Fall Breakfast Quinoa Bowl

October 17, 2018 Amanda Plott

It’s been unusually cold here in Austin, Texas lately. Generally speaking, we don’t get the first ‘cooler’ bits of weather until Halloween. But, this year we’ve already been in the 40’s - which is completely fine with me. I love Fall weather and I am always more than thrilled to get anything below 80 in October. It means that I get to use my oven and stove again without regret!

With it being cooler, overcast, and raining off and on, I thought it was high time for a nice warm hearty breakfast. And that’s exactly what this Fall power bowl is all about! I loaded this breakfast bowl up with plenty of good stuff. Quinoa, fruit, nuts, seeds, and just a touch of cinnamon to add further to the warmth of the flavors…

Roasted Tomato Soup

October 15, 2018 Amanda Plott

There is one thing for sure, no one is ever too old to enjoy tomato soup! One of my best memories growing up, had to have been the simple and easy dinner my mom would make on cold Fall or winter days… and that was a grilled cheese and tomato soup. Of course, even though you won’t grow out of tomato soup, your tastes do change. So today, I’ve elevated the classic and my favorite.

I’ve made plenty of tomato soup in the past, but I saw a rather ingenious hack not so long ago about making it by easily and with fresh tomatoes! No other cooking is involved other than that! Roasting the tomatoes also gives a smoky depth of flavor, that you otherwise wouldn’t have too…

Whole Wheat Cheddar & Chive Zucchini Bread

October 13, 2018 Amanda Plott

Once upon a time, I had a bread maker. I used it pretty often, but eventually it gave out and started to give me fits. So. The era of fresh homemade bread in my house ceased since, as I’ve said before, baking tends to scare me. Alas… with Fall in full effect and Winter just around the corner, I thought… I’d try my hand.

Before, when I used my bread maker, I stuck to the basics. I never ventured out into the world of flavored breads. Not really anyway. Over the past couple of years though, I started to enjoy the homemade bread from ‘the bread man’ at our local Farmer’s Market. It was a game changer…

Skinny Chicken Alfredo Dip

October 9, 2018 Amanda Plott

It was a lazy and rainy day yesterday, and after a long 'Fall break’ weekend that was filled with plenty of fun and excitement, it was a good day to rest. I’m honestly not sure I even got out of my pajamas, and neither did my daughter. Yep, that’s just how lazy we were. This Skinny Chicken Alfredo Dip was a perfect rainy day snacky sort of dinner.

Like I said, we were being uber lazy. So cheesy chicken dip for dinner just sounded like it fit. No guilt here though! This Alfredo dip is just about as guilt-free as an Alfredo anything can be. It’s low-carb, delicious, and actually surprisingly easy to make - even from scratch!…

Sailor Stew

October 7, 2018 Amanda Plott

I’ve made this stew a couple of times before, and mostly just for testing purposes. Sometimes it takes more than one run to get these things just right. But, I can honestly say that I haven’t minded the process with this one!

The first time I made it, I did so in the Instant Pot. It turned out well enough, but I really wanted this to be a stew that everyone could cook. Not just those with a pressure cooker. I also ended up adding in some potatoes and carrots to make this a more veggie-ful dish. Those veggies, along with the beans in there, really makes this a hearty meal all on it’s own…

Halloween Red Velvet Chocolate Bark

October 5, 2018 Amanda Plott

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Alright so… bare with me here. I know that chocolate isn’t the most healthy thing out there but, Halloween is just around the corner and as I like to say ‘everything in moderation’. Plus, we’re using some dark chocolate here so… that’s more healthy than other options, right? The truth is, I’m a firm believer in allowing yourself some treats here and there to keep yourself sane and from making worse decisions later.

So to make this bark a little more guilt-free, I decided to start it off with some dark chocolate. It’s my excuse for any kind of chocolate related candies or cakes. At least it has a few more health benefits than some of the other chocolates out there. That’s my story at least, and I’m sticking to it.