Skinny Meatloaf & Mash (Instant Pot Dinner)

September 7, 2019 Amanda Plott

A one pot meal, in the Instant Pot, for under 350 calories? Yep! You got it dude. This lightened-up meatloaf AND mash is made in the Instant Pot in just 25 minutes. And you know what? I think I may just stick to cooking my meatloaf in the Instant Pot from this day forward. It’s quick and easy to do, plus it locks in all the moisture and juices so you don’t run the risk of ending up with a dried out meatloaf for dinner!

The mash and the meatloaf are both cooked in the Instant Pot together at the same time. Leaving you with a pretty hands-off dinner that everyone is sure to enjoy…

Skinny Southwest Egg Rolls + Avocado Vinaigrette Dip (Sponsored)

September 5, 2019 Amanda Plott

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

Here's another 'take-out fake-out' today for one of my old favorites. It’s no secret that I'm a big fan of baking things as opposed to most other cooking methods out there. I find that it's better-for-you and that it often comes out tasting even better than other versions. The flavors just seem to stand out more. This is also why I use Mazola.com.

Want to find out more? A clinical study showed Mazola Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com.

With September being National Cholesterol Awareness month, and the fact that I'm not all about frying, I put my noodle to work to come up with a better-for-you baked version of Southwest Egg Rolls. So, with a little research and a lot of love, I'm pretty sure I got this one 100% right.

Egg roll and wonton wrappers have been a pretty big part of my kitchen play time lately. I just love how versatile they are. Plus, they are lower in calories than most other doughs. So, to keep these Southwest Egg Roll better-for-you, I made a few careful swaps. First, I used chicken breast as a leaner cut of meat. As a second swap, I used a reduced fat shredded cheese instead of a full-fat version. And finally, I used Mazola Corn Oil on the egg rolls and also in the vinaigrette dip!

Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for your family. *See Mazola.com for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health. It has a variety of uses including baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinade or dressing…

Soba Noodle Lunch Box

September 3, 2019 Amanda Plott

I’ve found lately that meal prepping my lunches has been my saving grace. If it wasn’t for preparing my lunches for a few days in advance, well… I’d be making some rather poor choices when it came time to eat. Getting back into the rhythm of ‘back-to-school’ has been a tougher transition this year than I had imagined.

This Soba Noodle Lunch Box is asian inspired with soba noodles, spiraled veggies, and of course a homemade Thai peanut dressing that is finger-licking good. Not only can you make this lunch box up ahead of time, you can also rest easy knowing the entire lunch is only 250 calories and vegetarian!…

Crustless Quiche (Instant Pot)

August 31, 2019 Amanda Plott

So, I’ve had and made my fair share of egg bites in the instant pot, right? That got me to thinking… If I can make egg bites in the instant pot, why can’t I make a quiche in it? Well, as it turns out, you surely can! This quiche is packed with protein and is low in carbs. Plus, it’s keto-friendly and delicious!

This quiche cooks a bit more quickly in the instant pot than it would in the oven. It also comes out with a more ‘fluffy’ texture. Something more akin to an egg bite than a dense quiche…

Game Day Chicken Spread (With Skinny Special Sauce for Dipping!)

August 29, 2019 Amanda Plott

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine.

It’s that time of year when school is in session, the weather is starting to maybe think about cooling off, and game day is upon us! Game day get togethers that feature spreads are some of my family’s favorites. I think maybe it’s something about the variety of bite-sized finger foods that just make everyone happy. That’s where the inspiration for this Game Day Chicken Spread came from.

This spread is focused around chicken. All sorts of chicken too! And the best part is that it’s easy to put together and is completely versatile with everything from a set up for chicken street tacos, to popable bites, to dunk-friendly nuggets!…

Skinny Turkey Taco Breakfast Bowl

August 28, 2019 Amanda Plott

Good morning sunshine!

Who wants a breakfast that's full of protein, under 300 calories, and gluten-free? This girl! This lean breakfast bowl is full of flavor, easy to toss together, and can even be made ahead for up to 4 days at a time; saving you time and calories.

I know when I was first introduced to the idea of a breakfast bowl with rice and turkey, I was a little skeptical. I've never had rice for breakfast, unless it was in the form of a 'rice cereal' or sweet 'breakfast rice'. It was a notion that I quickly threw out the window this week...