Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes

February 27, 2020 Amanda Plott

Sometimes it’s okay to play with your food. I for one, love to play with mine. I like to put fun twists on classics. Shepherd’s pie is one of my family favorites, especially as we roll into March and get in closer to St. Patricks’s Day. These Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes are based on a couple of my favorite traditional recipes that were merged together.

I would say these potatoes are a cross between a loaded baked potato, twice baked potatoes, and overstuffed potato skins. One serving is plenty filling and it’s a really fun way to enjoy your very own individual shepherds pie…

Healthified Chicken Noodle Casserole

March 25, 2019 Amanda Plott

We’ve got just over two months of school left this year and I have to say… I’m chomping at the bit to get through with it. I’m in survival mode at this point to get through it and into the footloose and fancy-free days of Summer. However, I’m going to enjoy the tepid Spring weather and getting to use my stove while I still can.

With all of that in mind, now is the perfect time for easy-peasy weeknight dinners. And what’s more easy than a casserole? Or chicken noodle anything? This chicken noodle casserole is an ode to those classic casseroles that most of us grew up with and yet don’t see around anymore. I honestly… have no idea why either. Casseroles are the best…

Healthified Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

August 21, 2018 Amanda Plott

This is my healthier take on an old classic comfort food. I think the very first time that I had chicken and dumplings was at my grandmother's house with my dad when I was pretty young... elementary school still, I'm sure.

She cooked the soup up on the stove for a few hours and then tossed the raw dough into the pot. I thought she was crazy at the time, but after my first bite... I was in love.

Years later when I first started cooking, I dabbled with the infamous chicken and dumplings in the crock pot using canned condensed soups and biscuit dough. I'll be the first to admit that it was delicious, but a huuuge guilty pleasure! Full of preservatives and nothing good for you. Bleh!...

Garden Vegetable Soup

June 15, 2018 Amanda Plott

Last week it was 'ocean' week here in my house, and this week we're going with the theme of plants! In doing so, I decided to throw a LOT more veggies and vegetarian dishes into the mix this week. We always have a couple of vegetarian dishes every week, for health reasons, cutting the cost of food, and also because it just makes me feel better all around.

I could easily be a vegetarian. In fact, my daughter was basically a vegetarian of her own accord up until she was about 5 years old. Meat just wasn't something she was a fan of. And I can't say that I was far off from that myself with I was a little girl too.

Ready for a true side story about myself? My parents used to have to tell me that meat came from a meat tree when I was little to get me to eat it!…

Spring Chicken Soup

April 2, 2018 Amanda Plott

I may not be a spring chicken anymore, but this soup sure is! Just because it's Springtime, doesn't mean that we have to quit eating soup. Let's face it, sometimes you just want a good meal in a bowl to warm your soul, and that's what this soup is meant for! Even if it is warming up outside.

I'm going to hold onto Spring for as long as I can and go kicking and screaming into the hot blazes of another Texas summer. The, at least, 4 months of the year where my air conditioner is running constantly on full and the air outside is almost so hot that it burns your lungs when you breathe. Ughhh... No, thank you! I'll just sit here and enjoy the Spring weather while I can. Soak ever ounce of it up...

Mermaid Noodle Salad

July 5, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, I've decided that this week on the blog is going to be all about... drumroll please... Mermaids! Ta-da! That's right. It's going to be a week full of mermaid inspired dishes; eats and treats alike. This Mermaid Noodle Salad is an old family favorite that originated in one of my daughter's cook books, but has been tweaked and adjusted so much that it's a whole new recipe by now.

After carefully transcribing all of my notes on it in the cookbook, I finally settled on the perfect end result. One thing that I love most about this noodle salad is that you can serve it hot or cold. Being as it's the middle of summer here in Texas though... I'm naturally opting for a cold noodle dish myself. However, if you still feel like being a mermaid in the winter months, feel free to enjoy it warm! Just serve it right away instead of giving it an hour+ of chill time...