Skinny Hawaiian Crunch Cake

September 15, 2015 Amanda Plott

Every year at the end of summer my mom has had a Luau, a tradition that has been going on since she moved here to Austin; so let's say this was the fourth year. Each time the Luau gets bigger and better than the year before, always inviting new and old neighbors or friends. The Luau is done sort of in pot-luck style with my mom and I making a few main things that go along with the theme while guests bring their additions to the spread.

There are a few select things that I have perfected over time and made each year for this Luau. A few things have changed but for the most part it all stays the same; a pineapple salsa, Hawaiian queso, and some sort of dessert...

Skinny Cherry Cheesecake Dip

June 8, 2015 Amanda Plott

So this weekend a pretty amazing thing happened, American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. He was the first horse to do so in 37 years and also the first to do so the entire time I've been alive! (And I'm turning 30 this year!) My family has been watching the derbies together for the past several years now, a tradition that I believe started sometime when I was fresh out of college. I've been dreaming of the day since then that I would get to see a horse take the triple crown. And man... was it worth it.

A few horses have come close, winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness... but, falling short of winning the final of the three at the long track of Belmont. For whatever reason, this year was different. There wasn't nervous tension in the air, but more of an excitement. Everyone just wanted American Pharoah to get it done. Let's see it already. Let's do it!...

Skinny Cherry Cheesecake Parfait

June 3, 2014 Amanda Plott

Parfaits make for a great breakfast or dessert during the summer months. They're easy. They're tasty. And you have virtually endless possibilities with flavor options! Plus, they don't heat up your kitchen. ... Something which is often a deal breaker for me once we start getting into 100+ days.

Can you tell that I'm already dreading July and August? Ugh...

Skinny Greek Chicken Kabobs

May 15, 2014 Amanda Plott

I love greek food, and I don't cook it often enough. I'm not sure why either. Just another of those things that escapes me in the kitchen for one reason or another.

Lately I've been in the mood to go back and make my Skinny Greek Feta Dip again. Because... let's face it. Who doesn't love to have an excuse to eat feta? I managed to find my excuse with these perfectly de{light}ful kabobs...

Healthified Asian Salad

February 18, 2014 Amanda Plott

I love a good asian style salad and yet haven't had one in quite a long time.

Many years ago when I was younger and my mother used to by an asian style salad kit. It was very tasty and one of our favorite things to eat along side any asian dish. Most commonly we would eat it with a bowl of hot and sour soup and some spring rolls. Yummy!...

Skinny Black Forest "Better Than Sex" Cake

February 7, 2014 Amanda Plott

Yeah. I said it. BETTER THAN SEX Cake.

I can't tell you how much it irritates me when people dance around the true title of a poke cake recipe. 'Better than... Cake'? Better than what? Better than candy? Better than a new pair of shoes? No. It's BETTER THAN SEX. Let's get it right. BETTER THAN SEX.

What can I say? I love a good poke cake. They are the perfect way to mask the fact that a cake is in fact... skinny! How's that? Because with the pudding left to soak into the cake, it gives the illusion of a decadent richness that you wouldn't expect with a lighter variation of any dessert. It makes the cake seem a lot more naughty than it actually is...