Healthy 7 Layer Fourth of July Dip

July 2, 2017 Amanda Plott

It's the fourth of July weekend! While I'm spending it rather lazily at home as I recuperate from a few weeks of busy, busy, busy - I'm still finding the time to have fun and be festive! With an impromptu visit from my brother, I decided to toss together a quick 'snacky' meal that we could all graze on throughout the day at our leisure.

Naturally, my first inclination was a 7 layer dip. I think that's because it's one of those things that has something it in that everyone likes! It's one perfect montage or mashup of everything I love. Plus, it's perfectly light and cool for a hot summer day. And of course, since it's around the 4th of July, you just know I had to arrange this dip into the shape of the American flag to be all the more cute and festive!...

Herbed Ricotta Cheese Omelette

May 29, 2017 Amanda Plott

Over the last couple of weeks, I've become quite addicted to farm fresh local eggs. Once I tried them, I fell instantly in love. It was amazing to me to see how differently the eggs looked and also tasted. My journey among farmer's markets lately has been an experience that's proving to teach me a lot more than I had thought it would. I've always felt the desire to support local businesses, and farms especially.

There's a lot of chatter out there about how eating local can effect not only the economy, but also (and most importantly) your health. Yes, eating local can be more spendy. It's definitely not cheap when you compare the prices to grocery stores. I've found though, that I have a lot less waste now. I'm much more careful about how I use and cook my food. Portions are everything. This Herbed Ricotta Cheese Omelette is a prime example...

Avocado Caprese Omelettata

May 15, 2017 Amanda Plott

Have you heard me talk about the omlettata before? Surely you have. I've fallen in love with them. They are a perfectly easy and quick way to eat a healthy breakfast. I should know. I'm right smack dab in the middle of the 'busy season' around here. And by that I mean... the end of school, dance recital, and birthdays/anniversaries galore. (Happy Anniversary to my parents and also my parents-in-law!)

There's a lot of YAY going on, but also a lot of meltdowns (and I don't just mean with my 7 year old! Hah!) Anyway! I've been lacking a bit in the breakfast department and I had some local eggs in the fridge that had to be used up soon, so... I thought a new omlettata would be the way to go...

Protein Packed Migas

May 5, 2017 Amanda Plott

Happy Cinco De Mayo! As per the usual, I'm more than excited about Cinco De Mayo. Why? Because Mexican food and Tex-Mex are my all time favorites. I could seriously eat Mexican all day every day for the rest of my days and be completely fine and happy with it. Honestly though, I've never really ordered Migas from anywhere before. So, this was definitely a journey for me today.

I've heard a lot about Migas and how good it is, and I'm not really sure why I never got it. I guess because my visits to Mexican style restaurants is reserved for dinner time usually. Either way, I got my hot little hands on some local organic eggs, cheese, and tortilla chips this week. What could be more perfect to make Migas with that all that?...

Naked Cheese & Spinach Enchiladas

April 21, 2017 Amanda Plott

It's getting hot in here. So take off all your clothes! Okay, well maybe not. But that's what the enchiladas in my house did. These enchiladas have no clothes on! Can you believe it? Tortilla-less enchiladas. Shame, shame! Naughty enchiladas. Actually, they aren't naughty at all! Some people call these 'zucchini boats' or stuffed zucchini, but I'm taking it a step further and just flat out calling them as they are. Naked.

Even though they are naked, they are ooey gooey cheesy and so very wonderful. I'm not mad at all that these guys are nude. The truth is, when I got my hands on some local zucchini and yellow squash this week, I knew this is exactly what I wanted to do with them with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner!...

Deli Snack Box

March 28, 2017 Amanda Plott

As if you couldn't tell, I'm a snacker, y'all. I love snacky little plates and boxes that give me a variety of things to enjoy so that I don't get bored with what I'm eating. Whether is actually a snack or a lighter meal is always debatable since we all need and want different things as snacks and meals. Me? I like BIG snacks or small meals. And this Deli Snack Box is just that!

So, I'm calling this a 'snack' box because it would really be good as a pre or post workout 'fill me up', but honestly it's nearly filling enough to take the place of a lighter on-the-go meal. It's somewhere between snack and meal, which is exactly where I wanted to be today...