Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette

February 1, 2020 Amanda Plott

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I thought it would be fun (and delicious) to make a pink salad dressing. Not just any dressing though, something lightened up and perfect as we come into the end of the cold winter months. Maybe using spring inspired flavors will inspire the warmer weather!

So what makes the dressing pink? Strawberries of course! Strawberries are the base of this vinaigrette, and to be honest, they’re the secret to this dressing as well. The large amount of strawberries used here is what keeps this vinaigrette lightened up and low in calories…

Healthified 'Swamp' Soup

January 30, 2020 Amanda Plott

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... whoops! Wrong story. Ahem. A long time ago, I made this heavenly soup for my family in the midst of winter and it was an instant hit! And it still is to this day. But, the post here needed some updating so here you go!

I've made the soup a few times over the years and each time seem to make it more and more my own. While the base of the soup remains the same, I've definitely built my own little swamp here.

This soup is pretty hearty and rather filling for being loaded with basically nothing but vegetables. And no, that isn't a complaint in the least. I love my vegetables almost any which way, cooked, raw, steamed, grilled, etc…

Air Fryer Potato Chips

January 28, 2020 Amanda Plott

So, the air fryer has quickly become one of the most used gadgets in my kitchen lately. It’s not only a time saver when it comes to crispy-crunchy bites that I normally bake, but it’s also fun to play with and tends to get my usual faux fried things even more of the faux fried texture and taste!

These Air Fryer Potato Chips are no different. They’re made with just THREE ingredients and all of 30 minutes of cook time. The best part is that they are SO much better for you than the ones you buy at the store. Why? No preservatives and like I said… THREE ingredients. You can’t beat that!…

Air Fryer Parmesan Kale Chips

January 23, 2020 Amanda Plott

Oh, kale no…

These kale chips couldn’t be more simple or easy to make. They’re really one of my all time favorite snacks too. Other than being ridiculously cheap, they also end up being low calorie, vegetarian, gluten free, and keto friendly! The fun doesn’t stop there though, they’re also made with right at 5 ingredients. 5 whole simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

I used to be excited to see kale chips at the store, until I realized what they were charging for them. Excuse me? 8 bucks for a box of cheesy kale? No thanks! Kale started off as a bland green that was used to decorate buffets and salad bars. Now that it’s trendy, the prices have taken gotten out of control. So, I’ll make my own kale chips.

Skinny Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

January 6, 2020 Amanda Plott

The big game is coming up soon - less than a month away, and if you’re looking for a great dip to add to your game day spread, look no further. This Skinny Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip is a real winner. One of my favorite things about this hot dip is that it’s super quick and easy to make while being so damn good that no one will ever guess that it’s made to be a little better-for-you.

To lighten this dip up, I used some plain greek yogurt and reduced fat cheeses. The real powerhouses of flavor are the lemon and the spinach. So don’t skip out on that squeeze of lemon juice. The seasoning in there is important too. Garlic, crushed red pepper, and of course salt & pepper…

Southwest Chicken Soup (Instant Pot)

December 29, 2019 Amanda Plott

This Southwest Chicken Soup is based on one that I often get at fairly well known chain restaurant. It’s a broth-based soup that’s light and yet loaded with tons of southwest flavors. Instead of the usual pinto or black beans, chickpeas are used instead!

Bring as we’re at the tail end of the Holiday season, and there’s still a lot going on, I decided to once again make this soup in the pressure cooker. Why? It saves me time and energy. So, I kept this soup pretty simple and made all at one time and in one pot. Toss it in, cook it, and enjoy…