Shisho Pesto

August 3, 2020 Amanda Plott

So, I realized the other day that due to the shape of world right now that I didn’t get to do as much with my backyard herbs as I generally do during the Spring and Summer. Usually I have a yard that’s plentiful with basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, limes, and grapes! Sometimes there’s some strawberries and tomatoes out there too.

With all the basil I end up making pesto all through the Spring and Summer months. And being as I didn’t have any this year? I haven’t been able to make my homemade pesto. Craving the tasty green stuff, I decided to be a little creative. I got my hands on some Shisho, which is an herb that’s used often in Japanese dishes…

Instant Pot Cold Start Vanilla Greek Yogurt

July 28, 2020 Amanda Plott

I never in a million years would have guessed that I would ever make yogurt. I don’t know why, but I just never really considered that I even could make it. Mostly because I honestly didn’t know the process of how to make yogurt. And… then I got a pressure cooker.

As it turns out, making yogurt is really easy to do. And what’s better? You can make it just the way you want, in any flavor you want, and as tangy as you want. Plus, making it yourself saves you calories AND money! So, as scary as the concept may seem, it’s definitely worth trying out!…

French Bread

June 15, 2020 Amanda Plott

I’ve been doing a lot of baking lately. Especially now that I got ALL NEW appliances in my kitchen finally! I’ve been waiting to do it for years and years now and I finally was able to do so. Between that, limiting trips to the store, and having my hands on a handy-dandy bread maker, I’ve been a bread making fool!

This French Bread is simple. It’s as standard as bread comes and is made with just a handful of pantry staple ingredients. Flour, oil, salt, sugar, yeast, that’s pretty much all there is to it. I have to say, even if you don’t have a bread machine, this bread is still pretty easy to make and will easily rival any fresh bakery bread…

Cherry Pop-Tart Bundt Cake

May 18, 2020 Amanda Plott

Another day, another dessert! This sweet treat is a nod to Cherry Pop-Tarts with it’s light pink frosting, red sugar sprinkles, and cherry filling. It’s truly one of the most delicious cherry cakes that I’ve ever put in my mouth. And that’s saying a lot!

While this cake is perfect as a dessert, it could also be enjoyed for breakfast. How do I know that? It’s what I had today for breakfast. Since it’s in the shape of a bundt… that makes it technically like a coffee cake, right? Sure. Let’s go with that…

Blueberry Bread (Bread Machine)

May 12, 2020 Amanda Plott

I’m… making a lot of bread lately. I’ve found that being stuck at home and baking seem to go hand-in-hand. And when I’m planning out breakfast, bread just happens to be my new go-to. I guess that could be due to the fact that I got a new bread machine a few months back now.

This Blueberry Bread really hit the spot. It’s light and fluffy and full of blueberry goodness. A slice of this for breakfast with some butter, jam, and a side of fresh berries is a beautiful way to start the day. I lightened this bread up by using an unsweetened almond milk and plenty of blueberries…

Whole Wheat Blueberry Oat Bars

May 4, 2020 Amanda Plott

These Whole Wheat Blueberry Oat Bars are a take on a raspberry version that I made a while back. Spring time always gets me into a lemon and blueberry mode, I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s because blueberries are more in season and you can find packs of fresh big beautiful ones. Either way, these Whole Wheat Blueberry Oat Bars are easy to make and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert!

Unlike the blueberry oat bars I’ve made before, these ones are thick and hearty. Less of a snack and more along the lines of being used as part of meal, unless you cut each of the 16 bars in half again…