Crock Pot Pasta e Fagioli

October 26, 2016 Amanda Plott

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla® and Johnsonville®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

It's no secret that one of my most favorite soups at almost any Italian restaurant is Pasta e Fagioli. That's generally because it's got some of everything in it without being too heavy, and that's exactly where I am with fall right now. It's nice and cool and crisp in the mornings, but still rather hot here during the day. So, I find myself craving more hearty dishes on a lighter side.

This soup isn't only lighter on the scale (being that it's made from home), it's also lighter on the wallet since it's made from simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your fridge and pantry! Let's face it, almost any soup is a great economical option for an all inclusive meal in a bowl, and when you involve a slow cooker you're almost always insured an easy-fix meal as well...

Turkey, Apple & Cheese Wrap Lunchbox

August 18, 2016 Amanda Plott

Thank you SkinnyPop Popcorn for sponsoring this post. Feel good about adding SkinnyPop Popcorn to your kids' lunchbox this back-to-school season, a better-for-you snack made with ingredients your kids can spell and pronounce!

Ah! Today is the first day of first grade for my little girl, and there is definitely a big difference between dropping her off today and dropping her off for her first day of kindergarten. I think every mommy in the world knows exactly what I'm talking about too. What can I say? It was an exceptionally long and drawn out summer.

Needless to say, I was super excited about making her lunch and getting her ready last night. Of course, to keep her little mind active, I wanted to be sure that she had the tools that she needed in her lunchbox to keep her going through her day. This better-for-you lunch has everything a growing kiddo needs and wants without having to make any compromises...

Protein Pack

August 10, 2016 Amanda Plott

Yes, even though I work from home - I still tend to pack my lunches and snacks! Especially during the school year. Why? Because more often than not, when I don't have lunch ready to go... I've found that it's easy for me to forego lunch all together or settle for something that isn't always a good option. With snacks, it's the same way.

If my lunch is all made up and prepared for me, there isn't much of an excuse not to enjoy it. Once my little one starts school back up this next week, I'll be back in action at the gym... and let me just say that I'm really looking forward to it. I know that protein is something I'm going to need once I fall back into my routine of exercising and this protein pack is loaded with it!...

Naked Sriracha Turkey Burger

June 17, 2016 Amanda Plott

For a while now, I've been wanting to create a 'naked' burger. What's a naked burger? Basically it's a burger that is so good you don't need a bun. That's right. This is a bun-less burger! It sits here completely bare (except for a little drizzle of sauce) and couldn't be more proud of it.

Turkey burgers tend to get knocked on a lot with people making claims like they are dry or boring and bland. Honestly, I've not ever found that to be the case. I've always infused my turkey burgers with plenty of moisture and flavor. Today, I wanted that flavor to come with a little big of a spicy Sriracha kick!...

Skinny Pizza Bite Dippers

May 3, 2016 Amanda Plott

It's no secret that pizza (in one form or another), is in my weekly rotation. When you have a little one, it sort of has to be a staple on the menu. Today I wanted to step outside the box a bit, using up a few of my favorite versatile ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

Cheese is definitely an integral part of my eating habits. It's one of those things that I couldn't see myself living without. I've also found that wonton wrappers are a perfect vehicle for many different sorts of finger foods and small bite meals; which is exactly what this is. These little bites are perfect for dipping, dunking, and enjoying for a guilt-free bite of amazingness...

Healthified Cuban Sliders (Sponsored)

April 14, 2016 Amanda Plott

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

This past week was a whirl wind of fun and now with my post birthday party exhaustion, I decided that it was time to focus on a quick and easy 30 minutes meal and creating Real Flavor Real Fast. There isn't much that more real or fast than a sandwich, but I wanted to of course put my better-for-you twist on it.

Enter this Healthified Cuban Slider. I've taken the traditional Cuban sandwich and turned it into a slider while also making a few more health conscious swaps. These little sliders are perfect for a quick meal that requires little effort and no prep. work in the kitchen!...