Fall Recipe Round-Up

September, hello! Now I’m not going all pumpkin spice insane on you, but I sure am taking the opportunity to refresh some old fall and back-to-school themed recipes. I've been pretty lack luster on the recipe front, but there are some gems in the TAB archives I want to make sure you remember.

Like I mentioned, below you will find some fall sweets and back-to-school treats. Blondies, oatmeal cookie bars, homemade almond butter, a fig smoothie recipe, and more. Now turn on season 3 episode 8 of Gilmore Girls and let fall start to sink in.

Sweets & Snacks:
Dark Chocolate, Orange, and Fig Blondies
Blueberry Cardamon Pop-Tarts
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Almond Butter Blossoms
Pumpkin Pecan White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Bread
Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Homemade Almond Butter

Breakfast:
Healthyish Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins
Strawberry, Fig, and Almond Butter Smoothie
Pumpkin Green Smoothie
Pumpkin Spice Bulletproof Coffee

Entrees & Sides:
Fig & Tomato Orzo Salad
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Figs
Fall Panzanella Salad with Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons
Crock-Pot Verde Turkey Chili

It will be 100 degrees in Dallas for a solid two more months, but here’s to manifesting 65 degree temps!

Annie

12 Days of Christmas Recipes

I tried to “healthify” a family favorite Christmas cookie recipe (ginger cookies to be exact) yesterday and it was a crash and burn. Note to self: Christmas is the time for real Crisco shorting, sugar, flour, and molasses, don’t try to mess with the originals. That has been the extent of my baking lately. I just haven’t been in the mood to bake and recipe test lately. However I’m giddy to get back to Oklahoma for Christmas to bake cookies for Santa with my nieces and sip on brandy ices by the fire. Instead of serving up a new Christmas recipe, I compiled the best from TAB over the years into one post. Some cookies, homemade candy, festive cocktails, a few salads, and breakfast ideas.

I realized I had pulled 12 recipes and then wanted to play into the 12 days of Christmas so I’m up way past my bedtime trying to get this up while it’s still December 13th just so it makes more since being 12 days until Christmas!

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a Decorated Cookie for Santa

My signature sugar cookies get made without a doubt every year at Christmas. Over the years I’ve loved decorating these after Christmas Eve service with my sisters, having friends over for a cookie decorating party, and more recently I love getting to make them with my nieces. The original recipe calls for a thin glaze icing which is delicious, but I also love a stiffer decorator’s icing for piping. Recipe below!

Decorating Frosting:
1 cup shortening (room temp)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Almond extract
2 lbs. powdered sugar
1/2 cup cream or milk
food coloring of your choice (I buy mine at craft stores, the color is much more vibrant than what you buy at the grocery stores)

Using an electric mixer, cream shortening and extracts together. Alternate adding in powdered sugar and milk gradually until all combined. Divide into bowls and stir in food coloring. Get frosting into piping bags and get decorating for Santa, he deserves it:) Tip: an upside-down gingerbread man cookie cutter makes for an easy decorated reindeer and an upside-down ice cream cone cutter is perfect for a Santa!

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two Ginger Cookies

These, Perfect CCCs (of course), and my signature sugar cookies are hands down my top three favorite cookies and maybe dessert in general. As mentioned above I thought I’d try and be progressive and give them a healthyish spin with oat flour and coconut sugar, but just don’t even try. Enjoy the extra calories :)

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three White Chocolate Dipped Oatmeal Ginger Cookies

I developed this recipe a few years ago and it just worked! They take on the flavor of my favorite ginger cookies as mentioned above, but the added oats and white chocolate make them something special. My sweet co-worker Ashley makes them year round and I couldn’t love her for that more!

On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four Cranberry & White Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Too festive for words and delicious too. I have a weak spot for white chocolate. I love the way it tastes with the tangy dried cranberries and the added spices in these cookies give them extra festive flair.

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, fiiiiiiivvveee Brandy Ices

Hi I’m Annie, I like Rent the Runway, instagram, eating, hanging out with friends, and brandy ices. The OG OKC drink that is 1000% getting made this year. My recipe is dairy free to avoid a massive stomach ache.

On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six pieces of Peppermint Bark

Mint + chocolate forever. It’s no Williams Sonoma peppermint bark (the best!!), but it’s too easy for words and makes for great neighbor or co-worker gifts.

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven Christmas Cracks

Iphone photo circa 2014 is not doing this magical concoction justice. This recipe was shared with me from my blogger bestie (I feel 19 saying that but it’s the truth) Molly’s family. It too is a great neighbor or co-worker gift that is soooo easy to make. I haven’t made Christmas Crack in a while and I’m thinking this will have to go on my holiday baking list for sure.

On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight Snowball Cookies

My dad and I recently had a really good pecan sandie and went on a love fest for how good and underrated they are. I mentioned I’d make it my duty to find a good recipe for them to remake. I guess after blogging for 7 years you forget you already have a recipe for them?? These little Snowball Cookies are essentially pecan sandies just rounder and extra doused in powdered sugar.

On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine Wintergreen Salads

This is a little gem of a recipe I threw up on the blog late last fall. It’s remained pretty under the radar, but it needs more attention. It would make a wonderful addition to your holiday table. The little roasted fingerling potatoes are the best part!

On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten Acorn Squash Salad Bowls

Another festive salad that makes for a fun lunch over the holidays or a creative side dish. I don’t know about you, but I love acorn squash. We always grew up eating it. My mom would roast halves and we would eat it with butter and brown sugar lol. I’m now stuffing mine with greens, but still good (if not better).

On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven Best Breakfast Casseroles

I talk about this casserole a lot, but it’s truly the best. The recipe was shared with me by my friend Madeline and the original recipe calls it Christmas Casserole so…

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve Merry Berry Scones

This recipe makes me miss my old roommate and friend Lindsay. She loved this recipe and still makes them for herself since she’s moved to LA. The rosemary in these scones are such a hidden surprise. They are great with coffee and would be wonderful on Christmas morning!

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“On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve merry berry scones, eleven best breakfast casseroles, ten acorn squash salad bowls, nine wintergreen salads, eight snowball cookies, seven christmas cracks, six pieces of peppermint bark, fiiiivvveee brandy ices, four cranberry & white chocolate christmas cookies, three white chocolate dipped oatmeal ginger cookies, two ginger cookies, and a decorated cookie for santa.”

Merry Christmas!
Annie