Cilantro-Lime Coconut Rice

August 14, 2015 Amanda Plott

Let's see... the first time I had cilantro-lime coconut rice was quite a few many years back now. Right about when I first started getting into cooking. As far as I can remember, my mom and I were trying to come up with a rice to go with a Thai inspired dish that wouldn't be quite so traditional.

I remember that I was more than a little apprehensive because coconut is not one of my favorite flavors and I hadn't yet really been exposed to the wonderfulness that is coconut milk. My attitude towards coconut started to change with this rice right here.

One of the great things about cilantro-lime rice is that it can pair well with almost any Asian, Thai, or even Indian style dish. Yes, I've been known to sneak it in with a Mexican style dinner as well, though I usually leave the coconut milk for that variation!...

Skinny Turkey Sriracha Meatballs (Crock Pot)

August 12, 2015 Amanda Plott

I had this amazing new Stubb's Texas Sriracha Anytime sauce sitting and staring at me for a few days before it finally hit me. As the heat of Texas summer starts to consider winding down, that always means that we're getting back into football season. And what does that mean? Tailgating and homegating foods will be back in action before you know it!

These partly Asian inspired and partly Thai inspired meatballs make for a great part of a meal, but would also be amazing for your next gamely spread as more of an appetizer. Toothpick or pretzel pick friendly grab-n-go snack!

As an added bonus, they can stay warming in a crock pot for several hours (if you can manage to keeping around for that long!)...

Cheesy Spinach & Kale Verde Enchiladas

August 10, 2015 Amanda Plott

So, I made a test run of these enchiladas a few weeks back. I've had some enchilada scares in the past before, and always made them way more complicated than they needed to be. They were so good the first time that I just knew that I had to make them again with just a few minor tweaks!

These bad boys were so awesome that my brother's finance left me a note (or two) which I found the next morning after our family dinner saying that she loved them so much. Thanks Jess, that really tickled my pickle!

With it being so hot here right now, I was forced to bake these on our outdoor grill, which ended up working out just as well as in the oven so long as I kept an eye on the grill's temperature. How's that for being clever? The Texas heat will force you to be resourceful!...

Homemade Healthified Pizza 'Lunchable'

August 7, 2015 Amanda Plott

My little one is starting kindergarten here in the next couple of weeks (Ahhh!), and naturally I'm trying to get ready for that. Thankfully for us both, I think it will be a pretty easy transition since she'll be remaining in her current school with her current teacher and familiar faces of her friends that she's been around for a couple of years already.

Unfortunately, I have one of the world's most picky eaters on my hands somehow. She came home from her summer camp pre-kindergarten the other day though and asked about a familiar 'lunchable' that one of the other kids had that day for lunch.

I immediately got excited by that notion and put my head to work to come up with a healthier alternative for her own lunch box...

One Skillet Cheesy Tortellini Lasagna

August 6, 2015 Amanda Plott

Tortellini are one of my most favorite things in the world. I will eat them plain, sauced, cold, hot, and filled with just about anything. This dish is amazingly delicious and so super easy to make. Plus, you only end up dirty one pot for the entire cooking process. That's right! The tortellini are cooked up right there in the sauce before being topped with cheesy ricotta goodness.

I'll admit it. I've been on a bit of a ricotta kick lately with making two different kinds of gnocchi and finding anywhere else in my cooking to use up what is now one of my favorite cheeses.

Okay, okay, so all cheeses are my favorite. Ya caught me!...

Blueberry, Banana & Coconut Parfait

August 4, 2015 Amanda Plott

Introducing #TopItTuesday – Tuesday is the perfect day of the week that could use a little bit more love. For my de{light}ful #TopItTuesday, I decided to make a parfait. Not just any parfait either, but one of my most favorite parfaits!

Blueberry, banana and toasted coconut chips - oh my! That's how I add a little flavor to my life. This parfait is a perfect little treat to enjoy fro breakfast, lunch, or even as dessert to stave off that insistent sweet tooth after dinner.

What's better is that this tasty treat is gluten-free and vegan! Plus, with under 350 calories in a rather nicely sized portion there's nothing to feel guilty about - other than not having made it before. The tartness of the blueberries, the sweetness of the banana and yogurt, and the bit of a crunch with the toppings makes this a perfect bite...