Garden Vegetable Soup

June 15, 2018 Amanda Plott

Last week it was 'ocean' week here in my house, and this week we're going with the theme of plants! In doing so, I decided to throw a LOT more veggies and vegetarian dishes into the mix this week. We always have a couple of vegetarian dishes every week, for health reasons, cutting the cost of food, and also because it just makes me feel better all around.

I could easily be a vegetarian. In fact, my daughter was basically a vegetarian of her own accord up until she was about 5 years old. Meat just wasn't something she was a fan of. And I can't say that I was far off from that myself with I was a little girl too.

Ready for a true side story about myself? My parents used to have to tell me that meat came from a meat tree when I was little to get me to eat it!…

Spring Chicken Soup

April 2, 2018 Amanda Plott

I may not be a spring chicken anymore, but this soup sure is! Just because it's Springtime, doesn't mean that we have to quit eating soup. Let's face it, sometimes you just want a good meal in a bowl to warm your soul, and that's what this soup is meant for! Even if it is warming up outside.

I'm going to hold onto Spring for as long as I can and go kicking and screaming into the hot blazes of another Texas summer. The, at least, 4 months of the year where my air conditioner is running constantly on full and the air outside is almost so hot that it burns your lungs when you breathe. Ughhh... No, thank you! I'll just sit here and enjoy the Spring weather while I can. Soak ever ounce of it up...

Low-Carb African Peanut Stew

January 25, 2018 Amanda Plott

I've been wanting to make African Peanut Stew for a good long while now and since I'm soaking up every last drop of the 'cool' weather here in Texas, I thought there would be no better time than now. This stew is hearty. I'm talking... stick to your ribs and fill you up completely. It's a little bit of all the best things. Savory, sweet, spicy, salty, soft, crunchy...

Honestly, I really wasn't sure how I would feel about peanuts in a stew. It's never been something I thought of as being the main component in dinner. But, I was thoroughly impressed with how good it was. ...To the point, that I think this may go into my dinner rotation!...

Asiago Roasted Garlic & Purple Cauliflower Soup

January 8, 2018 Amanda Plott

Colorful foods are where it's at and I've had my eye on colored cauliflower for a couple of years now. A lot of people think that colored cauliflower is made using food coloring, but they couldn't be more wrong! These rainbow cauliflowers are natural to nature and have been hanging around farmer's markets for a long time now.

And well... it finally happened. I got my hands on not only 1 color of cauliflower, but on 3 different colors; lime/green, orange/cheddar, and you guessed it - purple! The colored cauliflower doesn't really taste any different than a traditional head. The only real difference that I could find is that they're so freakin' gorgeous!...

Crock Pot Beef Stew

December 31, 2017 Amanda Plott

The New Year is on the horizon and I couldn't be more excited! I've got my brother and my nephew in town visiting and one thing that my brother requested I make for dinner one night while he's here is Beef Stew! Now, I've made my fair share of beef stews in the past but since we're out and about this weekend I figured I would make a simple crock pot version.

Beef stew is pretty traditional. Beef. Veggies. Broth. And an extended cook time. Using the crock pot or instant pot is a great alternative to standing over the stove and having to worry over the stew all day. Instead, let the crock pot do all the work for you!...

Grandma's Old-Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings

December 28, 2017 Amanda Plott

This year my family and I decided to do something a little outside of our usual for Christmas and for the first time in as long as I can remember, we went out of town for the holiday. While it was a bit of an undertaking to pack up everything involved and schlep it all the way from Texas to Oklahoma, I would have to say that the venture was well worth it. Even with the 5-hour trip home taking nearly 8 hours.

We were visiting my Uncle Johnnie and my Aunt Mildred who lives there. This is where I should probably explain that he is really my mother's uncle and more of a grand or great uncle to me - however that title would actually work is beyond me! He and I always seem to reminisce about one particular thing, my Great Grandma, and her amazing simple old-fashioned southern cooking. The sort you really don't come across anymore...