Skinny Tutti-Fruity Breakfast Muffins

January 21, 2015 Amanda Plott

So as many of you may know, I've been attempting to have less gluten in my life for a few months now. Of course, I'm not entirely gluten free (mostly because I don't personally need to be), but I do have family members that are gluten intolerant and/or diabetic and have the need to eat less gluten for one reason or another.

Gluten seems to be one of those things that most of us have in our everyday diet, but isn't something that the body necessarily needs. There are no nutrients in gluten, however gluten can be found in most of the whole grain items out there that are good for you. So long story short, you don't want to start a fully gluten free lifestyle until you've spoken to a medical doctor about it and learned the ins and outs of what all it entails.

A long while back I made these wonderful muffins that happened to be gluten free; which wasn't exactly what I was trying to accomplish, just a happy accident! So, when I decided to make some fruity breakfast muffins this week for my little one, I knew exactly where to start...

Healthy & Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

January 14, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've got to admit that I'm a little bit of an oatmeal fiend. Which is a little strange considering that my mom is anything but. However, I will say that she has almost always enjoyed any oatmeal that I've made for her. It's just that it isn't something that she would generally make for herself. So, when I was growing up, it was all about Malt-O-Meal and instant oatmeal packets on the weekends.

Yes, we all know those instant oatmeal packets that you can buy pre-made at the store. I think that most of us grew up on them. As with anything though, things have changed a lot over the years, including what's in those instant oatmeal packets.

Then again, I'm pretty sure that I can recall eating some of those packets that 'magically' changed colors or had mini dinosaur eggs in them that dinosaurs 'hatched' out of or something... I'm sure that those were super healthy. Hah!...

Skinny Vanilla Cake Pops

January 7, 2015 Amanda Plott

Who doesn't love these sweet little treats on a stick?

Seriously.

I'm pretty sure that almost everyone had their first taste of a cake pop at Starbucks. Yeah, you know the ones I'm talking about too. The pinkalicious birthday cake flavor of pure heaven on a stick... and hell on your thighs.

I've attempted to make any versions of these over the years, and I will say that they are quite easy to make, but also very time consuming. It's definitely a labor of love though; mindless work that takes just about forever to do with a phenomenal end result.

And what better to devote your labor of love to other than your adorable child, right? My little girl is absolutely stuck on cake pops, so I figured it was long since time to get another of her favorites out there...

Spinach & Pea Tortellini

January 2, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #BackToBalance #CollectiveBias

The first time that I ever remember eating tortellini was probably back when I was in junior high (yikes - maybe even further back than that!) My dad must have been in charge of dinner that night because I remember he was the one standing at the stove cooking up those perfect little tender shells stuffed with fresh cheeses. And yeah, he even used BUITONI® pasta back then too.

Now, of course he is and has always been a much different home cook than myself. He had made something that was a little heavier; some sort of Alfredo sauce to go over the tortellini and green peas, which was then topped off with some bits of bacon. Talk about decadent, but at least he had some green in there!

It was one of the most amazing things that I had ever tasted.

I'm not sure where he got the original recipe idea from, but I know that for one reason or another that meal still stands out in my mind today...

Keurig 2.0 & Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte

December 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #Keurig400 #CollectiveBias

So this past week was pretty amazing and spectacular. I was give the chance to review a new Keurig® 2.0. Naturally, I was more than excited for this opportunity, especially being as I'm about to have a houseful of guests next week for the holidays.

I've had an older Keurig® on my kitchen counter being used each day (usually more than once - especially when my grandmother or mother visit), for well over two years now. It's been true and faithful to me, and I to it.

Being a mom, coffee is my life's blood. I never really was a fan of coffee until I became an adult and I was always told that it was an acquired taste. These days though? I can't go a morning without my cup of joe!...

Skinny Faux 'Fried' Tomatoes

December 19, 2014 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. andQuaker®. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #CollectiveBias #LoveMyCereal #QuakerUp

I'm a southern girl. You know, the born in Texas sort... It's not an uncommon place to find fried anything all around you here in the Lone Star State. I mean, have you been to our State Fair? Eek gads, man! Even so, I've got to be honest here. The only thing I care for at all that is fried would be french fries, pickles, and of course... tomatoes!

As you can imagine, fried tomatoes (especially green ones) were once a common place and a staple to southern food. Now though? You're hard pressed to find a single place in a giant city that fries them anymore.

A couple months back I was venturing out and trying a newly opened movie theater over closer to my mother's end of the world here in Austin. I don't know about you, but from what I remember, back when I was a young girl your options at movie theaters were fairly limited. I'm talking hot dogs, pop corn, soda, and an array over overly priced candies. In today's world though, the most of the movie theaters that I go to are all about beer, wine, and gourmet foods! This particular place was no different, featuring an amazing wine selection and beautiful food options that put those old-time hot dogs to bed...