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...

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!...

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!...

Lemon Poppy Seed Granola

March 26, 2017 Amanda Plott

I'm so happy it's spring time finally. I seriously love all the bright flavors of citrus and the beautiful berries that I'm seeing at the store; like these jumbo blueberries that I got this past week. I mean... just look at those suckers! They are the size of two or three whole almonds. Yowza! Some of my favorite spring flavors have to be lemon and blueberry, so naturally I wanted to pair my giant blueberries here with something bright and lemony!

It's been a while since I baked up some granola, so I thought it was high time to make a fun 'Spring' granola that's loaded up with the good stuff. Poppy seeds along with some chia seeds, almonds, and oats. The honey I used for this was a 50/50 blend of honey and stevia; giving me less calories and the same flavor. It's just good all the way around...

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls

March 23, 2017 Amanda Plott

I've been on a mediterranean kick lately. Can you tell with my Mediterranean Toast and now this Quinoa Bowl? I have always been a fan of Mediterranean and Greek inspired dishes. I think it's the mix of savory, salty, and the bright bold flavors that go along with it. This bowl starts out with a simple cooked quinoa on the bottom and goes from there. It's light enough to enjoy as a simple dinner and yet hearty enough to have as a filling lunch.

For this bowl, I kept it traditional with fresh tomatoes, zucchini and lemon. To get some salt in there I added greek olives, feta, and of course those artichoke hearts. The avocado is there for some smooth creamy healthy fats that you can use along with the lemon juice as a dip/spread/dressing for everything else. And... who doesn't love avocado anyway?...

Roasted Butternut Squash & Chickpea Salad with Pesto

March 9, 2017 Amanda Plott

It's this wonderful time of year where I'm starting to see more and more fresh 'spring' vegetables coming into the produce department; which always excites me. Especially when there's still plenty of winter squash to be had. I love to take seasonal produce and mix them together as the seasons start to turn from one to another. It always gives you something interesting and exciting.

This Roasted Butternut Squash & Chickpea Salad is the perfect blend of winter and spring coming together for a wonderful bite. The butternut squash is what's coming in here from winter, while the pesto and fresh baby spinach and pop of lemon are a sure sign of spring approaching...