Annie's Espresso Martini

Y’all, people in Dallas, TX love them a good espresso martini. I swear it’s the brandy ice of Texas. Like most things, I’ve jumped right on board. A late night at The Mansion for live music and an espresso martini is a recipe for a great night and a hangover - ha! However, here’s my caveat with espresso martinis, I can’t do caffeine. I can’t do caffeine in the morning - jitter sister, and I sure as heck can’t do caffeine around 10:00 o’clock at night.

So, enter Annie’s Espresso Martini! I use a decaf shot of espresso and the best coffee liqueur. Disclaimer, there is a little caffeine in the liqueur, but it’s fine, I’m fine. And now don’t at me for not garnishing with coffee beans, once you garnish with chocolate shavings you’ll never go back.

Annie’s Espresso Martini
yields 1 martini

Ingredients:
.75 ounce Tito’s Vodka
.75 ounce Patrón XO Cafe (coffee liqueur)*
1 decaf espresso shot, or 1 ounce of instant coffee*
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
coffee beans or chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:
Run your martini glass under water and shake off any excess, then place in the freezer. This will help keep your martini extra cold. Pull your shot of espresso and let it cool while you prepare the other ingredients. Into your martini shaker add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and vanilla extract. Add in your cooled espresso shot and fill halfway up with ice. Shake until the shaker is freezing cold, about 12-15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and top with 3 coffee beans or chocolate shavings. Cheers!

Bartenders notes:
*I prefer Patron’s coffee liqueur, it has a deep chocolate-like flavor that is crazy good. To avoid buying a huge bottle for one drink, you can often find them in mini airplane shot sizes at most big-box liquor stores. Kahlúa or any coffee liqueur will do.

*I prefer using decaf here because unless I’m drinking this martini at breakfast 😜I don’t need the caffeine. If you have an espresso machine at home great, if you don’t, you can order a single shot for cheap from Starbucks. Instant coffee also works great here since it’s typically very strong.

*.75 ounce is just shy of a small jigger if you have a double-sided jigger

Does anyone else follow the hilarious @espresso.martinis Instagram account? I give this a 10/10!

Annie

My Cocktail Shaker Kit (under $35)
My Martini Glasses (set of 4 under $15)

Del Corazon Ensalada

When you’re trying to be healthy at a tex-mex restaurant, so you order a salad only to have it change your life. I had this salad from Mesero for the first time last Friday. It comes across very basic on the menu, but I literally couldn’t get enough of it. The Del Corazon reads: bibb lettuce, hearts of palm, avocado, heirloom grape tomato, house-made vinaigrette. I’m having a moment with hearts of palm and artichokes after finding out they are sneaky full of fiber. So when I saw them in this salad I said add chicken and call it dinner.

It was one of those meals that as I was eating I knew I would have to recreate it. I know it sounds strange to have such a draw to a salad, but your girl loves her an entree salad so go with me. I woke up Saturday morning ehhhh slightly hungover after a few too many ranch waters and wanted nothing but said salad. I could have had it delivered but we were looking at $20+ after fees, so I walked my booty to my neighborhood Trader Joe’s and bought enough ingredients to serve four people at the same price delivery would have been.

I’ll wrap it up now and you can keep scrolling for the recipe. Oh and because this is everything, del corazon translates to from the heart, and I love this salad with all my heart.

Del Corazon Ensalada
serves 4

Ingredients:
1 - 7oz bag of butter lettuce
2 cups of spinach
1 avocado, cubed in large chunks
12oz. can hearts of palm, drained and sliced
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes

Dressing:
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (if you don’t have red pepper flakes a few dashes of hot sauce works great)
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. mustard (dijon or whole grain works best)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Start by prepping all of your toppings and salad dressing. The chicken cooks fast, so I like to do it last that way you can add the hot crispy chicken right to the top of the salad.

In a large salad bowl toss the butter lettuce and spinach together. Add the avocado, tomatoes, and hearts of palm on top. In a small bowl or mason jar, add all of the dressing ingredients, reserving 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Whisk or shake to combine, then set aside.

Heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed chicken and let cook on one side, without moving, for about 2-3 minutes. You want to get that good crispy crust. Flip and cook for 2- 3 minutes on the other side. From there sprinkle a large pinch of salt over the chicken and stir around in the pan to make sure it is fully cooked through and crispy golden brown. Add the hot chicken to you salad. Pour on the dressing and toss to combine. Finish with some fresh ground pepper and cilantro leaves if you choose.

Annie

Bites of My

I’ve started reading White Fragility, I’ve attended a protest, I’ve signed a few petitions, followed black influencers (some favorites include Oh Happy Dani and Anna Mae Groves), but I know it is not enough. How is everyone doing?

-Daily 3:00pm snack of GG pizzas are on a serious rotation around here. I’ve been reading a lot about fiber and how beneficial it can be in our diet. GG crackers are very bland fiber-filled crackers, but once they are topped with marinara, almond milk cheese, and pepperoni, they are basically pizza Lunchables.
-I wish you could see the full glamour that is this WFH outfit, but what you are missing with this midi dress, cardigan situation is my running shoes to top it off. G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S.
-Protein pancakes are easily one of my favorite breakfasts!
-An easy and cheap Trader Joe’s cheeseboard using a few of my staples: Spanish cheese tapas sampler, crispbreads, pepperoni, with some berries and then basil from my porch herbs!
-A baby strawberry sheet cake for a little birthday celebration for my bestie girl Jordan!
-Espresso Martinis for Tini Tuesday!! Recipe getting shared Thursday!
-I attended a Black Lives Matter protest last week. The protest was based on prayer and was led by a local church group. We sang hymns and attendees gave their testimony. We then joined in on a march from City Hall through downtown. It was slightly out of my comfort zone but encouraging to see so many people gathered together to fight for a change.
-Sharing the recipe for this salad tomorrow because I cant.stop.making.it.
-This picture doesn’t do it justice, but I’ve been bitten by the @isaacboots bug and I can’t get enough. I found him from doing Obe workouts and now I strictly do only his sculpt classes. however, he also does an IG live that is 50 minutes everyday and I’ve been tuning in when time permits. They are killer but SO fun.

