Italian Couscous Salad

February 21, 2019 Amanda Plott

This Italian Couscous Salad is as quick and easy as a ‘pasta’ salad can come. With a few chops here, some dices there, a good hefty few stirs and a little while in the fridge, this salad is ready to go and full of flavor! It’s pretty loaded with fun bits too such as salami, fresh mozzarella, basil, olives, and plenty of Italian veggies.

I’d like to think that it’s sort of a fun twist on Antipasto. It’s light, it’s pasta based, and it’s served cold. While usually it’s as a side, I’ve enjoyed eating this for lunch with a hard-boiled egg on the side. But it would also be great served as a side at dinner. Say… paired with a pesto marinated grilled chicken breast…

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…

Dark Chocolate Oat Bars

February 6, 2019 Amanda Plott

Dark. Chocolate. Oat. Bars.

These oat bars are delicious AND easy to make. Sure. They take 2 hours of chilling in the fridge, but so long as you can wait it out. These bad boys are basically fool proof. Plus, they’re ridiculously easy to make gluten-free with a simple swap of flours.

If you’re gluten-free, you know what to do here so I’m not even going to get into it.

With a handful of whole ingredients and right at 15 minutes of hands-on prep time, you can have these bars ready to go with minimal effort. Great for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or as a snack. Kids are going to love them. Adults are going to love them. They’re good stuff.

A fin mix of a granola bar and a cookie. But. With no baking required!

If you’re scared of not baking the flour, I’ve heard it mentioned before that you can zap your flour in the microwave for a few seconds to get it up to temperature and kill off any nasties that way. I haven’t researched that myself, so I have no idea if that factually is a thing though.

Yum

Dark Chocolate Oat Bars
TheSkinnyFork.com

These easy to make oat bars are perfect as a breakfast bite, a snack, or even dessert. Delicious and made with just a few ingredients! Keep them on hand and ready to enjoy any time.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes • Cook Time: 2 Hours

The Skinny:
Servings: 9 • Serving Size: 1 Bar • Calories: 384 • Fat: 24 g • Saturated Fat: 9 g • Carb: 36 g • Fiber: 1 g • Protein: 10 g • Sugar: 6 g • Sodium: 6 mg

Ingredients:
• 3 C. Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
• 1/2 C. All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 C. Tbsp. Maple Syrup or Honey
• 3/4 C. Almond Butter
• 3 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 3/4 C. Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions:
Line an 8x8” square dish with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the 3 C. oats, 1/2 C. flour, 1/2 C. honey, 1/2 C. of the almond butter, 3 Tbsp. melted coconut oil, 1 Tsp. vanilla, and 1/8 Tsp. cinnamon.

Transfer half of the oat mixture to the bottom of the prepared dish and press down (using clean fingers, the back of a spoon, or a piece of parchment paper.)

Place the dish into the fridge to chill and set for at least 30 minutes.

Melt the 3/4 C. chocolate chips and the remaining 1/4 C. almond butter together over a double boiler.

Remove the dish from the fridge and pour the chocolate out over the oat mixture and spread evenly.

Place the dish back into the fridge to chill and set for at least an hour.

Once hardened, remove the dish from the fridge and top with the remaining half of the oat mixture. Again, press the oats using fingers, the back of a spoon, or parchment.

Return the dish to the fridge for at least another 30 minutes to harden.

When firm and harder, remove from the fridge and cut into 9 bars.

Store in the fridge and enjoy for up to 2 weeks!

Step-by-Step Photos:

Nutritional Claims: High Fiber • Low Sodium • Vegetarian • Pescatarian • Egg Free • Peanut Free • Soy Free • Fish Free • Shellfish Free • Pork Free • Red Meat Free • Crustacean Free • Celery Free • Mustard Free • Sesame Free • Lupine Free • Mollusk Free • Alcohol Free • Kosher

French Dip Bites + Au Jus

February 4, 2019 Amanda Plott

Sometimes the family just wants something light and snacky for dinner. These French Dip Bites are perfect for being added to any game day or get-together spread. They’re rather quick and easy to make… and that homemade au jus? Mmm… that may just be the best part! It’s delicious and almost fool proof.

Usually au jus can be complicated and time consuming. This one though? Easy breezy with no drippings required. Plus, being as its homemade, you get to decide how to season it! While the bites themselves are delicious the au jus is really the star of the show here…

3 Ingredient Pimento Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers

January 28, 2019 Amanda Plott

The BIG football game is upon us THIS weekend, y’all! My family and I are already busy making gamely spread plans. I decided though, that I need to have a practice run this weekend though to test out this new recipe. And it worked out so well that I just HAD to share it right away. I mean… how can you go wrong with a 3 ingredient wonder?

How can you go wrong with stuffed Jalapeños? Or cheese? Or bacon? The simple answer is… you can’t! These Jalapeños aren’t stuffed with any cheese though. Nope! They’re stuffed with none other than pimento cheese. Don’t know what that is? Well, you should! Pimento cheese is a southern staple that’s made with shredded cheese, pimentos, and a few other things. It can be used as a spread on a sandwich or even a dip for crackers…

Vegan Avocado Brownies

January 21, 2019 Amanda Plott

It’s been a few days worth of sweets around my house. I guess we can all blame that on being cooped up with a long weekend of cooler weather here in Texas. Then again, I think the most of the country is in the same situation. And just like the other day? Cold days mean it’s time to get your bake on!

My daughter is a chocolate fiend. A real chocoholic. And brownies? They’re one of her favorites! I mean… who doesn’t like brownies? Especially when they’re still warm and fresh out of the oven? Brownies are not without their faults though. They are usually loaded with fat and sugar. No thank you…