4th of July Recipe Roundup

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What does the 4th of July look like for you this year? Are you traveling or doing a barbecue with friends? Maybe you are flying solo this year due to coronavirus still being very much a concern in our country. My whole family had a trip planned to Santa Barbara that we had been looking forward to since February. The 4th is always a bit of a flop for me, so I was looking forward to being with family this year. Plans have obviously changed and we are staying home.

I’m laying very low this year, but hope to be meeting up with a few friends by a pool at some point this Saturday. I’m thinking festive Perfect CCC’s or S’mores Cookies and The Baker Mama’s American Flag cheese board will be my contributions. I rounded up those + some favorite summer recipes from my site and a few from websites I trust. Hopefully, this list will help make your holiday a little more special no matter what your celebration looks like.

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And now a few recipes I’ve made or recommend from sites I trust!

The Baker Mama’s American Flag Cheese Board
Broma Bakery’s S’mores Rice Krispie Treats
Half Baked Harvest’s Bourbon Peach Baked Beans (I love this recipe!)
Barefoot Contessa’s Flag Cake (a 4th of July staple. I’ve made this exact recipe and is insanely good)
Elisabeth & Butter’s Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream
The Defined Dish Whole 30 BBQ Ribs (I’ve been craving ribs, is that weird?)
A Peony For Your Thoughts Red Potato and Sweet Corn Salad (APFYT was my sister’s old blog, we havne’t made this recipe in forever, but it is so good and I always think of it when it comes to barbecues).

I hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th!
Annie

Happy 4th Take A Bite

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Four years later and I'm still annoying you with my recipes, grammatical errors and obsession with food. Take A Bite has gone through many phases of it's life as well as many phases of my life. From terrible Photoshop collages, to dim lit food pictures, from sophomore year of college, to graduation, to my first job, to my second and now we are here. Four years later and I'm prouder than ever of my sweet little TAB. 

Take A Bite has brought me incredible friends and incredible opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise. It has allowed me to share my passions for cooking, baking, being creative and sharing with others. Nothing fills me up more than when someone tells me they tried one of my recipes. I write these posts, and sometimes wonder if anyone is reading them. Your comments, pictures, #takeabite hashtags etc. showing that you do, means everything. So thank you.

I didn't mean to get so gushy in this post... Let's eat instead! In typical Take A Bite I'm celebrating with Birthday Toast. I have a traditional breakfast every year on own birthday (Belgium waffles with strawberries and whipped cream), so I thought TAB deserved the same. I've been making this almond butter and sprinkle toast the past four years, from the Kappa house, to rent house, to OKC house. Make you some birthday toast and let's take a look back at some favorite bites.

My first post...omg.

Favorite posts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Most popular posts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

I've written 198 recipes and 198 Bites of My Life. (my OCD loves that)

TAB's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd birthday. 

Here's to many more blog birthdays!

Annie

HBD TAB!

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Take A Bite is two years old today! It was two years ago I decided to put all worries away and put dreams ahead to start my little baby. I cringe when I look back at some of my first posts. The layout, the topics, the pictures; sometimes I don't know what I was thinking. That being said I'm still so proud of those beginning posts for they were the foundation of what TAB is today.

Blog birthdays are fun, I feel like it's my own birthday! I'm celebrating this morning the same way I did last year with Birthday Toast for breakfast! It's a twist on Australian's Fairy Bread. Here Molly makes it three different ways. My favorite is Ezekiel bread, almond butter and sprinkles!

Make yourself a piece of piece of birthday toast and take a look back at Take A Bite with me...

My very  first post: yikes! Unsized pictures, Pinterest quotes (I hate quotes), it's just kind of all over the place.

TAB's birthday last year, look at what my heading used to be! Oh man I was so proud of that.

My favorite blog recipes: Homemade Pop Tarts,  Flourless Fudge Cookies,  Sea Salt Lavender White Chocolate Chip Cookies, Butternut Squash Soup, Chicken Salad with Blueberries, Feta and Corn,  Acorn Squash and Quinoa Salad, Brussel Sprouts with Pistachios and Avocado, Foil Packet Tilapia & .

My most popular recipes: Texas Sheet Cake Cookies, Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies, Marry Me Cookies, Cookie Butter Rice Krispies, Christmas Crack, Snickerdoodle Bars &Verde Turkey Chili

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If only I could have a birthday party for TAB like this....maybe next year!

I was just a sweet innocent sophomore in college when I started TAB. I was so nervous what people would think of me and what I put on the internet. I've had some people poke fun here and there, but I've also had a lot of encouragement. There have been times where I'm totally obsessed with blogging then other times where I want to close it down. I'm so proud of this little site and what it's become. It's been a conversation starter, it's gotten me jobs, and it's given me opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise. Take A Bite is just a toddler, but here's to hopefully many years more!

Annie

Celebrate Good Times

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I love a good celebration. Whether it's a simple life pleasure, getting a good grade on a test or a big birthday blowout, I think most things deserve to be celebrated. So many things are happening in my little world I'm trying to focus on taking time to celebrate and make notice of everything going on. With a big move and a big birthday coming up, my mind has been in celebration mode. 

Here my tips for celebrating in style! 

1. Wear a party hat or celebration crown. Be cheesy and embrace your celebration. 
2. Eat something sweet because sugar just makes you happy. 
3. Surround yourself with pretty scenery. A great environment makes for a great celebration.
4. Reward yourself! A little retail award is sure to make you feel good, and heck you deserve it! (Maybe don't go as crazy as Blair Waldorf in the picture, but a little something is always fun!)
5. Celebrate with with friends because celebrations are always better when they are shared!

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I love my birthday and I love other people's birthdays. Any excuse to celebrate is fine by me! Ceeeeelleebraate good times, come on!

Annie