Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

May 11, 2017 Amanda Plott

It never fails. Whenever it starts to get warmer out, I start to think of pasta salad. I guess that's because it's the perfect sort of weather for picnics and backyard BBQs. Today is no different. The weather here in Austin Texas has been absolutely beautiful for the past couple of weeks. It's nice and cool in the mornings and evenings and the middle of the day is pleasantly warm.

When I got some fresh local corn, mayonnaise, queso fresco, and cilantro this past week, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it; Mexican Street Corn. Not just that though, I wanted to turn it into a pasta salad that could be hearty enough for a meal and light enough still to also be used as a side dish...

Skinny Unicorn Popsicles

May 3, 2017 Amanda Plott

With all of the unicorn hullabaloo, I decided to whip up another fun protein packed and wholesome take on a unicorn inspired dish. It's true. These Skinny Unicorn Popsicles are not only cute and inspired by the mythical magical creature of legend, they are also better-for-you in so many ways!

I'm no stranger to the magic of unicorns. I made a rather magical Skinny Unicorn Ice Cream Cake a while back and it's easy to see why it became a fast favorite. However, this time around I wanted to take it a step further and use all natural food coloring. Yep! Not only are these popsicles dairy-free, they are also free of artificial colors...

Mini Blueberry Scones

May 1, 2017 Amanda Plott

Breakfast has to be one of my most favorite meals of the day. I'm not sure why. I suppose because I enjoy the fact that it's really the only meals of the day that you can go sweet or savory. For the past three weeks now, I've been loaded up with fresh local blueberries. So I've been wanting to do something extra special with them. Of course, there's always muffins but I thought I would take it a step further and go for scones today!

These aren't your average scones though. They are lightened up in the best of ways using white wheat flour, coconut oil, and no sugar. That's right. NO SUGAR. And they still taste absolutely amazing. I left these scones in 'mini' form since I prefer snacking around for my meals to keep things fun and interesting to my palate. But, they're also the perfect 'tea party' size...

Baked Hush Puppies

April 28, 2017 Amanda Plott

I think the first (and some of the only) hush puppies I had through my life were at a popular fish fast food joint. You know the one. The one were you have to order 'extra crispy-crunchies'. They were always one of my favorites when I was younger, but you know... times have changed and so have my eating habits. Vastly. In fact, I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I ate at that place last.

Anyway! Earlier this year I was in charge of a 'fish fry' for the two first grade classes (and their families) at my daughter's school. The ironic part here is that I don't own a fryer (never have) and I don't eat fish (never will.) At the fish fry we had plenty of hush puppies to go around. Uuuuuhnnngggh... such a guilty pleasure. That got me thinking way back then... I should make some baked hush puppies!...

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...

Naked Cheese & Spinach Enchiladas

April 21, 2017 Amanda Plott

It's getting hot in here. So take off all your clothes! Okay, well maybe not. But that's what the enchiladas in my house did. These enchiladas have no clothes on! Can you believe it? Tortilla-less enchiladas. Shame, shame! Naughty enchiladas. Actually, they aren't naughty at all! Some people call these 'zucchini boats' or stuffed zucchini, but I'm taking it a step further and just flat out calling them as they are. Naked.

Even though they are naked, they are ooey gooey cheesy and so very wonderful. I'm not mad at all that these guys are nude. The truth is, when I got my hands on some local zucchini and yellow squash this week, I knew this is exactly what I wanted to do with them with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner!...