Skinny Nog Pecan Blondies & Nog Cream Cheese Sauce

December 8, 2015 Amanda Plott

As we're getting into the thick of the holiday season, I wanted to step out of the box again and create a lighter take on one of my most favorite desserts in the world, a blondie! Any blondie just won't do. It had to be full of pecans, white chocolate, spice, and topped off with a decadent cream cheese sauce.

Yes, I went there. And I brought my 'Egg Nog' with me.

I wanted this blondie to have more of a holiday twist, so I infused with the flavors of egg nog while omitting (most of) the guilt. I am all about small indulgences, especially around the holidays...

Citrus Fennel Salad & White Wine Vinaigrette

December 5, 2015 Amanda Plott

What can I say? I needed something bright and sunny in my life this week. This salad is just that. Bright and sunny.

Grapefruits tend to be aplenty here in Texas during the winter time, so I always like to do something fun with them to stave off the winter blues. Not like it's been very much like winter around here lately with a high of 75 in the forecast for the upcoming week here in Austin.

Even so, my spirits needed some lifting and this bright salad was definitely a step in the right direction since it has some of my most favorite things in it. Two of which I've been absolutely obsessed with lately; grapefruit and avocado!...

Skinny Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies

December 3, 2015 Amanda Plott

Thank you Splenda for sponsoring this post.

We all know that the holidays are all about the sweet stuff. I know that in my family, my mom and I get together once a year (close to Christmas) and spend a day baking up some of our most favorite holiday cookies.

The two of us each have several of our own favorites that we bring to the table; and tend to rotate between a few each year. These butterscotch cookies have been in my deck for a good long while now. I think the first time that I made them was many years back now when I was in search of a soft gingerbread that wouldn't be too spicy for my toddler at the time.

These definitely did the trick. They are perfectly spiced with just enough of that gingerbread flavor that we all know and love while being softened with the sweetness of the butterscotch morsels...

Avocado Egg Salad

December 1, 2015 Amanda Plott

What can I say? After the large meals and treats that often come with holidays, I always end up feeling as if my body needs a reprieve from it all. Especially when there's a few more still just around the corner!

This avocado egg salad is the perfect way to fill my plate and I with the good stuff while keeping it light, healthy, and super delicious. I've been a huge fan of avocado for a while now, but lately's it's almost been out of control. So much so that I'm now putting in my egg salad!

That might sound a little strange, but hear me out. Avocados are often a great swap for mayonnaise because of their creamy texture. Plus, those avocados have a lot more vitamins than you'll find in mayo anyway. So it's just a win, win...

'Leftover' Turkey Wonton Soup

November 28, 2015 Amanda Plott

What can I say? I absolutely love to come up with fun and inspired new ways to use up leftovers, especially Holiday ones! Like I've said before, their's just something that's gratifying about being able to create a new dish from leftover parts of another meal.

I've been working pretty hard with racking my brain and trying to come up with interesting twists that were somewhat outside the box; repurposing my holiday leftovers in a way that maybe isn't something most would think of. My inspiration comes in many forms. This time around it was my wonderful cry-haired bombshell of a mother.

While my mom and I were planning our usual Thanksgiving meal she had mentioned using the leftovers in wontons. Uhm. Excuse me? I'm stealing your idea, mom!...

Broccoli Turkey Cheese Pretzel Pockets

November 24, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've been working hard for the past few years with coming up with interesting ways to use up that leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. One of my most recent favorites was this Skinny 'Leftover' Turkey Salad, and one of my favorites from years past was the Skinny Turkey & Wild Rice Soup.

I still have another idea that I plan to have up some time after Thanksgiving, but I must say that this Broccoli Turkey Cheese Pretzel Pocket will be hard to beat!

What's better is that this Pretzel Pocket is easy to make and de{light}ful for both kids and adults. I mean, who doesn't love a soft pretzel that's been stuffed with turkey, broccoli, and oozy-gooey cheese?