Healthy Macaroni & Cheese

January 25, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, I've been working on this top secret recipe right here for a while now. And I say that it's top secret because if my little girl knew what was in it, she would instantly turn her nose up at it. I've made a handful of mac-and-cheese recipes in the past. Some were good. Others were terrible. None of them were what I could consider a viable option to really sneak past my six year old and pass off as plain jane macaroni and cheese.

Like I said, it's been a work in progress. That is... until today. (Well, actually it was last week that I had the initial success and knew that the recipe was ready to share.) Today I got my little mac-and-cheese aficionado to eat her macaroni and a good heaping serving of vegetables hidden along inside it. Don't worry though, this mac-and-cheese is so creamy rich and perfectly saucy that you will never guess there's veggies tucked away in it.

Sneaky, sneaky, mac-and-cheesy!...

Vegetarian Crunchy Tacos

January 23, 2017 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DailyVegolutions #CollectiveBias

It's meatless Monday and we're rolling it over into taco Tuesday! No matter when or where you have these Vegetarian Crunchy Tacos, you're sure to love them. For the past couple of months we've had 'Taco Tuesday' for dinner in my house, and I'll be honest in saying that I've tried out several different variations of tacos among all of those Tuesdays. However, none can quite compare to the traditional and classic crunchy taco.

Until now, that is.

These meatless tacos are every bit as good (if not better) than the original. They are stuffed full of all of the flavor and toppings that you know and love in a traditional crunchy taco with one thing missing. Meat! Don't worry thought, it's been swapped out for something amazing...

Baked Eggs & Spinach

January 18, 2017 Amanda Plott

I gotta be honest, y'all. I don't feel my best today physically. One of my glands in my neck is huge and swollen and I'm fighting off an optical migraine. So, bare with me! We'll get through this together!

Funny enough, this meal right here has managed to perk me up quite a bit. I'm not feeling as horrible as I did earlier. Maybe part of my problem is that I was hangry? You know... when you're so hungry that you get angry?

When I'm feeling under the weather, I tend to stick to the simple and easy recipes that I know and love. Now, a while back I had made these Italian Baked Eggs. They were new and different and exciting, and I absolutely loved them...

Kale & Apple Quinoa Salad

January 16, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, this salad today is actually somewhat inspired by my dad who is having some health issues at the moment. We're not entirely sure what's going on, but he's been told to eat better for the time being until his next round of testing. One thing he was told to do was to 'stay away from white stuff', which clearly isn't something I stuck to here because I have to have cheese in my life. I literally think I might explode if I didn't have at least a bit of cheese every day.

What can I say? I've got to be honest here! I'm one that believes strongly in that you can enjoy everything as part of a healthy diet as long as it's in moderation. (Except of course if it's something you've been warned of by a professional.)

A few days back now, my dad and aunt were chatting at me on Facebook about how my dad is now eating more healthy and that he had tried quinoa. He wasn't a huge fan. So, I gave him some suggestions and got to thinking that some quinoa sounded really good actually. And here we are with this lovely Kale & Apple Quinoa Salad!...

Spinach & Artichoke Ravioli en Brodo

January 9, 2017 Amanda Plott

Thank you Buitoni for sponsoring this post. Check out Buitoni's no GMO, clean label, vegetable-infused pastas and sauces to create a dinnertime experience everyone will enjoy.

Almost three years ago I made this wonderful Tortellini en Brodo that was amazing and my whole family loved it. Yes, even my picky little first grader. Sometimes the most simple meals are the ones that my family and I adore the most. ...Though for different reasons, of course. I enjoy the simple recipes because I spend less time in the kitchen while my family enjoys them for their distinct and fresh flavors.

This Spinach & Artichoke Ravioli en Brodo was definitely inspired by that one from a few years ago, but it is even more simple with only 6 ingredients and yet just as much flavor (if not more!) This is a light soup that still somehow manages to be rather hearty. Those big beautiful green ravioli soak up that wonderful broth and all of the flavors that go along with it...

Broccoli & Butternut Squash Omelettata

January 6, 2017 Amanda Plott

Brrrr! It's freezing here in Austin today. No, like... literally it is. I needed an excuse to turn the oven on since that always helps warm the house up and I sure enough found that excuse when trying to figure out what I was going to do with myself for breakfast. I remembered that I had gotten these wonderful farm fresh eggs and local produce yesterday and just knew they would fit the bill.

So, I kicked on my oven and got to work.

I've made an omelettata before, but it's been a while. Almost a year to the day actually! It's pretty funny how things work out sometimes...