Sailor Stew

October 7, 2018 Amanda Plott

I’ve made this stew a couple of times before, and mostly just for testing purposes. Sometimes it takes more than one run to get these things just right. But, I can honestly say that I haven’t minded the process with this one!

The first time I made it, I did so in the Instant Pot. It turned out well enough, but I really wanted this to be a stew that everyone could cook. Not just those with a pressure cooker. I also ended up adding in some potatoes and carrots to make this a more veggie-ful dish. Those veggies, along with the beans in there, really makes this a hearty meal all on it’s own…

Halloween Red Velvet Chocolate Bark

October 5, 2018 Amanda Plott

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Alright so… bare with me here. I know that chocolate isn’t the most healthy thing out there but, Halloween is just around the corner and as I like to say ‘everything in moderation’. Plus, we’re using some dark chocolate here so… that’s more healthy than other options, right? The truth is, I’m a firm believer in allowing yourself some treats here and there to keep yourself sane and from making worse decisions later.

So to make this bark a little more guilt-free, I decided to start it off with some dark chocolate. It’s my excuse for any kind of chocolate related candies or cakes. At least it has a few more health benefits than some of the other chocolates out there. That’s my story at least, and I’m sticking to it.

'One Pot' Skinny Pumpkin Blondies

October 1, 2018 Amanda Plott

Out of all the desserts out there, I would have to say that blondies would be one of my favorites! I think it has to do with them being the ‘vanilla’ version of brownies, which is also another favorite. I love that blondies are a more dense and decadent ‘cake’ that almost always involve white chocolate in them.

These 'One Pot' Skinny Pumpkin Blondies are no different, except that they have the flavors of Fall in them. Including pumpkin and plenty of cinnamon goodness, and a few other warm spices!

Dark Chocolate Crunch Bars

September 24, 2018 Amanda Plott

As we’re getting closer and closer to Halloween (my favorite holiday), I’m playing more and more with candies and chocolates of all kinds this year! While I’ve made a few candies in the past, it’s usually something that I try and steer clear of. Why? Well, candy making scares my pants off!

The notion of making candies just sounds overwhelming to me, but in all honesty, these dark chocolate crunch ‘bars’ are sooo easy to make and only require three ingredients to make! That’s right. Only three ingredients and about ten minutes of your time. It doesn’t get much more simple than that when it comes to homemade chocolates, does it?…

Dark Chocolate & Pumpkin Swirl Bundt Cake

September 15, 2018 Amanda Plott

We’re finally in the 80’s around here, and I can feel Fall in the air just about. It’s one of my favorite times of year. Halloween is just around the corner and pumpkin spice is featured almost anywhere you look. Bring. It. On. I am so ready to get to use my stove and oven again without having to worry about spending the rest of the day cooling the house back off. The struggle is real, y’all.

Baking is not my favorite thing to do in the kitchen. It scares and intimidates me. And today was one of those reasons why. I turned my back for (what seemed like one second) and I over-beat my batter. Meaning my cake collapsed a bit in the middle. I was frustrated beyond belief with myself, but the family didn’t mind at all. In fact, they all said how good the cake was - even though I was mad at it…

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal (Instant Pot too!)

September 13, 2018 Amanda Plott

Originally when I made this oatmeal, I had pretty recently posted a Skinny Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal, but these two oatmeals are pretty far apart in the realms of texture and preparation. Plus, I’ve added in new instructions so this oatmeal can be made in an instant pot (pressure cooker) in under thirty minutes!

As usual, I've been running around like a crazy woman and I really needed a pick-me-up this morning to help boost me through the day. Back when I first made this recipe in 2013, my dear little girl had been sick for well over a week and only the day before was diagnosed with both a sinus infection and bacterial pneumonia. That was a tough time!…