Savory Holiday Monkey Bread

December 10, 2018 Amanda Plott

I love monkey bread. I love that it’s a quick, easy, and delicious way to pack a lot more flavor into any traditional biscuit dough. Usually monkey bread is sweet and is made as more of a breakfast or even as a dessert. Such as my cherry pie version, or my pumpkin spice one! But, not much can beat the strawberries and cream monkey bread.

Today though, I was craving tomato soup and some crunchy bread. It’s chilly out and that traditional meal sounded very comforting. But then! I thought better of myself. Why make a boring plain old grilled cheese when I could make something drinkable, dipable, and fun instead?!…

Skinny Cranberry Upside Down Cake

December 7, 2018 Amanda Plott

The great Christmas and New Year dessert debate is in full swing! It seems like every year my Mother and I get into ‘the great debate’ over what cookies and desserts we’re going to be making for the holidays. She likes this. I like that. And we aren’t the only ones with opinions on desserts either.

I usually try a few new things out as we get closer and more into the thick of the holidays. Some don’t make the cut, but others become fast family favorites. I think the last one that made the official traditional rotation was my Cranberry Cherry Pie. But… I have to say. This Skinny Cranberry Upside Down Cake may be taking the throne…

'One Pot' Tortellini & Sausage Soup

December 5, 2018 Amanda Plott

Soup, soup, soup! It’s all about the soup right now.

Winter is upon us, and while our winter here in Texas is mild for the most part so far… it’s still a little chili outside. And nothing warms the body, mind, and soul quite as well as a hearty bowl of homemade soup!

Since I’ve had tortellini on the mind lately, I thought I’d try to make an Italian inspired tortellini soup today. It starts off with some turkey Italian sausage and a broth tomato base that we add more veggies too. Like onion, garlic, and spinach too!…

Skinny Gingerbread Granola

December 3, 2018 Amanda Plott

‘Tis the season. …Gingerbread season, that is!

Gingerbread is the spice of life, especially as we get closer to Christmas and the New Year. I took a leap of faith last week and ordered some vegan almond ‘egg nog’ from one of my favorite almond milk creators. They’re local here to me in Austin Texas, and while I like the flavor of egg nog… raw egg in my drink sorta… freaks me out a little bit.

So with my vegan almond milk in hand, I decided that I needed some granola to go with it. I’ve made a lot of granola lately. Most of them have been keto-friendly, grain-free, gluten-free, and the like. This one though? This one is more of a traditional oat granola. Though, it’s east enough to make it gluten-free!…

Instant Pot Chicken Caldo

December 1, 2018 Amanda Plott

Well, it’s still barely winter here in Texas. Though it is about as winter as it’s likely to get here outside of a couple more cold fronts and a freeze or two. Even so! We’re in the throes of soup season and I wanted to make some more soup, DANG IT.

Caldo is one of the most simple soups out there. It’s a Mexican style soup that’s very brothy and full of several different kinds of vegetables. You will probably find it on any good Mexican restaurant’s menu, whether it’s beef or chicken. The way that I know that? My little brother used to order it all the time when we were younger. It was always one of his MOST favorite things…

Skinny Cranberry Orange Cookies

November 27, 2018 Amanda Plott

With Thanksgiving over, it’s now time to move on to the next round of Holiday. Christmas is just around the corner, and then it’s New Years! For several years now, my mom and I get together and bake up a few different kinds of cookies together. We each pick a few of our favorites and we make them in tangent to share with friends and family as a fun homemade gift.

Cranberry Orange cookies are always one of my mom’s go-to cookie recipes. They’re sweet, tart, and really are the perfect bite of holiday cheer. I mean… look at them! They just scream fa-la-la-la-l'a’!…