Take A Bite Turns Three

Three years ago, I was 19 years old, sitting in the kappa house dining room, reading up how to start a blog and creating amateur blog graphics on an internet photo editor. Three years later, a lot has changed. 

I've written 147 bites of my life, over 150 recipes, and too many blog posts to count. Take A Bite has gone through my time in college, my summer in DC, graduation, and now real world life. I've grown up with this blog. 

I'm so thankful for the experiences, opportunities, and friendships I have gained from starting Take A Bite. It's helped me develop something that I truly enjoy, and I love it for that. I'm so interested to see where TAB heads in the coming years. 

And now for my favorite blog birthday tradition. Birthday toast. The only way to celebrate a website turning one year older...

Birthday Toast

Ingredients:
bread of choice
almond butter
sprinkles
candles (optional)

Directions:
Toast your bread, spread on almond butter and decorate with sprinkles. Sing happy birthday and take a bite!

Why does my hand make that look like the smallest piece of bread ever?? I promise it wasn't. Anyway, see more blog birthday posts here and here.

Annie

BB Weekend

Meet my friend Molly. She's my blogger bestie, soul sister, sweet to my savory and this past weekend, my getaway gal. Molly and I met on the internet. Laugh to yourself for a second because I am too. It wasn't in a creepy dating site kind of way, but that's what is so cool about the blog world. The people I have met and discovered since starting Take A Bite has made it so worthwhile. Molly and I found each other through the crazy world wide web and instantly new we could be friends. Our amount of similarities is numerous and the way our brain works is almost telepathic.  

We were strictly internet friends for a while, but claimed each other as blogger besties. Always commenting on posts, sharing blog tips, and swapping ideas. Same age, attended rival schools, are in the same sorority, and have a handful of mutual friends, we knew we would meet up eventually. So far we have caught up at Austin City Limits and OU vs. Texas. This past weekend we met halfway between our two cities. I drove down from Oklahoma City and Molly bussed it up from Houston, to meet in Dallas. 

It was a quicky 24 hours, but we packed in loads of blogger bestie goodness. First stop was at Flea Style that just so happened to be taking place this weekend. Honestly...it was slightly underwhelming, but it was fun going booth to booth checking out the specialty food goods, catchy greeting cards, whimsical home goods and vintage clothes. 

Post Flea Market, I was about to eat my arm. We headed to the Knox Henderson area for lunch. We left it up to wherever the wind blew us and we ended up with rose` and greek noshes from Ziziki's. We were those horribly obnoxious people hovering over our tables and moving dinnerware around to get the perfect shot all weekend. Although, it was nice to not be judged for my obsessive foodgramming... 

After lunch and more shopping a little caffeine was needed. Vanilla lavender lattes from Sip Stir fit the bill. Again with the food pics. I'll let you in on a little secret (this is totally posed), but shhhh don't tell the other bloggers. 

Drinks and dinner were at HG Sply Co. which doubles as my new favorite Dallas restaurant.  

A little salmon curry bowl for me and the cauliflower grit bowl with a quinoa patty for Molls.

The weekend was idyllic, with the addition of a few spaz moments as we called them. A Mega Bus "experience", a slightly dazed shopkeeper, a few wreckless uber drivers, a waiter switcheroo and the icing on the cake...getting my car towed. Tip: don't park in a fire line. This seems simple, but take my advice. I'm now a pro at "regaining your vehicle after getting it impounded." Memories, ya know?

More lattes (the best too might I add) and my favorite meal from Ascension Coffee, made for the last stop on our 24 hour excursion. So much real talk, blog talk, job talk and life talk over the weekend. Thank you internet for helping me find one of my besties! If you haven't already, take a peek at Molly's blog. She brings the words and intellect, while I just bring the food. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

A weekend away does good for the soul. A fresh atmosphere and fresh faces is sometimes just what you need. My batteries feel charged after meeting Molls halfway. We had been trying to get together for forever, so we pulled the plug and met in Dallas, a spot between our two cities. 

-I didn't want to, but I went ahead and returned these stellar Asos heels. I'm feeling confident after the slight car towing situation that happened this weekend. After that dent in the wallet, I'm pinching pennies in small ways I can.
-Thankful for my parents and their taste in music and how that turned into my taste in music. A night with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen made for the best hump day. 
-When your too tired, lazy and hungry to spend time cooking. A Whole Foods brown box fits the bill.
-For someone who typically turns her nose up to sandwiches, I've been craving them like crazy lately.
-The best girl in the world got engaged to her perfect guy and I'm thrilled! I also want her ring...
-24 hours is the hardest amount of time to pack for. So many things for so little time.
-I typically turn my nose up to Starbucks' specialty drinks, but ditch your regular order and try the new citrus mint green tea latte (just two pumps syrup with soy).
-Cutie foodie.
-Greek mezze and rose` o'clock.
-HG SPLY Co. I will have dreams about your bowls from now on.
-We met on the internet LOL. 
-I cherish a friend who will always go bite for bite with me. A savory and sweet finish to a splendid trip!

