Bites of My Life

Back to school for some, back to the same for me. Adult life is slightly depressing this time of year without the excitement of back to school shopping, new teachers and the first day of school. But them I'm reminded that summer doesn't end so abruptly, I'm getting paid for how I spend my day instead of having to study and I love what I do, and let's be honest, I didn't love school. So all is still right in the world. 

Bites last week consisted of chili, a steak (YUM <--especially from this veggie loving gal), toast ;), salmon, breakfast foods, a grill out and ice cream! Non edible bites included finishing another book and starting a new one (follow me on goodreads!!), rain, and more rain and one last pool day of the season.

-It's been raining cats and dogs in Oklahoma (which I've been loooooving). It's giving us a taste of fall and cooler wedding, which quickly meant chili night in our house! P.S. top your chili with a dollop of guacamole instead of sour cream and thank me later. 
-Morning mirror selfie to show off my new Made By Maddie earrings. Loving this red and turquoise combo! 
-If you follow @themorningtoast on instagram, this was my picture they reposted. If you know you know, if you don't, don't worry. 
-Spent too much on this salmon. Baked it, made a mustard sauce, roasted asparagus, got real excited... only to be let down real quick. It tasted fishy and gross and now I probably won't eat salmon for at least 3 months. Let alone buy it. 
-Book 11 out of my 12 in a year goal! I'm crazy! PSA: this book will make some heads turn if you read in public. I had too many people comment on it while I was reading on the elliptical. All boys too on that note. Just beware you will have to explain yourself if caught in public reading Lauren Weisberger's new book aka the author of The Devil Wears Prada.
-This mix >>>> almonds, pistachios and dark chocolate covered espresso beans. Killer afternoon slump snack. 
-This muffin mix has been sitting in my pantry for too long. Woke up Saturday morning with an itch to bake and I was very pleased with how these Gluten Free Blueberry muffins from Brandless turned out. I'm also nostalgic to muffins from a box. That's how it was done when I was little, and sometimes food from a box just needs to happen.
-My first attempt at protein pancakes. Look amaze tasted ehhhh. I got some tips after sharing this photo on social media, so another go will be happening soon.
-A ice cream craving cured with the OG. Frozen yogurt twist on a cone from Braum's. My order since I was little. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

I apologize if you fell for my April Fool's joke yesterday, you weren't alone. However, I'm not sure I've ever pulled off an April Fool's joke more successfully. I was quite proud. I was also blown away by the amount of people who fell for my joke and messaged me saying how sad they would be if TAB really was ending. I've said it before, but you put all this content out and wonder if people even read it. So thank you, thank you for reading my posts, making my recipes and letting me know that you do so! 

Jokes aside, I leave for Hawaii in one week. Did I tell you all I'm going to Hawaii? I haven't been on a real vacation in I can't tell you how long. It's just me and two girl friends, very spontaneously jetting off to paradise for a week.  Did I also mention we booked this trip 3 weeks ago? Really embracing the "YOLO" motto for this trip. 

I also posted 4 times last week. I haven't done that since hmm maybe 2015. TAB was in full force last week. Scroll back through my feed to see said posts. 

-So excited to add Caroline to my Arbonne team!
-That soft boiled runny egg spilling out is giving me all the feels.
-Welcome to the hood Stella Nova. I don't know how you make your almond milk latte so good, but you officially have me hooked on them. 
-Raspberry Lemon Protein Muffins were posted last week and you simple need to make them as soon as possible. 
-Carrot cake protein shake was equal parts festive and delicious. 
-Hello fresh, hello roomie taco dinner!
-When Claire love's espresso martinis, you surprise her with espresso martinis for her birthday.. 
-Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars, loved by all the non-vegan's I fed them too. 
-Successfully pulled off an April Fool's joke for the first time ever. 
-Double desserts and dessert fails are oddly becoming an Easter tradition. Carrot cake fail 2K12, double cheesecakes 2k14, pie crust mishap and two coconut cream pies this year. 
-Eggcellent first Easter for Elle!
-Love our Easter feast tradition at home we have continued that past few years opposed to brunching out to eat. 

Annie 

Bites of My Life

By the looks of my pictures last week, my days seemed to be full of bright colorful plates of food. Meals aside, my days weren't so colorful. I was on a streak of weird mishaps happening each day. Little things like breaking a brand new compact of bronzer to getting tea all over my white comforter. But the cherry on top was a car wreck. Thursday evening ended with a boom, bump, crash. No one was hurt except for my car. Counting my blessings!

