2 Ingredient Pumpkin Donuts

September 26, 2016 Amanda Plott

This post has been compensated by Acorn Influence and its advertiser EkoBrew. All opinions are mine alone.

It's been dark and gloomy outside for two days now, and quite honestly I love it! The downpour of rain and this cooling weather to me means that fall has arrived. Fall is my most favorite season and that's probably because it includes my two favorite holidays.

With the influx of fall, comes a change to my morning routine. Things have settled down finally with my little one off at school and a much needed quite lull descending on the house during the day. It also means that I get to use my oven again. Praise be it. I've missed my oven this year during the summer.

Use of my oven means baking, and baking means I get to make homemade donuts again! These easy pumpkin donuts take no time at all to make and pair perfectly with my pumpkin spice coffee as part of a great start to any morning...

Gluten-Free One Skillet Ratatouille

September 22, 2016 Amanda Plott

As a Degutabox affiliate, all ideas, recipes, & opinions are entirely my own. A Degustabox was provided to me for this recipe and review.

It's the first day of fall, y'all! I couldn't be happier. Here in Texas, we're finally getting a 'cold front' in this week that will get us into the 70's at least. Phew. It's been a hot few weeks, so I'm ready for the cooler weather. I'm also loving that I'm starting to see winter vegetables coming in.

I happened to get my hands on a local acorn squash and thought it would make a great addition to a fall style ratatouille; in place of eggplant since I am not a huge fan of eggplant unless it's entirely hidden in whatever it is I'm eating. Hey! No one ever said that ratatouille had to have eggplant in it, right?...

Skinny Baked Pumpkin Mac-n-Cheese

September 13, 2016 Amanda Plott

We're finally settling in and getting used to being back-to-school over here. A routine is in place and things are starting to run more smoothly. It's such a busy and emotional time for parents and the kids, especially if you're starting up in a new school as my little one is. I've been determined to get my daughter off on the right foot by offering her more wholesome and meals and snacks during this transition.

I know first hand that it can be a challenge for many parents to find ways to making healthy eating both delicious and appetizing. My daughter is one of those picky eaters, which makes things all the more difficult when meal planning. One thing that almost any kid enjoys though, is macaroni and cheese!

With fall coming up on us, I decided to make a season inspired pumpkin macaroni that is not only better-for-you, but also delicious and super easy for a great weeknight meal that you can your kids can both feel good about...

Skinny Baked Tortellini Bites (Sponsored)

July 27, 2016 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToSchoolReady #CollectiveBias

I've been so busy with the end of summer and getting my little one ready for back-to-school that it's been a task to be a the balanced mom I know that I am. I'm all about using quality ingredients and offering better-for-you options to my family, but let's face it... sometimes schedules and lifestyle will try and to force us to make compromises.

These baked tortellini bites are the perfect balance of being quick and easy to make while also being more health conscious without sacrificing any taste! Another great thing about these little bites is that they make for a great after school snack or even used as part of a dinner; served with a side salad and some sauce for dipping...

Crock Pot Mojo Pork + Y-USA Food Desert Challenge

July 25, 2016 Amanda Plott

This post was sponsored by Y-USA as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

It's time to get serious for a minute, folks! When I was in high school my family came in on some pretty rough times and there were some scary moments when my mom even admitted to me that she 'didn't know what she was going to put on the table'. Life was hard and things were a struggle, but we made it through together as a family and were much stronger when we came out the other side because of it.

I learned a great deal from my experiences during those high school years. I'm definitely more mindful and knowledgeable about certain things in life; money and food being two of them. Let's just say that my brother and I can rock the socks off cooking ramen noodles.

Money comes and goes and there is nothing that is guaranteed. So when I was approached to take the Good Desert Challenge, it was something that I just knew I had to do.

Over the summer break, families welcome fun-in-the-sun and BBQ, but for those families who rely on school meal programs to ensure their kids eat three square meals a day, it can prove challenging...

Light White Wine Cream Sauce (Sponsored)

July 20, 2016 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VinoBlockParty #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

We all know that summer is all about cook outs and block parties. Of course, here in Texas, we have to get out there early in the day or wait until the sun is starting to set to have a more enjoyable temperature. That being said, I know that when I'm entertaining it's all about simple meals with bold flavors and a nice cool glass of wine to pair!

One of my favorite quotes of all times has to be, "I enjoy cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food...", and today this was my mantra! I decided that in the midst of my entertaining, I would create a lightened up white wine cream sauce to pair with some lemon pepper chicken that was cooked up in the crock pot. Hey, the oven is my enemy right now when it's 100+ degrees outside...