Bites of My Life

Bye January!!!!! Blah blah month is officially over! February, I am welcoming you with open arms. I can already tell you are going to kick January's tush. February holds the first sights of spring, fresh blooms, valentine's day, chocolate, red and pink, kings cake, mardi gras, and a leap year. I feel like since it only comes around every four years, a leap year has to hold some kind of good luck!

Last week was a little bit of yay and a little bit of nay. Some delicious bites per usual, lots of baking, weather over 60 degrees, new recipes, new restaurants, and the end of the Barre3 challenge. Farewell Jan, bonjour Feb! 

-My sister is a granola making machine, and I'll be honest it kind of bugs me how much better she is at it than me. Yes I admitted it. I have repeatedly failed at homemade granola, BUT, I did it, I finally made the most perfect batch of granola and I haven't been this proud in a while. Follow this recipe and you can too!
-Getting my greens in to help finish the #barre3challenge strong.
-The most satisfying non-guilty sweet treat -- caramel rice cake with almond butter and coconut chips.
-Loving everything in Giada's new cookbook, especially these black bean brownies. 
-An egg baked in a sweet potato, there is nothing wrong with this. 
-No concert like a country concert. Thanks Randy Rogers.
-It was gorgeous outside on Saturday, but I couldn't help but stay in and bake up a kitchen of sweets. Lots of recipes shared with friends and family and soon to y'all!
-Thankful for a family that tags along while I drag them to places outside of their comfort zone. Even better when they love it. OKC's new modern korean, Chae, is a win!
-Ended the last day of the #barre3challenge with one last Barre3 meal of their Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry.

Annie

Baked Egg Sweet Potato

A quick recipe post because I couldn't wait to share it! I am lucky enough to work pretty close to home, so I love when I have the chance to run home for lunch instead of shoveling in a sub-par salad at my desk. 

I've had this image of an egg baked in a sweet potato floating around in my pool of recipe ideas for a while. Yesterday I was able to sneak home for lunch and finally got around to making it. It's the same idea as baking an egg in an avocado.

A little coconut butter, salt and pepper then a runny baked egg make this the most satisfying lunch. If really helped me get over the mid day hump of hump day.

Baked Egg Sweet Potato

Ingredients: 
1 sweet potato
1 egg
coconut oil
salt
pepper
red pepper flakes

Directions:
Cook your sweet potato to your desire. I like wrapping it in foil and placing in the crock pot on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. You can bake it wrapped in foil at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Or the easiest, by popping it in the microwave for 10 minutes. 

If you cooked your potato in the oven, keep it on. If you didn't, preheat your oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees. Once your potato is cooked, make a cut across the top and open your sweet potato. Scrape the insides. Keeping it all in the skin, mix a pat of coconut oil, salt and pepper with the sweet potato insides. Create a little well in the potato. Crack the egg right into the potato. Place it back in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes, or until the egg is set. I like my egg running so 10 minutes was enough. 

Top with a little more s&p, and some red pepper flakes for heat!

Annie

Hump Day Treat

How Making a Murder so quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon. 

The most accurate valentines card.

Cute valentines for co-workers that don't "succ."

7 ways to unwind after work. #3 is my everyday and I'm really trying at #6.

How to figure out your dream job.

Then how to grow old with yourself.

How to get a good 'ole belly laugh.

Almond butter latte like woah.

And lastly, Juicy suit no tag backs!

Annie

Better For You Brownies + Giada's Happy Cooking

For me, I'm happiest when I'm cooking. For Giada De Laurentiis it's the same. It's also the mantra behind her new cookbook, Happy Cooking. I chose her book for this round of my Blogging For Books.  I have grown up watching Giada on Food Network, but in her past few seasons she has really focused on healthy and nourishing recipes. Something you don't always see on Food Network. I love ya PW but a stick of butter can't go in everything...

Happy Cooking is stock full of happy healthy recipes. And nothing that is too difficult. GDL quotes "make every meal count...without stressing out!" Between her lightened up pasta dishes, gorgeous vegetable sides, Sunday dinner comfort food, I not surprisingly leaned toward her sensible sweet treats for this recipe post. 

Black bean brownies. Don't be scared of them. If Giada is doing it, you know it's no fluke. They are satisfying without being too sweet, the perfect thing to end a meal with. She includes peanut butter chips in her recipe which I obviously omitted. Check the recipe below for some alternate additions!

Better For You Brownies adapted from Happy Cooking
yields 9

Ingredients:
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed well and drained
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. espresso powder or coffee granules
1 large egg, plus 1 yolk
1/4 cup coconut oil, warmed so it is a liquid

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray and 8x8-inch pan with cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan and adhere it with the cooking spray, then set aside. 

In a food processor, place the drained black beans, cocoa powder, oats, salt, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, coffee, egg and yolk. Puree to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the melted coconut oil until everything is pureed and smooth. Spread the batter in the pan. Bake fro 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool and enjoy!

*Would be great with chocolate chips sprinkled over the top, a coffee glaze made from coffee and powdered sugar, or a big slathering of almond butter over each piece. Or, you can take these somewhat healthy brownies and serve them with a big scoop of ice cream like I did. Balance ya know?

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. Read more about my thoughts on Happy Cooking here.

 

Bites of My Life

I only feel a little bad when my bites posts are only full of food. I promise I have a life with un-edible things too. Although, this week was all about the noms. I stayed kind of on track, but it's time to grind out the fourth and final week of the Barre 3 challenge. Lord knows I need it coming off this food filled week. Coming for you strong B3. 

Things you miss from the picture below are; the first sights of sun in what seems like weeks (hallelujiah), a throwback 90s concert, trips to the Asian market, Mexican supermarket & Whole Foods #diverse, and quality bonding time with my puppy niece while her mom and dad are away.    

-Ultimate leftover shrimp fried rice. The perfect pairing for bachelor Ben viewing.
-Mason jar oatmeal is on repeat for an on-the-go breakfast during these freezing mornings.
-All my favorite healthy work snacks. Can't quite make it through the workday without some. 
-Added a little zest to your hump day with the recipe for Zesty Chicken Salad (It's like really stinking good).
-Not your average brownie, coming this week!
-Hands in the air for this Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon for our B3 meal of the week. 
-I woke up for breakfast, my friends woke up for brunch, but we didn't get out of the house until lunch. So Saturday's "breakfast" turned into veggie chili from The Red Cup. 
-The pregame snack to my favorite brunch. 
-You know that show The Best Thing I Ever Ate, on Food Network. If I was on it, this would be my bit. The Green Eggs and Ham from Stella just get me. Creamy herb baked eggs with prosciutto. It doesn't get better. 

Annie