was SO GOOD!
-Did a step-by-step video on my instagram story yesterday on how I store my fresh ginger that I use in my daily smoothies. Not that anyone should care, but hope some of you saw and it found it helpful! If you have questions on how I do this, shoot me a message!

Annie

What I'm Listening To...

If you've come within about 10 feet of me in the past two weeks you have probably heard me or seen me embarrassingly jamming out to Bakermat's "Baby." My obsession spurred from the current Old Navy commercial that is on TV right now. It only got worse when I took Kathleen's Barre3 class a couple weeks ago and the song was on her playlist. Cue internal dance break mid b3 combo work.

Bakermat's version is based off Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way." Which the DJ just so happened to play at Claire's wedding this past weekend. Cue dance break round 2. Only this time it was not internal. It was a full on push the guests to the side/form a circle around Annie/watch me embarrassingly think I'm good at dancing and singing kind of dance break. I pray there was no picture proof captured by the photographer. I should really keep my jam outs to by myself in my car...

Annie

Bites of My Life

Last Tucker girl standing. Claire is officially a married women. Serious depression flying home yesterday from such an incredible weekend. Still haven't slipped back into routine, Hint why this post is coming at you Monday night. 

Kathleen, John, Elle and I landed in Brooklyn last Wednesday. The pictures below don't do the wedding weekend justice. Especially since I don't know how to import video into my collages, so you are missing out on our very impressive and equally embarrassing (on our part) maid's of honor speech. Think feathered fans, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Every detail from the flowers, to the venue, to the food, the amazing food, to the dance party were perfect. Best wishes Claire and Mike, love you guys so much and loved this weekend!

-Double dose of sweet potato. The OG and in soup form. 
-Turmeric Smoothie on repeat with these turmeric packets from Republic of Tea. Should I do a recipe post for this??
-Traveling with an 11 week old is not for the faint of heart.
-Farro salad with poached eggs and pesto from Five Leaves. Our group self-nominated it as the best restaurant in Brooklyn after each visiting guest made their way there to eat at some point over the weekend. 
-Most gorgeous bride!
-These two have set the wedding bar extremely high. 
-Snapshots from the best night ever.
-New York must: walk through central park. 
-Blocking the haters. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

It's wedding week!!!!! We are headed to Brooklyn later this week as we prepare for Claire and Mike to tie the knot. We have been waiting for this day for years! From previous experience, Tucker weddings are a little too fun, I'm sure this will be no different. Last week's bites are below, but stay tuned for a wedding week bites post coming next Monday!

-What's for lunch? Elle!! 
-Another Cookie Pizza recipe because there is really nothing more fun to eat and they are perfect for birthdays. I shared this Triple Chip Cookie Pizza recipe last week with perfect pictures from KGC Photography. 
-A little downward dog action with #GabetheBabe! Catch us on the StudioHop insta. 
-A go-to single girl meal, this time fit for a 5 year old. Trader Joe's Frozen turkey burger cooked up and served salad style and with a smile. 
-Give me Mexican food and a bingo card and I'm sure to have a good time. A successful fiesta raising money for Infant Crisis Services. 
-Love getting to be apart of the restaurant industry and the friends it has brought my way. Congrats Neighborhood Jam, a sure success. Brunch all day starts tomorrow as they open their doors. PSA get the biscuits and apple jam.  
-Snoozin' for the Sooners. After our loss on Saturday I'm feeling the same way as Elle about this season...
-Late night cookies and milk at The Jones Assembly with my sweet treat lover Maddie. 
-This is the snack mix I based my Banana Chip Savory Snack Mix. I don't have time to make a batch of mine before heading out of town, so the original will do and will make the perfect Whole 30 airplane snack! And booch cause it was on sale at Uptown Grocery for $1.99!!

Annie

Triple Chip Cookie Pizza

Back by popular demand...another cookie pizza recipe! This time loaded with THREE different kinds of chocolate chips; semi-sweet, dark, and white!

Cookie Pizzas are becoming my go to party/celebration food. I've made them for a handful of birthdays, watch parties and a housewarming party. The nostalgia of cookie cakes really makes people freak over them. And if you spent 5 minutes at the University of Oklahoma you without a doubt had a taste of a Cookies & Cards "cookie pizza."

A few weeks ago I spent the morning with my girl Katie of KGC photography. You may remember her from this post. We got together for turmeric lattes, photography and baking. Baking a cookie pizza that is. 

Not to toot my own horn, but I can make a mean dessert. But Katie knows how to shoot it to make it even prettier than it tastes! 

This cookie pizza recipe was for a special bestie/roomie's birthday so it got a decoration of multi-colored sprinkles. And since just chocolate chips seemed too boring, white chocolate and dark chocolate got added to the mix. Not that just chocolate chip cookies are bad, because we all know I have a thing for Perfect CCCs. In fact, this pizza recipe is adapted from my CCC recipe!

A cookie bigger than my stomach is the best kind of cookie. Find my other cookie pizza recipes here, here and here. 

Triple Chip Cookie Pizza

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
sprinkles (optional)

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
splash of milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a large mixing bowl or round object, about 10 inches in diameter, trace a circle on the parchment paper. Flip the parchment paper over so you don't get any pencil or pen marks when you spread out the dough.

Cream butter and sugars in an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract.  Add flour, baking powder and salt, and mix on low until the dough comes together. Add your assorted chocolate chips, reserving a few of each kind, you'll understand why in a second. Give it all another stir.

With clean hands spread the dough out on the parchment lined baking sheet. Spread the dough out, filling the circle shape you drew. Before baking, press a few of each kind of chocolate chip into the top of the pizza. This ensures for an extra pretty cookie! Bake for 10-12 minutes. Start on the low end. The key to yumminess in this cookie pizza is for it to be slightly underdone! You want to take it out just before it starts to brown. Then let it cool completely.

While the pizza cools, make your glaze. Using a hand mixer or whisk, whisk powdered sugar and vanilla, and a splash of milk until smooth and glossy. Add a touch more milk if you need to. It should be the consistency of Elmers glue. Drizzle the glaze over the top in a swirly whirly pattern of your choice. Top with sprinkles if you prefer. 

Cut with a pizza cutter and store in a pizza box. 

Annie

photos by KGC Photography