Annie

Bites of My Life

The pictures below don’t represent the state of my heart or our country. While last week was a really great week, it was paralleled by a very sad week, weekend, and coming days. I don’t want to be naive, but I’m hopeful of the change stirring in myself and my peers. It’s hard and uncomfortable to put thoughts to words, but I’m reflecting and learning, and wanting to change alongside all of us who need this change of heart.

-Been clutching onto LiquidIV to help get my afternoon dose of water.
-I live for a freezer foraging single girl meals. Turkey burger, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
-Drinks at lunch for a birthday cheers! Thankful for a family who will drive three hours just to have lunch with me!
-Turned 27, but forever the baby in my famili’s eyes.
-What was supposed to be a casual get-together with friends at my apartment, turned into a full birthday party including all of my favorites who don’t live near.
-Thank you to Margaret and Olivia for not letting my golden birthday slide by. This was truly one of my best birthdays ever. And if you haven’t had the celebration cake from Susie Cakes you are seriously missing out.
-I’ve been loving this sun-dried tomato, basil and mozzarella omelette on the weekends.
-Celebrating #BrittWillBeBridges!
-When the future Bauer’s double as your personal chef and besties.

Annie

27 bites: 27 Lessons Learned

27 Lessons Learned in 27 Years

I was never afraid of growing up per se. I’m the baby of the family and had a late birthday growing up in school. I count myself mature for my age and have always had a smidge of old soul in me. Well that fear of growing up subsided until last year when I was approaching 26. I was not having it. Twenty five, cool cool, I can handle that, I sounded legitimate, more likely to be taken seriously professionally compared to 24, but 26 that’s practically 30, and 27 for-get-about-it.

Last year I hit 26 and then shortly moved to Dallas two weeks later. That particular birthday seemed daunting, but was quickly forgotten once I had a pep in my step due to a new city to explore and thrive in. Twenty six quickly felt like the perfect age.

Now back to 27 because today is my 27th birthday - yikes! After random pangs of fear of turning 27 over the past year, feeling like I haven’t done enough in my 27 years, or that my life isn’t exactly how I pictured it (I used to always think I’d go to college, meet my husband, get married around 24 and have a kid by 26 - hilarious!!), I woke up one morning back in January realizing that my birthday this year would actually be my golden birthday. I’m a sucker for signs like this, so I took it as a knock to embrace 27. My first niece was born on 7/27/17, this is my 7th year of blogging, I’m turning 27 on the 27th…these might be a stretch, but I’m going with good juju for year 27.

I’ve swallowed the pill that 27 is way closer to 30 than I would like it to be, but the fact that I feel like an infant in the grand scheme of life means I’m going to roll with that feeling instead of the my life is over feeling. That same night I woke up realizing this would be my golden birthday, I quickly started rattling off things I’ve learned in my 27 years in a note on my phone, and today I’m sharing them with you.

1. Hold your best friends tight, but don’t be shy about making new ones.

2. Don’t get stagnant. In your job, in your friendships, in your home. 

3. Don’t be afraid of change, embrace it.

4. Don’t be afraid to make new traditions. As the youngest child you especially have to learn to accept this.

5. Have dance parties in your house by yourself, often. 

6. Belt songs alone in your car loudly, like really loud.

7. Develop an interest in music. It helps feed any emotion you are feeling or want to feel. It also comes in handy to know the words to songs for impromptu karaoke and pop culture references.

8. Take interest in food. I’m not just saying this because I write a food blog, but food brings us together and creates memories in ways other things don’t. But please don’t be a picky eater, too much deliciousness out there to be picky.

9. A walk a day, keeps the doctor away (except during spring allergies).

10. Move your body. It keeps you sane. And I don’t just mean cardio, lift a weight here and there.

11. Have a go-to dish. Something you can whip up at for a last-minute party, bring to friend just because, share with new neighbors, etc. Maybe it’s easy guacamole or a killer cookie recipe, hi Perfect CCC’s 😉.

12. Early morning baking is the best kind of therapy. I prefer Saturday’s at 6AM before anyone is up and I can be with me, myself, and cookies. Try it.

13. It’s okay to feel a certain kind of way, and it’s okay to talk about it. It’s also okay to be nervous to talk about it. 

14. Jealousy is the devil. Recognize that and move on.

15. Kiss FOMO goodbye.

16. Take hold of your finances. Save, invest, repeat.

17. Renting a home or an apartment isn’t throwing away money and don’t let someone make you feel bad for not owning a house.

18. Your parents and Google have the answer to pretty much everything.

19. Read. A book, a magazine, this blog, anything. Audible doesn’t count.

20. Go to college to find your bridesmaids, not your husband.

21. When all of your girlfriends are in relationships, don’t resent them if your life looks different. Love them, support their relationship, and then go invest in good guy friends.

22. Suck up your pride and get on a dating app if you’re looking for a relationship.

23. Wear confidence like your favorite sweater. Life’s too short to be shy.

24. Develop a routine that works for you. If that’s going to bed at 9PM and drinking decaf coffee, own it.

25. Take vitamins, wash your face, wear sunscreen (because everyone tells you to anyway).

26. 27 is old, be mature.

27. 27 is young, there’s still time.

Annie