Slow Cooker Lightened Up Baked Potato Soup

December 29, 2021 Amanda Plott

To celebrate this Winter season a bit more, I decided that even though it was still 70 degrees out, I was going to make some baked potato soup. Not just your average baked potato soup either. But the loaded kind. The kind that warms not only your stomach, but your heart too!

I've had a BUNCH of leftover potatoes from the holidays, and what better way to use those up than in a potato soup? For this soup, it really doesn't matter what kind of potato you use, but I went with russet. I kept the peels on about half of them and removed them from the other half. That's because I like the peels, but too much is too much and I didn’t want the soup to be brown. I lightened this soup up simply, by using reduced fat evaporated milk and cheese…

Caramel Popcorn (Instant Pot)

December 16, 2021 Amanda Plott

Sometimes, a girl just needs some caramel corn.

Way back in the day there was this amazing microwavable caramel corn that was my most favorite movie night treat in all the world. And… then it disappeared off store shelves to never be seen again. What’s a girl to do? Well, apparently it’s not enjoy warm gooey caramel popcorn for years and years until they stumble across the notion that they can just make it themself.

This caramel corn takes it a step further. It’s able to be homemade with all your own ingredients and with little time and effort. And let me just tell you, this stuff is delicious!…

Halloween Cheese Board

October 16, 2021 Amanda Plott

Every month or so there must be a ‘wine and cheese’ night at my house. What does that mean? Well, that means we sendup having wine and cheese for dinner. Charcuterie boards are a lot of fun to play around with, especially around the holidays. That’s mostly because you get the chance to try wines and cheeses that you otherwise wouldn’t.

Take this Halloween Cheese Board for instance. I made it this past weeks mission to go out and seek cheeses that were ‘spooky’ and on theme with Halloween. I think one of my favorites that I found was this port infused cheese that gave it this really pretty marbled purple look!…

Antipasto Eyeballs

October 7, 2021 Amanda Plott

Sometimes you just need a spooky little side dish or appetizer to really make your day. It’s been a rather rough few weeks between pom poms and covid running rampant through my house; infecting everyone even me. Thankfully, the vaccine left me with a really mild case and just a handful of minor symptoms. Now that everyone is on the mend, we can move along with Halloween preparation!

I’m calling this tasty treat ‘Antipasto Eyeballs’ because they look exactly like that. Fresh mozzarella, olives, and some prosciutto is all you need to make this funny little appetizer. Yep, that’s right - just three ingredients and a few minutes of time…

Pumpkin & Sausage Queso

September 12, 2021 Amanda Plott

Not all queso is created equal. Although, I don’t think that I could ever turn a queso away. This Pumpkin & Sausage Queso is PERFECT for Fall. It’s loaded with a little bit of pumpkin flavor and a lot of warm spices and a real kick-in-the pants! Naturally, while it’s hatch chile season in Texas, I served mine with some green chile hatch tortilla chips and YUM.

This queso is a bit more on the extra spicy side, what with the added chipotle, spicy sausage, and of course peppers as far as the eye can see…

Baked Truffle Potato Wedges

August 22, 2021 Amanda Plott

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like potato wedges, and I don’t know about you, but when I have a steak I want a potato to go with it. But, being as I wore myself out on baked potatoes, I decided to make some potato wedges with my steak this time. Not just any potato wedges, but ones that were coated in crispy parmesan and some truffle salt!

Truffle is definitely one of those flavors that you either love or you hate. I’m one of the people that loves it. Truffle oil can go a little too far for me, but I find that truffle salt can be used with a lot more success. I like to add it to ketchup when having the condiment with something a little more high brow. What? Don’t fancy fries deserve fancy ketchup…