Hoisin Marinated Tofu in Miso Ramen

October 3, 2015 Amanda Plott

I can see and feel the change in the seasons rolling through. Finally, there's some relief from the hot summer days as we get cooler weather here in Texas. Whoohoo! I think the high here today is only 88 degrees F. In honor of the cooler weather, I thought it would be nice to make a warm pot of ramen soup.

Ramen soup can often come in many shapes and forms. Usually it involves Chinese noodles, some sort of broth, and an assortment of vegetables. Today I wanted to keep my soup meatless, loaded with vegetables, and piled up with seared tofu...

Ricotta & Spinach Stuffed Shells with Butternut Squash Sauce

September 25, 2015 Amanda Plott

Welcome Fall! You are a breath of fresh air. Oh, how I've missed you!

But, I think anyone here in Texas misses Fall and welcomes it with open arms. By the time the end of September rolls around, I'm always more than ready for the cooler weather and the change of the seasons. I'm done with these 90+ degree days, dang it.

To further welcome in the fall equinox, I decided I wanted to do something fun with butternut squash. I know when I think of fall foods, squashes and gourds are often the first things that come to mind.

I had gotten a mixed bag of 'super greens' in my local box a few weeks ago that I sautéed up and placed in the freezer - sort of in the same manner that you get frozen chopped spinach. I knew that it would pair perfectly with what I had in mind for fall!...

Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip

September 8, 2015 Amanda Plott

Not only can plant-based diets be good for people and better for the planet, but they taste amazing too! I've been working with my own family and our diets, eating less and less meat each week it seems. So, I'm taking the #MeatlessMondayNight challenge to spark real change.

Adopting a more plant-based diet can start with making a change just one day a week – so why not start by sidelining meat during Monday Night Football games this season?

One of my favorite dips in the world is spinach and artichoke dip. I had a great recipe for it years ago that I kept tucked away even though I haven't made it in a while. Today I decided to take that recipe out, dust it off, and give a good dairy-free once over...

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!...

Skinny Spinach & Sundried Tomato Omelette

May 14, 2015 Amanda Plott

This yummy vegetarian and gluten-free omelette is a great thing to wake up to. Seriously, I can't think of much else that I'd rather wake up to. I promise that you won't miss any meat here either, and as an added bonus it's still pretty packed with protein and good-for-you things; spinach, tomato, and even some mushrooms!

Breakfast has been a tricky meal for me lately. Somewhere between work and being a mommy, it's one of the last things that I happen to think about. And often by the time I have the time to make breakfast for myself... it's time for lunch!

I guess that's why I'm more of a brunch person.

That and brunch also comes with a mimosa or bloody mary!...

Spinach & Pea Tortellini

January 2, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #BackToBalance #CollectiveBias

The first time that I ever remember eating tortellini was probably back when I was in junior high (yikes - maybe even further back than that!) My dad must have been in charge of dinner that night because I remember he was the one standing at the stove cooking up those perfect little tender shells stuffed with fresh cheeses. And yeah, he even used BUITONI® pasta back then too.

Now, of course he is and has always been a much different home cook than myself. He had made something that was a little heavier; some sort of Alfredo sauce to go over the tortellini and green peas, which was then topped off with some bits of bacon. Talk about decadent, but at least he had some green in there!

It was one of the most amazing things that I had ever tasted.

I'm not sure where he got the original recipe idea from, but I know that for one reason or another that meal still stands out in my mind today...