Annie

These Brownies Are Sluts

No these brownies aren't wearing inappropriate clothing and no they didn't "get around," but they are a little slutty. 

My current food blogger girl crush is Gaby Dalkin (pronounced Goby) from What's Gaby Cooking. If you don't already follow her on Snapchat, stop what you are doing and give her a follow @whatsgabycookin. This SoCal based, avocado obsessed, slutty brownie extraordinaire has it going on. She is constantly posting new recipes of all the amazing food she is eating or making. Not to mention she is hilarious and seriously brightens my day every time she puts a new snap up. 

The recipe of Gaby's that has been at the top of my list are these slutty brownies. I mentioned how they don't "get around," but I guess they kind of do. They flirt with chocolate chip cookie dough, oreos and brownie batter, making them the ultimate slut. All for our enjoyment though. 

I love when my kitchen looks like this. Only good things come from copious amounts of measuring cups and spatulas covered in batter and dough. Props to mom for setting the backdrop with her killer marble countertops. 

Slutty Brownies adapted from What's Gaby Cooking
yields 16 brownies

Ingredients:

For the brownie layer:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup flour

For the Oreo layer:
1 package of regular or double stuff Oreos (you wont use them all)

For the cookie dough layer:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9x9 baking pan with foil. Use two sheets for extra sturdiness. Then spray the foil covered pan with cooking spray. 

For the brownie layer, in a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the sugar and cocoa powder once the butter is melted. Whisk to combine and remove from heat. Add the salt, vanilla and eggs and continuously whisk until the eggs are combined. Add the flour and continue to mix. Set batter aside.

For the cookie dough layer, cream together the butter and sugars in a mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix on low until everything is incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips with your spatula. Set dough aside.

To assemble, layer the cookie dough on the bottom of a 9x9 baking pan, pressing down to form the bottom of the slutty brownies. Layer as many Oreos that will fit on top of the cookie dough. No need to overlap. One single layer will do. Pour the brownie batter on top of the Oreo layer and make sure it's evenly layerd on top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Test with a knife to see if the center is done. If the knife comes out clean, let the brownies rest before serving. If the knife comes out with batter still on it, allow the brownies to bake about 5 minutes more. Once they are done, you have to let them rest. It's the hardest part, but it's crucial otherwise they will fall apart on you. 

Serve with a tall glass of milk, you'll need it!

Now get a little slutty and make some brownies. They went over far too well with all of my taste testers. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

A perfect little short week followed up by a perfect big fun weekend. Just had a few days of work to get through last week before I was Dallas bound for the annual Red River Shootout. A special visit from a friend, a sushi making class and Hello Fresh meals to cook made the week skip along quite quickly. 

Woke up at the crack of dawn to head south Friday morning. Got our shopping out of the way early before it was a full fledge best friend reunion. I was skeptical of how my first post-grad OU/Texas weekend would go, but it was easily one of the best. It's now a built in weekend every year where all of my friends will be in the same place at the same time. It even meant a reunion with my sweet Molly! Her team may have won, but we aren't letting our schools get in the way of things. It was a year too long since our last meet up, and we are not letting that happen again. Molls says she is coming to OKC and I am telling all of you to help hold her accountable. 

My Sooners may have lost, but the weekend was an overall win. Until next time Texas, you always show me a good time.

-A much deserved visit from a best friend called for a delicious new salad recipe. Recipe can be found in my Recipe Dump post.
-Quitting my day job and become a sushi chef. Finally got to mark "learn how to make sushi" off my cooking bucket list.
-Hello Fresh arrived on our doorstep again this week. The cumin spiced chicken with zucchini pearl couscous was my favorite from the box!
-Scurried through the week to speed down to Dallas for OU/Texas weekend. First stop Nordstrom for lunch and new shoes.
-Get us all back together and it's guaranteed good time. 
-Highlight of the weekend. Hi Molls!!! We may be rivals, but blogger besties comes first.
-Fletcher's we meet again. #teammustard
-Recovered from the Sooners loss and a long day at the fair with copious amounts of Torchy's Tacos queso.
-Couldn't make a trip to Texas without a stop to Trader Joe's. Pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds, pumpkin cornbread mix, pumpkin soup and pumpkin body butter filled my basket.
-Last stop before Oklahoma was for an Eatzi's breakfast.
-Another batch of carrot ginger dressing whipped up for a friend who is obsessed as I am. 
-Finished off a great weekend with a Mexican style quinoa homemade from our last Hello Fresh package. 

Annie