Italian Turkey Meatballs & Sauce (Crock Pot or Instant Pot)

July 25, 2018 Amanda Plott

An old recipe, but a good one that I just recently updated with some new photos and also a quicker way to cook these meatballs in an Instant Pot too!

This has been a favorite of mine for a long time now. Ridiculously easy? Yep.

This recipe that's a healthy take on an old classic. Flavorful turkey meatballs simmering in thick hearty tomato sauce all day long to cook. Who needs the pre-made bottles off the shelf? Not this girl.

Everything's bigger in Texas, right? I kept the size of these meatballs rather large since I have some fun plans for the leftovers. And the sauce? Oh, yes. The. Sauce. This is amazing stuff right here…

Skinny Zuppa Toscana

October 24, 2017 Amanda Plott

Okay, so there really isn't enough good things that I can say about this soup. I actually made my first attempt at this soup a few years ago. Long before I originally posted it here. My in-laws were in town and I knew that this soup from a well-known restaurant happened to be one of my father-in-laws' favorites. Since he's a health-conscious individual such as myself, I thought it would be fun to try my hand at making a healthier version of it for him.

I hadn't had the soup before, so I couldn't say at the time if it was anything similar to the one that he was used to, but he did have a couple of bowls of it for dinner! Me? I was anything but a fan. Why? One word. Kale.

Yes, I've ranted on before about my strange love/hate relationship with kale. And, this is basically where the hate part of that started...

Skinny Italian Nachos

August 9, 2017 Amanda Plott

I know you remember that Guiltless Cauliflower Alfredo from the other day, right? Well, here's one of my favorite things to do with it. The idea for these Skinny Italian Nachos is a take-out fake-out from a big name chain.

Of course, mine are homemade, not fried, and socked full of hidden vegetable goodies. Making all the more wholesome and better-for-you in almost every single way possible...

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

February 15, 2017 Amanda Plott

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

February is all about hearts and in more way than one! It's true that Valentine's day is in February, but did you know that it's also Heart Health month? Heart health is something that affects each and every one of us. Everyone has at least one person in their life that has been or will be affected by heart disease in some way. For me, half of my grandparents currently have heart disease.

Just this past year my step-grandfather was diagnosed with heart disease. He's been put on medication and told to make some changes to his eating habits in an effort to slow progression of (and hopefully even stop) the disease...

Skinny Italian Beef Sandwiches

November 6, 2016 Amanda Plott

Oh, man... the history behind this recipe dates back around 6 years ago. It was right around the time that my daughter was born when I first started to make it. This was one of the first real things that I cooked for my family, and it is also one of the things they still ask me to make. Yep. Even to this very day! The recipe originated on a website that sadly is no longer around. The same website that started me off on my better-for-you cooking style.

Originally the recipe called for the beef be cooked in the slow cooker, but today it was a little chilly and I felt like blowing the dust off of my oven for the coming cold-weather season. Yay! I'm finally getting to use my oven again. Thank. Goodness. It's about time!...

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...