Apple Pecan Jar Salad

August 23, 2022 Amanda Plott

So, while it may be starting to cool off, it’s still very hot here. That being said as we slide into the end of August I am READY for Fall this year more than I even usually am. Which is saying a lot since Fall is probably my favorite season next to Spring - which we entirely skipped this year somehow and instead just went Winter straight into Summer. Bleh.

This Apple Pecan Jar Salad gives me all the vibes of Fall while also being light, cold, and crisp while we’re in the middle of this heat still. So it’s definitely a win-win situation. Plus, these jar salads are absolutely perfect for having on hand when you want and need a bite for lunch but also don’t have time to whip something up. Make ahead meals for the win!…

Bread Machine Banana Bread

August 17, 2022 Amanda Plott

I love banana bread, but I don’t like fussing around with it. And I really still don’t want to heat my kitchen up more than I have to with it being on the edges of triple digits here still. So! That’s why I decided to finally try out the ‘quick bread’ feature on my bread machine and I made some banana bread in it instead of the oven. What was the end result? Well, you tell me!

This Bread Machine Banana Bread is as easy as can be. Just dump all the ingredients in - no yeast required - and go! The bread machine does all the hard work for you, all the way from mixing to baking. And at the end of it all you have a nice loaf of fresh banana bread that you barely had to do anything for…

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookie

August 11, 2022 Amanda Plott

Once again I find myself wanting something I’m not willing to turn the oven on for, so I decided to try my hand at making cookies in the air fryer. Can it be done? As it turns out - it totally can! But I decided I would make one BIG cookie instead of several little ones. Mostly for ease since I have a perfectly sized push pan that fits into the basket of my air fryer just barely.

This Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookie is super easy to make, and let me just say that it’s soooo good too. The air fryer gives it a unique texture that is gooey here and crisp there. And this cookie is LOADED with chocolate chip goodness. And when I say loaded, I mean completely full to the point that if you don’t like a lot of chocolate then you should consider having the chocolate chips…

Healthified Chicken & Mash Bowl

August 8, 2022 Amanda Plott

Okay, so there's this fried chicken chain restaurant that honestly I couldn't tell you the last time I ate at. They have these horribly amazing 'famous bowls' that I used to get back when I was younger and more naive when it came to food.

Fast-forward to today and I don't think that I could stomach sitting in that restaurants parking lot, much less eating anything that came out of it. Never mind that particular 'famous bowl' is nearly a whopping 800 calories and full of who-knows-what.

Even so, I decided to take on the task of re-creating that chicken bowl into one that I could eat and be proud of without feeling guilty...

Jalapeño Cheddar Bread Machine Bread

August 5, 2022 Amanda Plott

It’s H.O.T. Hot. It’s the long stretch here at the end of Summer and I can’t wait to get to the other end of it when we hopefully roll into the cooler weather of Fall. With it being the heat of the Summer, I’m still in avoiding-the-oven mode for the most part. But, that being said, I haven’t made any fresh homemade bread in a while and my bread machine was starting to collect dust. We can’t have that!

So I busted my bread machine out and decided to make a savory flavorful bread to have on hand for lunches this week. This Jalapeño Cheddar Bread Machine Bread is super easy to make since the bread machine does literally almost all of the work for you. The mixing, the kneading, the baking - yep… all of it…

Air Fryer Pizza Taquitos

August 2, 2022 Amanda Plott

It’s the end of Summer and it’s H.O.T. HOT. I think the heat of the Summer has hit just about everyone this year. It’s been a doozy. That being said, I’m in kitchen cool down mode and trying to use my stove and oven as little as humanly possibly. So, that means it’s time to bust out the air fryer and the pressure cooker more! These are super easy to make and require very few ingredients. Plus, they only take a few minutes to cook up in the air fryer.

They come out perfectly crisp and cheesy and ready for dipping into your favorite pizza sauce. These are great all on their own as a snack or appetizer, but they’re also good on their own as a sub in for pizza night when served along with a side salad!…