After the hump of weird occurrences I settled into the weekend with a delicious dinner with friends and drinks with more friends. Some of my oldest friends to be exact. Then a cozy Saturday night in with my Lindz for take out on the couch and a chick flick on the TV. Crossing my fingers for better karma this week. 

-I know this is so basic, but I've been making this salad dressing of equal parts dijon mustard, balsamic, & olive oil then a little s&p all whisked together. Been eating it on everything, but really loving it on kale/spinach with cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes, chicken and avocado.
-Snack plate lunch beats sad dreary salads any day.
-Dinner a la whole foods. Their hot bar indian food sucks me in every time. 
-Sneaking figs into every meal I can. Didn't have strawberries so I subbed in blueberries to make this fig smoothie recipe!  
-Proof to show my week didn't only revolve around food. A little blue and blue and lots of hugs and squeals at KKG alumni night. 
-Pretty plated Saturday breakfast. 
-Blueberry spinach smoothie bowl with all zeee toppings. Feeling the blueberry vibes clearly...
-Sunday morning baking is becoming my favorite "me time" activity. Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins were yesterday's culprit. Loved them so much I already posted the recipe. 
-Sausage peppers and onions cooked in a tomato sauce is a take on a dish my mom used to make. Perfect Sunday night comfort food!

Annie

Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins

I have decided Sunday morning baking is my favorite. I've also decided it needs to become a ritual. I love getting up while everyone is still asleep and the house is quiet. Make some green tea, put on my apron, turn on the oven and get baking. Food Network is likely to be playing in the background. 

A few weeks ago I woke up with a huge itch for blueberry muffins. I tried to make them healthy, but every time I try to make baked goods healthy I'm reminded that I should just stop trying. Baked goods are meant to be filled with sugar, butter and eggs and there really is no replacement. Anyway, my last Sunday morning baking adventure failed. Exhibit A. This morning was blueberry muffin redemption day. 

I woke up at 6:48am this morning. My body doesn't know what sleeping in is. With several hours ahead of me before my roommate woke up, I decided it was baking day.

Blueberry muffins had to happen. I also have a stock pile of overripe bananas in my freezer that were begging to be used. Blueberry banana muffins it was. With a streusel topping added because like I said baked goods require lots of sugar and butter. 

They turned out just perfect and helped redeem myself after my previous muffin fail. I edited my pictures and jumped straight onto my computer this morning because I decided you need this recipe NOW. Also, if you have little kiddos at home about to go back to school, make these for them. No better way to beat the back to school blues than with blueberry banana streusel muffins!

Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins
yields 1 dozen

Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Streusel:
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. cold butter

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.  

Combine bananas, sugar, oil, milk, beaten egg, and extracts in a large bowl with wooden spoon.  Add in the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, and baking soda and stir to combine. Fold in the blueberries. Using an ice cream scoop, evenly divide the batter into the muffin tins.

In a small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and cold butter. Using your fingers, break up the butter with the sugar mixture to form the streusel. Evenly distribute over the muffins.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Sunday morning baking for the win. What should I make next Sunday?

Annie

Popping into 2016

One of my most fun and thoughtful Christmas gifts was a popover pan. Kind of random, but it has meaning. Back in August when we went to Newport Beach we had back to back breakfasts at the most amazing little market called Zinc. One morning my dad ordered a popover. Popovers; not something you make or see in too many places but they are fantastic. They are kind of like an airy and eggy muffin. We both couldn't stop talking about how much we loved popovers and needed to make our own, only catch is you have to have a popover pan to make them properly. 

Ding ding ding I think this is the moment a lightbulb must have gone off in my dad's head. *Buy Annie a popover pan for Christmas so she can make me popovers* Whatever you want dad! Popovers can come in all different flavors and served in different ways. With jam, or butter for breakfast or just plain served with savory dishes for dinner.

After being iced in the other night, I made us some comfort food lasagne paired with popovers instead of rolls. Such a hit. Goodbye rolls, popovers just overruled you. 

I used this recipe as my guide and I love the way they turned out. It makes 6 perfectly puffed up popovers. They mention how you can make them in a muffin pan, but I haven't tried yet. I had to put my present to good use of course! You can't beat the height you get from the popover pan!

Perfect Popovers
yields 6 popovers

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. 

Whisk together the flour, milk, eggs and salt. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes. Place about 1 tsp. of butter into the bottom of each popover pan cavity. Place in the oven and let the butter get hot and melted. About 1 to 2 minutes. 

Divide the batter amongst the pan. Fill each cavity halfway up with batter. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the popovers are brown and puffed up! Serve immediately. 

They are best served warm, but can be reheated the next day. Serve plain, with butter or with jam. 

Now lets pop on over to 2016!

Annie