Grown Up 'Lunchable'

March 24, 2014 Amanda Plott

While I was putting together my weekly meal plan this weekend, I was racking my brain to come up with some fun lunch ideas for my little girl. Somewhere along the way I realized that she has never had the 'joy' of trying a Lunchable.

A few other things that she's never had? Spaghetti O's... McDonald's anything... or a frozen meal (such as Kid Cuisine.)

So, I decided that I would make her a home version of a Lunchable to take for lunch this week at school. And in the process... I realized I wanted to be a kid again this week too!...

Mixed Berry Salad

March 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

This salad has been my lunch regularly for about two weeks now. I just can't get enough of it! Everything I love the most is in there. Fresh berries, blue cheese, spinach, and this amazing Energy Crunch Trail Mix. I found the mix at my local grocery store, HEB. It has soybeans, dried cranberries, almonds & pumpkin kernels.

When it started out, I was using a bottled dressing. But this week I decided to switch it up and make my own - which turned out fabulous and even more healthy!...

Hot & Spicy Cheesy Kale Chips

February 28, 2014 Amanda Plott

A few weeks ago my mom and I took a trip to my new neighborhood Whole Foods Market. While we were there scoping things out, we came across some very special kale chips. Crispy, crunchy, nasty-hot, cheesy kale chips. The only problem was... $8? Yikes!

I immediately told my mom once again about my Crispy Kale Chips, and suggested that I try my hand at a spicy cheese version. After all, they would be a fraction of the cost of the little $8 container that we were munching on.

What? I had to see what they tasted like for comparison sake!...

Anatomy of a Cheese Plate

February 16, 2014 Amanda Plott

Yes, I'm a wine-o - I admit it! I'm a big lush and I looove me some cheese.

I know that this isn't exactly a skinny sort of thing, but if it's done right and in moderation... it doesn't have to completely undo your day, or week, or month, or year! So this is a how-to for a proper cheese plate...

Healthified 7 Layer Dip

January 18, 2014 Amanda Plott

You know... the term '7 layer dip' always confused me as... I've never actually seen a 7 layer dip with exactly 7 layers. Seriously. Think about it...

Mind boggling, I know.

In any case, this is my healthified take in the traditional party staple dip.

Oh! And don't let the ingredient list scare you away. Most of the items between the tomato layer and the guacamole layer are the same, so there really isn't that much (it just looks intimidating at first.) This is a super easy recipe anyway!...

Crispy Kale Chips

January 4, 2014 Amanda Plott

I'll readily admit that I am generally not a fan of kale. I don't like it in my soup, especially.

Zuppa Toscana and Olive Garden? Please, no.

It's not the flavor of kale that I don't find pleasant... it's the... way it holds it's form and something about the texture of the 'curly' ends.

I much prefer my spinach. I love my spinach. Raw. Cooked. Sauted. In soup. As a salad. It doesn't matter.

I keep hearing and seeing things about kale chips. Supposedly you could do the same thing with spinach. Perfect! Well... not so perfect. Unfortunately, when I tried 'spinach chips' a few months back... it didn't fair too well. As we all know, spinach is good at wilting under heat. And while it tasted good, it was not something that you could readily snack on. It just... flakes into nothingness. Sad Face....