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.

Chicken & Roasted Poblano Pumpkin Soup

September 26, 2018 Amanda Plott

Tis’ the season, pumpkin season! It’s officially Autumn now, which means… pumpkins galore. Hopefully, my little family will be taking out yearly venture out to the pumpkin patch farm here soon enough. That’s usually where we go to pick out our pumpkins and enjoy a local farm along with all it has to offer.

To celebrate, and bring Fall in I decided to make a soup. Soup is basically a hug in a bowl, so consider this Chicken & Roasted Poblano Pumpkin Soup a nice WARM hug in a bowl. The heat of the poblano peppers and the warmth of the pumpkin and cinnamon really work well together to make one perfectly Fall inspired meal…

Spooky 'Monster' Tacos

September 20, 2018 Amanda Plott

Cooler weather is coming… Halloween is coming! And being as it is my most favorite holiday, I’ve got to have some fun with it. I’ll be honest in saying that these are my standard, average, run-of-the-mill tacos that I make using extra lean ground beef and just a few other notable swaps along the way.

This time of year though? I like to make them a little spooky! With a few dollops of Greek yogurt, plain Jane tacos turn into MONSTER tacos! Mauahahaha. I’m so in love with Halloween that I made these tacos whilst in the middle of a horrible back spasm. Tacos are awesome as they are. But, cute tacos always win.

Healthified Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

September 17, 2018 Amanda Plott

It’s no secret that Halloween my favorite holiday and I always like to do something a little special for it. My little girl is quite a pancake fiend. I would venture guess that she eats pancakes for breakfast just about every other morning. Except for Saturday; that is 'donut' day around here.

At any rate, with all the great pumpkin flavors going around this time of year, I thought it would be a great time to make a healthier pumpkin pancake!

No matter your age or pancake preference, these whole wheat pumpkin pancakes are a great way to start off any Fall morning! They are really easy to mix up and cook. Plus, they taste amazing with just a subtle hint of pumpkin and spice in there…

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…