My Great-Grandma's "Red Beans"

April 26, 2017 Amanda Plott

This is another oldie but goodie that I just had to rework the pictures for since they totally don't do these Red Beans justice anymore. Plus, I thought I'd add in the instructions for how to cook these old fashioned beans in the crock pot!

Today is bittersweet just like it was when I originally posted this recipe.. My grandma is heading home to Oregon soon after her extended stay of about a month. While she was staying here with me we got to talking with my mom about things that my great-grandmother use to cook for the family. I'm always looking for inspiration, and my family is one of the first places I go.

One of her most requested dishes was something she called 'red beans', but I should warn you... they aren't actually red beans (kidney beans) like one might think. They are pinto beans! I think she may have called them 'red beans' because they turn a sort of redish color after they cook all day long...

Lemon, Blueberry & Poppy Seed Parfait

April 18, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, remember that Lemon Poppy Seed Granola from a couple of weeks ago? And how I told you that I had big plans for it? Well, here you go! My idea all along for #TopItTuesday was to incorporate it into some sort of super fabulous luscious lemon parfait. And what goes better with lemon other than blueberries? I got some gorgeous local blueberries in last week, and just knew that they would be the perfect addition to this particular parfait.

I'm so happy that it's Spring time. I love the mild weather and the sudden influx of seasonal fruits and berries too! Nothing says Spring time to me more than lemons and blueberries though. There's just something about that bright burst of citrus flavor that I can't help but crave being paired with those sweet blueberries...

Parmesan Pork Chop Sheet Pan Dinner (Sponsored)

April 17, 2017 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AllNaturalPork #CollectiveBias

I don't know about the rest of you, but my life is still in chaos with Easter now being over and the summer fast approaching. Sometimes all I can do is a quick throw-together dinner that's in, out and done. That's why lately, I've been really geared towards 'sheet pan' dinners. The idea of a sheet pan dinner is simple, you toss dinner onto a sheet pan and bake it in the oven until it's one. No fuss. No Mess. One pan dinner.

Now that's what I'm taking about.

This Parmesan Pork Chop Sheet Pan Dinner couldn't be any more easy to prepare (really you're just chopping up veggies here.) Nor could it be any quicker to cook with merely 30-45 minutes of bake time. It's absolutely perfect for those busy weeknights!...

Healthified BBQ Chicken Pizza

March 31, 2017 Amanda Plott

I don't know about you, but it's been a super busy week here for me! Somewhere between getting ready for my weekend trip out of town and my grandmother coming in, I managed to whip up this fabulous BBQ Chicken Pizza. Hey, a girls gotta eat too ya know! While I knew that this pizza was going to be delish, I didn't think it would be quite as amazing as it ended up being.

Basically this BBQ pizza is a great way to use up any leftover chicken that you might have. I happened to have some on hand from a night or two before and instantly knew what I wanted to do with it. Shred it, toss in some BBQ sauce and let the fun begin!...

Deli Snack Box

March 28, 2017 Amanda Plott

As if you couldn't tell, I'm a snacker, y'all. I love snacky little plates and boxes that give me a variety of things to enjoy so that I don't get bored with what I'm eating. Whether is actually a snack or a lighter meal is always debatable since we all need and want different things as snacks and meals. Me? I like BIG snacks or small meals. And this Deli Snack Box is just that!

So, I'm calling this a 'snack' box because it would really be good as a pre or post workout 'fill me up', but honestly it's nearly filling enough to take the place of a lighter on-the-go meal. It's somewhere between snack and meal, which is exactly where I wanted to be today...

Skinny Banana Pudding Poke Cake

March 20, 2017 Amanda Plott

What can I say? I needed some more dessert in my life, y'all! It's been a really hard week. I went into Spring break with my little one thinking that it was going to be smooth sailing. That I was going to get to sleep in, relax, and catch up on life. Hah! Boy, was I ever wrong.

My elderly cat (who is 13 years old now) had to get a few teeth (almost all of them) extracted. Nearly as an emergency too. He's a big boy - 18 lbs. at his heaviest as a mainecoon. Unfortunately one of their only bad qualities is their teeth. Despite my best efforts these past few years to get them cleaned regularly, it just wasn't enough and 5 of his teeth had to be pulled. Given his age and other health concerns it's been a week full of medication and even a trip to the emergency vet yesterday. Mid-recipe too!

Yep. Right after pulling this cake out of the oven I was hot-tailing it to the emergency vet. Bleh. While my poor old man is on the mend, I still am in desperate need for some dessert. Dessert, my mommy, and maybe some wine. I can't adult today...