Healthified Home-Corned Beef

February 16, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've always been a bit intrigued with St. Patrick's day. Perhaps it's because I've got some Irish roots. It could also have something to do with some over zealous teachers when I was in elementary school making a big hub-ub about the holiday. I remember that we had a little Leprechaun visit our room, and all though none of us children saw him he managed to leave glitter and rainbows in his wake. As far as I remember he did some rather naughty things too. Turned desks upside down and even turned our milk green. Those mischievous and sneaky little Leprechauns!

When I started making corned beef a few years back, I began doing so with the pre-brined corned beef briskets that you can buy at the store. But, this year I wanted to try and do something a little different. I began to do some research into the matter and found that - YES, you can corn your own beef and that it is really easy to do!...

Açaí Breakfast Bowl

February 12, 2015 Amanda Plott

Start your day off right with this bright and healthy fruitastic breakfast bowl! The only thing in this bowl of awesomeness is fruit, fiber, and enough fuel to get you powered through your morning with ease.

Seriously, this is a really filling breakfast.

As I've said before, I'm not really much of a smoothie sort of person. I suppose that the idea of drinking my breakfast is something that escapes me. I'd much rather sit, chew, and enjoy. This breakfast bowl is basically a smoothie in a bowl; you've got your smoothie on the bottom and your tasty tidbits on top...

Loaded Green Goddess Sweet Potato Fries

February 10, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #GameTimeGrub #CollectiveBias

For me homegating is the way to go with any sport. Who doesn't like tailgating from the comfort of home? It's the best of both worlds! I get to watch my favorite teams live on television without the hassle of the hustle and bustle of crowds, lines, and over priced concession stand foods. Of course, to me, that's the best part - creating my own game day grub!

I always strive to put my own fun and healthful twist on what some might consider traditional. Fries and dips are always a staple of any good game day spread. So, today I give to you these rather guilt free, sophisticated, fiber full sweet potato fries.

My inspiration for this dish started with a stuffed sweet potato that I made a few weeks back. I had loaded a baked sweet potato up with sautéed spinach, black beans, and some homemade green goddess dressing. It was definitely not your typical baked potato, and was amazingly delicious. So, when I was deciding what to do with my Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, I had the perfect direction to start heading in...

Healthy Mixed Berry Gummy Bears

February 4, 2015 Amanda Plott

My little one is entirely obsessed with anything that is gummy. Hearts, bears, and bunnies - oh my! Lately, I've been buying some fancy all natural, gluten free, organic gummies to put in her lunch, because it makes me feel a bit better. But, oh-my-goodness those things are expensive! Especially when she's eating her weight in them every day.

Sort of defeats the health benefits I'm trying to get into her too!

So as I was sitting here pondering my gummy dilemma I happened to remember a while back I came across this great idea on how to make your own gummy fruit snacks. I was a little early since I've tried to do this a time or two before and could never seem to get them to come out right. But, I thought it was time to give the homemade snacks another try anyway.

And boy am I glad that I did!...

Healthy & Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

January 14, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've got to admit that I'm a little bit of an oatmeal fiend. Which is a little strange considering that my mom is anything but. However, I will say that she has almost always enjoyed any oatmeal that I've made for her. It's just that it isn't something that she would generally make for herself. So, when I was growing up, it was all about Malt-O-Meal and instant oatmeal packets on the weekends.

Yes, we all know those instant oatmeal packets that you can buy pre-made at the store. I think that most of us grew up on them. As with anything though, things have changed a lot over the years, including what's in those instant oatmeal packets.

Then again, I'm pretty sure that I can recall eating some of those packets that 'magically' changed colors or had mini dinosaur eggs in them that dinosaurs 'hatched' out of or something... I'm sure that those were super healthy. Hah!...

'Instant' Skinny Chai Tea Latte Mix

January 5, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #SweetWarmUp #CollectiveBias

My world just became a sweeter place! Okay, so maybe there's a little spice in there too. What better is there to take a nice well-deserved break with during a dreary and cold morning other than a nice warm cup of a homemade chai tea latte in hand?

And no, I don't just mean a cup of chai flavored tea either, but an actual chai tea latte that's teaming with milk and a joyful mix of spices.

My life has had a lot of sweet moments in it that have happened to revolve around tea in one way or another. What can I say, a lot of good things can come about with a nice warm cup of soothing tea...