Beef & Barley Stew

February 19, 2019 Amanda Plott

It is cold, raining, and yucky here today. So, naturally… that calls for a hearty meal. Stew sounds about right to me! And with St. Patrick’s Day coming up soon, you know I’ve got to be sure there’s some Irish stew going on.

This beef stew is one of my new favorite dinners for cold weather. Which let me just say, isn’t a label that comes lightly. I haven’t worked with barley a whole lot before, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But, it was a wonderful addition to stew! There’s big chunks of beef, mushroom, vegetables, and of course that barley in there to help thicken it all up…

Skinny Bacon & Cheddar Irish Soda Bread

February 17, 2019 Amanda Plott

There is one thing that I absolutely MUST make every year towards the end of February and the beginning of March, and that is Soda Bread. Again, it’s a nod to my Irish roots. Irish soda bread is a yeast-free bread that is quick and super easy to make. Really, guys… it’s almost fool-proof. Almost. Trust me, I know because baking tends to scare the pants off of me.

I used my original Healthified Irish Soda Bread as a base for this Bacon & Cheddar variation. This time around I used whole wheat flour to get a more golden color at the end, and of course… loaded this bad boy up with plenty of cheese and bacon goodness…

Irish Whiskey Blondies

February 15, 2019 Amanda Plott

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, I’m already on the thought path of St. Patrick’s Day! I love St. Patrick’s day for a couple of reasons. One being that I’ve got some Irish blood in me. Another being that it’s my dad’s birthday. And of course… who doesn’t love an excuse to drink and pinch people? Don’t worry, there’s no green beer here.

Instead, I opted to start off with these lightened up Irish Whiskey Blondies. I based these blondies over some that I made a good while back now. And yes, there is actually whiskey baked right into these blondies. Enough to give the flavor and just a little kick…

3 Ingredient Beet Gnocchi

February 12, 2019 Amanda Plott

Not all Valentine eats have to be treats! These 3 Ingredient Beet Gnocchi are perfectly festive to serve as a Valentine’s Day lunch or dinner. I’ve made gnocchi a handful of times before. In fact, I’ve made THIS very gnocchi before.

The thing I love about this gnocchi is that it’s so easy to make, especially compared to other gnocchi recipes out there. This one takes a whopping 3 whole ingredients and just about 10 minutes of hands on rolling, cutting, preparing.

Skinny Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies

February 8, 2019 Amanda Plott

Sweets for your sweet!

These red velvet cookies are lightened up with a few simple swaps and are actually pretty easy to make! They start out with a rather traditional red velvet cookie and are then filled in the center with an easy-peasy white chocolate fudge.

They’re super festive right now and would be perfect for any Valentine’s Day party, get-together, or to give as a sweet treat to friends and family on the day of looove…

Skinny Leftover Turkey & Mushroom Pot Pie

January 5, 2019 Amanda Plott

Can you believe it…? I STILL have meat in my freezer that’s leftover from Christmas, y’all! The turkey has now OFFICIALLY been all used up. (Though there is still plenty of ham socked away. - Someone buy me a deep freezer please and stop this madness!) With all this meat still taking over my freezer, I’m still working on coming up with delicious ways to use it all up.

So far… it’s been in a quiche, which is one of my favorite ways to use up leftovers. Another fun way is… pot pie! Even though I’m a southern girl, I don’t think I ever had a homemade pot pie. And now that I’m an adult and sticking with this healthier lifestyle, this Skinny Leftover Turkey & Mushroom Pot Pie is as close as we’re going to get!…