Southwest Egg Bites (Instant Pot)

August 3, 2018 Amanda Plott

I've had a rough couple days of it. There were two recipes that I was SO excited about sharing, but... in the midst of testing them, they didn't turn out nearly as well as I had planned. They both tasted great. But, there was just something off about the process and the directions. ...Which means that I've still got some work to do.

So needless to say, it's been a couple of days in between recipes again. Which is not my favorite thing to do. I would much rather keep it fresh and new around here. But, I also don't want to put anything up here that I am not completely happy with. If I'm stressing over the cooking of a dish, that means you will be too! And that's just no good.

That's why today I woke up bright and early and reverted back to one of my current FAVORITES. Egg bites…

Chicken Faux Pho (Instant Pot)

July 31, 2018 Amanda Plott

For a good long while now I've heard nothing but good things about pho. And to be honest, I've never given it a try. My brother swears by it and about the time that my hair stylist said the same thing, I knew it was going to have to happen. So, when I was planning out my meals for the week, I decided that I was going to dive head first in and make a quick and easy version of pho.

...And let me just tell you... it's pho-king delicious.

This pho isn't what I would call traditional. It hasn't spent all day cooking down in it's broth, and the ingredients are pretty minimal. The most of what's going on here is spices and fresh veggies - which I am anything but mad at…

Low-Carb Instant Pot Cheesecake

July 23, 2018 Amanda Plott

Today it's going to be a whopping 107 in Austin, Texas! I'm at that point of summer where it's so hot that I nearly want it to be over, but I'm also not quite ready to end the freedom with the onslaught of another school year for my daughter. Let's face it, there is just something about waking up in the morning naturally and having absolutely nothing on the schedule that's required to be done that day.

So, while it's literally as hot as hell in Texas... That doesn't stop me from wanting the things that I can't have. Or dare not have, anyway. Things that generally require the oven. Things like... cheesecake. Here we have a no-bake cheesecake that still manages to be cooked!…

Skinny Cream Cheese Rangoon Dip & Wonton Chips

July 20, 2018 Amanda Plott

I keep saying that I'm swearing off my stove and oven right now, and then the very next day I'm firing one, or both of them, up again cook some yummies. And so far lately, all the yummies have been worth heating the house up over. And this Skinny Cream Cheese Rangoon Dip with Wonton Chips inso different. I may even do the very same thing again tonight!

So first thing first. I love cream cheese rangoons. I've made them a few times, and... I could probably eat my weight in them with no questions asked. That being said, I'm all about putting a twist on the things I love. I guess that's why I decided to turn cream cheese rangoons into a dip!…

Probiotic Chicken Salad

July 16, 2018 Amanda Plott

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Mariani Packing Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #MarianiSuperPrunes http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

I'm not sure about the rest, but I know that here in Texas, chicken salad is basically a staple. No, no, no. I'm not talking about a salad with chicken on it. I'm talking about shredded chicken that's blended together with mayo, herbs, veggies, and maybe even some dried fruit to create a salad of chicken.

I've made a handful of lightened-up and healthier chicken salads in the past. But, today I wanted to do something just a little bit different. Usually in a chicken salad, you'll find dried cranberries, raisins, or maybe even cherries. So, when I heard of Mariani Probiotic Pitted Prunes, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them…

Cranberry Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

July 13, 2018 Amanda Plott

Product was provided to me on behalf of Cape Cod Cranberries to review, use, and write about. As always, all opinions are entirely my own.

It's hot. It's hot. It's really really hot here in Texas right now and all I want to do is avoid using my stove or oven! So, today for lunch, I decided to go with a super quick and easy cold and crunchy salad. And when I say easy, I mean almost ridiculously easy. It's so easy that it only takes a whopping 5-10 minutes from start to finish with preparing it.

The best part? There is absolutely NO cooking or heating required! How do you do that? Well, cranberries! Cranberries are a favorite of mine and I love finding clever ways to use them up all year round. They are so versatile that they can be used in just about any meal or in any type of drink. Trust me, I've got a lot of tricks up my sleeve when it comes to these tart bright red little gems. Never mind all their health benefits…