Healthified Spicy & Smoky Tomato Soup

June 28, 2015 Amanda Plott

It's sweltering here right now. I'm not quite sure how I've made it past the brutal Texas summers in the past, since this year is mild so far by comparison. Usually by now we're well into the 100's for many days in a row and you could literally fry and egg on the concrete. Even so, it's hot out. 90+ degrees lately and all the humidity you can stand. We actually had 100% humidity the other day. I think I'm officially growing gills this year due to the rains and humidity together.

Gills or no gills, I've officially banned the stove until late August or Early October.

Okay, okay, except for another birthday/party or two that I'll be making desserts for.

While the oven is out of commission until cooler weather arrives, my stove top, grill and crock pots have their work cut out for them. Even though it summer, I was really in the mood for some tomato soup; so I went to work coming up with a summer inspired variation of a winter staple in my home...

Skinny Summer Breakfast Parfait

June 16, 2015 Amanda Plott

I love a good parfait, especially for breakfast! Parfaits are the perfect summer time breakfast. Why? Because you don't have to heat up or cook anything, which is a pretty big deal here in the southern states when we start pushing 100 degrees. Every little thing will set off that expensive air conditioner bill. Yikes! Let's not do that...

This beautiful little breakfast is the perfect way to start off your day; keeping you full, satisfied, and so happy! I mean just look at all those fun bright colors. How could you not get a smile on your face with eating that rainbow?...

Skinny Watermelon Agave Margarita Poptail

June 12, 2015 Amanda Plott

I love a good margarita, especially in the summer. Who doesn't? Recently, with the temperature climbing quickly here in Texas, I've become somewhat addicted to the idea of poptails. What's a poptail...? Well, it's the amazing notion of putting a popsicle and cocktail together into one amazing treat!

I've seen poptails done in a few different ways, whether mixing your ingredients and freezing together or adding a nice fresh popsicle to your favorite mix-ins. Today I decided to do my take on a Watermelon Agave Margarita using these amazing, local to me, GoodPops.

As the popsicle melts down the fresh fruit inside the GoodPop shows it's beautiful self with small chunks of watermelon and the cold frosty ice of the melting popsicle working together to tame the tequila and triple sec; working as a healthier replacement of a 'sweet and sour' mix...

Skinny Cherry Cheesecake Dip

June 8, 2015 Amanda Plott

So this weekend a pretty amazing thing happened, American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. He was the first horse to do so in 37 years and also the first to do so the entire time I've been alive! (And I'm turning 30 this year!) My family has been watching the derbies together for the past several years now, a tradition that I believe started sometime when I was fresh out of college. I've been dreaming of the day since then that I would get to see a horse take the triple crown. And man... was it worth it.

A few horses have come close, winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness... but, falling short of winning the final of the three at the long track of Belmont. For whatever reason, this year was different. There wasn't nervous tension in the air, but more of an excitement. Everyone just wanted American Pharoah to get it done. Let's see it already. Let's do it!...

Skinny Ice Cream Scoop Pops (Sponsored)

June 2, 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. #SunsOutSpoonsOut #CollectiveBias

Now that we're over the torrential rain here for a while and the sun has peeked back out from behind the dark and gloomy clouds, it's starting to warm back up here in Texas! I think it's been about a month (if not longer) since I last saw the sun like I've seen it today.

I'm so happy to be getting back into the swing of summer foods, though I know in a couple of months when it starts tipping the thermostat at 100+ degrees outside, I'll be singing an entirely different tune.

For the time being though, I'm ready for some ice cream!

Ice cream is a summer staple for just about anyone. Since my little girl is all about cake pops, I thought it might be fun to do the same thing with ice cream. Ice cream scoop pops; a small school of ice cream on a wooden spoon that's topped off with an array of sprinkles...

Skinny Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup

May 28, 2015 Amanda Plott

Oh, man - I've survived the great storm and flood of 2015 here in Austin! Not everyone was as fortunate as us. We had a 6+ hour power outage, multiple trees blown over, and several fences that were ripped apart by 70 mph straight-line winds here in my immediate neighborhood. At one point many places were evacuated to ground level central rooms, and I was ready to jump into the closet under my stairs with my grandmother and daughter at a seconds notice when we were under a tornado warning. Scary stuff!

Our wonderful lake is thriving off all the recent rain, which is one great thing that has come out of all this crazy weather here lately; going up from 37% full to 63% full!

Of course, as I was watching the weather on the news during the most recent storm, I was taking my mind off things as best I could by cooking. What goes better with a stormy day than a nice warm bowl of soup?...