'Healthier' Mummy Dogs

October 2, 2014 Amanda Plott

My mom started this tradition several years back where we turned our hot dogs into mummy dogs around halloween. I believe our first few years doing this, we used little smokies instead of actual hot dogs, so we had about a million and one mini-mummies. They were cute... but also a little bit of a pain in the rear to make.

After we learned our lesson, we began to use regular size weenies and it was a whole lot easier of a process! Now that my daughter is older and more sentient (as my brother would say), I really enjoy sharing all the fun and festive holiday stuff that my mother used to do for my brother and I.

While it's a silly and rather minimal tradition, it's ours and we love it.

It helps too that my daughter is a hot dog fiend.

It's seriously one of the only forms of meat that she will actually eat.

Skinny Pizza Potato Skins

September 29, 2014 Amanda Plott

I gotta admit, my lunch today was pretty amazing. As you can see.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... potatoes always seem to get a bad reputation. Maybe it's because the vast majority of people that eat them always go for the greasy fried versions of potatoes. But, honestly there's a lot of good packed into these things!

Potatoes are a good source of B6, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber! Oh, and did you know that they are actually fairly low in calories? A whole spud is about 160 calorie on average, not too shabby.

Plus, they're filling enough to keep you satisfied and energized to get through your day, which is something that I desperately need today!...

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash Primavera

September 27, 2014 Amanda Plott

I've had this spaghetti squash staring at me from the kitchen counter for a week or two now, and I figured... I ought to put that beauty to some use before it went bad on me.

Now, you may or may not notice that this spaghetti squash is a little smaller than the ones you will find in the grocery stores. That is because... this bad boy was fresh off the farm, and from a local and organic farmer too - which makes it all the more exciting to me!

Fresh local ingredients are always the best and are generally higher in nutrients.

I wasn't quite sure at first just how I was going to do my farm fresh spaghetti squash justice. I suppose I felt as though it needed some careful love and devotion.

During my thought process, I remembered this idea I had seen somewhere about a spaghetti squash primavera that was done in a terribly naughty and yet totally delectable manner. I basically took that idea and ran with it; making it easier, lighter more economical, and still amazingly full of flavor...

Pumpkin & Black Bean Soup

September 24, 2014 Amanda Plott

I'm putting pumpkin in everything while I can since it's 'seasonable' for the next couple of months. I love fall for many reasons, but pumpkin has to be pretty close to the top of the list! In my opinion, there just isn't too much that you can't put pumpkin in; drinks, desserts, entrees... You name it, and I've probably already thought of a way to put pumpkin in it, if I haven't already put pumpkin in it before - that is!

This pumpkin soup is pretty great. I'd compare the consistency of it to a creamy tomato soup. In fact, it's color and texture are pretty much the same too but a lot more soft and calm with it's flavors since tomato soup has the zing of acidity....

Crock Pot Pumpkin & Maple Pork Tenderloin

September 22, 2014 Amanda Plott

Oh. My. Goodness.

My house smelled like maple heaven for an entire day with this cooking up in the kitchen. And yes, it tastes just as great at it smells! It was all I could do to keep from going in there towards dinner time and picking off the 'crispy' end pieces to snack on.

Yes, I'm that one. My mom and I are well known for tag-teaming the burnt ends at any family barbecue.

This pumpkin maple tenderloin was pretty amazing and perfectly fitting with pumpkin season and fall weather as it rolls in. I was a little skeptical at first since I'm not generally a fan of adding sweetness to my pork, but it was just the right amount of sweet and tang with the apple cider vinegar...

Vegetarian Pumpkin Curry

September 19, 2014 Amanda Plott

I've been craving curry of all types lately. I'm not exactly sure why either. Perhaps it's the change in weather that's increasing my desire for something warm and spicy. I attempted to make a green chicken curry last week but was not exactly a fan of the overwhelming amount of spice-heat that came from it. Yikes! It's a recipe that is definitely a work in progress.

This week I decided to go with a red curry, which is generally what I order when out at any thai place. I think red curry is generally a little less spicy than the green, but that also depends on how much of what curry paste or powder you put in.

With pumpkin season in full swing, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to use up some nice pumpkin puree! I've added it to chili before... so why not curry?...