Sandwich on a Stick

September 1, 2014 Amanda Plott

Sometimes... my little one gets tired of eating a sandwich in it's usual form, and who could blame her? So sometimes I just have to get creative with what I already have on hand and planned out for the week.

One helpful tip I have recently fallen in love with, is to use dry spaghetti noodles in place of skewers for little ones. I know, right...? Super clever and a lot safer! This helps to keep from anyone getting hurt in the midst of lunchtime. Plus, they're edible. Who doesn't take a bite or two of a dry noodle when available?...

Skinny Buffalo Meatballs (Crock Pot)

August 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

Uhm, yum. I don't really need to explain to you just how amazing these buffalo meatballs are. The pictures speak for themselves, yeah? What I will tell you is that these are a healthier, easier, and absolutely amazing way to get your 'buffalo' wing fix without all that guilt.

These would be perfect as an appetizer on game day or just as great served in a meatball sub or as fun little sliders! And no one has to know that they are full of sneaky vegetables and lean turkey meat. Trust me, they won't even realize they're there...

Homemade Whole Wheat 'Easy Mac'

August 18, 2014 Amanda Plott

My little love was under the weather a for a few days this week, so we didn't exactly have the need for a 'lunch box' today, but... this is what I served her at home for lunch. After all, what's more of a comfort food than macaroni and cheese?

Well, not much! I pretty much put everything into this lunch that would be considered her favorite things. And they all tend to be things that most kids enjoy eating. It was a little bit of a happy accident that it happened to be just what she needed on her sick days! Grapes. Mac-n-cheese. Hot dog. And peas and carrots...

Crock Pot Blueberry & Banana Irish Oatmeal

July 16, 2014 Amanda Plott

A big heaping bowl of irish oatmeal for breakfast almost always hits the spot for me, but I haven't had any for quite a while now. I guess I have it in my mind that oatmeal isn't exactly a summer sort of breakfast, so I tend to brush it aside for these grueling few months of 100 degree weather.

However, oatmeal was a specific request on the part of my grandmother, and since it's getting down to her last few weeks here... I thought I would finally oblige!

I didn't want to make the same irish oatmeal that she had before when she was here last summer to visit. No, no. I wanted to try something a little different.

Blueberries and bananas anyone?...

Baking Bacon

July 12, 2014 Amanda Plott

Baking bacon is a handy trick that I picked up a few years ago and quickly fell in love with the idea.

So, why bake your bacon?

Baking your bacon will save you the usual mess in the kitchen (or your microwave.) Plus, it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely while a vast majority of the grease is discarded! Another bonus? You can make a rather large batch of baked bacon rather effortlessly as compared to pan frying. Baking your bacon also tends to keep it from curling up, leaving your bacon straight and perfect!...

Crock Pot Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya

June 23, 2014 Amanda Plott

Today, I was lucky enough to have an expert chef join me in my kitchen. Her lifetime of knowledge and her very particular palette are what I aim to please with each dish I create. She is my inspiration through and through!

Yes. That's right... Chef Lily spent some of her very valuable time lending me a hand with dinner...