Loaded Zucchini Skins

August 25, 2016 Amanda Plott

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm pretty much in love with zucchini and summer squash. They are possibly the most versatile and easy to work with vegetables that you'll ever encounter. You can do anything from eating them raw, to grilling, baking, steaming, and back again. I've definitely had my fair share of fun with zucchini based recipes.

With tailgating season upon us, I thought it would be a great time to try something new, fun, and a little different than what I'd done before. These Loaded Zucchini Skins are basically a lighter version of Loaded Potato Skins. Don't get me wrong, I love potatoes too, but this option is great for these end of the summer days where it's hot and you want something a little less heavy on your stomach...

Healthified Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomato

August 23, 2016 Amanda Plott

Maybe it's the south in me, but I love me some chicken salad. And I don't mean chicken... on a salad. I mean actual chicken salad; shredded chicken combined with all sorts of wonderfulness to make for a perfectly sweet, salty, crunchy, soft, simply-complex bite.

The first time I ever saw chicken salad stuffed into a tomato was at this place I worked in the summer while I was in college, Stone Werks Big Rock Grille in San Antonio Texas. They had this wonderful salad that mainly consisted of a stuffed tomato that you could get loaded with either chicken or tuna salad. It was simple and also ended up being one of my favorite dishes at the place with the more rich chicken salad being brightened up with the citrus of the tomato. Yum!...

Turkey, Apple & Cheese Wrap Lunchbox

August 18, 2016 Amanda Plott

Thank you SkinnyPop Popcorn for sponsoring this post. Feel good about adding SkinnyPop Popcorn to your kids' lunchbox this back-to-school season, a better-for-you snack made with ingredients your kids can spell and pronounce!

Ah! Today is the first day of first grade for my little girl, and there is definitely a big difference between dropping her off today and dropping her off for her first day of kindergarten. I think every mommy in the world knows exactly what I'm talking about too. What can I say? It was an exceptionally long and drawn out summer.

Needless to say, I was super excited about making her lunch and getting her ready last night. Of course, to keep her little mind active, I wanted to be sure that she had the tools that she needed in her lunchbox to keep her going through her day. This better-for-you lunch has everything a growing kiddo needs and wants without having to make any compromises...

Protein Pack

August 10, 2016 Amanda Plott

Yes, even though I work from home - I still tend to pack my lunches and snacks! Especially during the school year. Why? Because more often than not, when I don't have lunch ready to go... I've found that it's easy for me to forego lunch all together or settle for something that isn't always a good option. With snacks, it's the same way.

If my lunch is all made up and prepared for me, there isn't much of an excuse not to enjoy it. Once my little one starts school back up this next week, I'll be back in action at the gym... and let me just say that I'm really looking forward to it. I know that protein is something I'm going to need once I fall back into my routine of exercising and this protein pack is loaded with it!...

Crock Pot Mojo Pork + Y-USA Food Desert Challenge

July 25, 2016 Amanda Plott

This post was sponsored by Y-USA as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

It's time to get serious for a minute, folks! When I was in high school my family came in on some pretty rough times and there were some scary moments when my mom even admitted to me that she 'didn't know what she was going to put on the table'. Life was hard and things were a struggle, but we made it through together as a family and were much stronger when we came out the other side because of it.

I learned a great deal from my experiences during those high school years. I'm definitely more mindful and knowledgeable about certain things in life; money and food being two of them. Let's just say that my brother and I can rock the socks off cooking ramen noodles.

Money comes and goes and there is nothing that is guaranteed. So when I was approached to take the Good Desert Challenge, it was something that I just knew I had to do.

Over the summer break, families welcome fun-in-the-sun and BBQ, but for those families who rely on school meal programs to ensure their kids eat three square meals a day, it can prove challenging...

Light White Wine Cream Sauce (Sponsored)

July 20, 2016 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VinoBlockParty #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

We all know that summer is all about cook outs and block parties. Of course, here in Texas, we have to get out there early in the day or wait until the sun is starting to set to have a more enjoyable temperature. That being said, I know that when I'm entertaining it's all about simple meals with bold flavors and a nice cool glass of wine to pair!

One of my favorite quotes of all times has to be, "I enjoy cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food...", and today this was my mantra! I decided that in the midst of my entertaining, I would create a lightened up white wine cream sauce to pair with some lemon pepper chicken that was cooked up in the crock pot. Hey, the oven is my enemy right now when it's 100+ degrees outside...