Chunky Monkey Trail Mix

January 12, 2018 Amanda Plott

I've been on a bit of a nut kick lately. I blame the granola that's been made and the fact that I'm trying to get a lot more healthy fats in my life right now. This. This right here? This is some magical stuff, I tell you. And a total nod to my childhood as well.

As a child (ahem and adult) I've loved ice cream. I mean... who doesn't? Two of my families favorites were Chubby Hubby and Chunky Monkey. The Chunky Monkey flavor is a banana ice cream base with pieces of chocolate and walnuts all through it. So, being as I'm so nutty right now... I figured I'd take those flavors that I loved and turn them into a snack trail mix!...

Roasted Cauliflower Bacon & 3 Cheese Omelettata

January 10, 2018 Amanda Plott

Somehow last night ended up being an impromptu wine and cheese night. I think it's because I needed a good excuse to crack open a nice bottle of red. Long story short, I woke up this morning to a fridge stocked with leftover cheeses. With having 'sweet' for breakfast for a few days now, I decided it was time to switch it up and make a nice savory bite for myself.

Since I also had some homemade pesto leftover, I thought the cheese and the pesto would be a great pair to make an Omelettata with. And Omelettata? Well, it's not quite an omelet and not quite a frittata. It's somewhere in the blissful middle of the two...

Asiago Roasted Garlic & Purple Cauliflower Soup

January 8, 2018 Amanda Plott

Colorful foods are where it's at and I've had my eye on colored cauliflower for a couple of years now. A lot of people think that colored cauliflower is made using food coloring, but they couldn't be more wrong! These rainbow cauliflowers are natural to nature and have been hanging around farmer's markets for a long time now.

And well... it finally happened. I got my hands on not only 1 color of cauliflower, but on 3 different colors; lime/green, orange/cheddar, and you guessed it - purple! The colored cauliflower doesn't really taste any different than a traditional head. The only real difference that I could find is that they're so freakin' gorgeous!...

Vanilla Blueberry Coconut Nut & Seed Granola

January 6, 2018 Amanda Plott

So since even just before New Year's, I've been trying to eat a whole lot more nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. With my last 'Nut & Seed' grain-free granola getting eaten up readily, I decided that it was time to make a new version of it.

One thing that I didn't get to use last time in my granola, that I really wanted to be sure about using this time is coconut chips. While I'm not a coconut fan by any means, coconut chips are definitely one of my favorite additions to salad and/or granola. Without wanting to go too tropical with the coconut, I decided on vanilla and blueberries!...

Bunless Breakfast Sandwich (Sponsored)

January 4, 2018 Amanda Plott

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

It's the new year and we're all making strides towards our health goals right now. Hooray! This year, along with still eating a bit less meat, I'm also lowering my carb intake. While I've got no plans to be plant-based entirely, I always figure the more plants in my life, the better.

This Bunless Breakfast Sandwich really hits the spot. It's cheesy and rich and full of flavor. It satisfies any craving you might have for the real deal while being surprisingly guilt-free. What's even more impressive is that this bunless wonder is also... wait for it... meatless. *GASP* And and and, it's loaded with plant-based protein! Plus, it's quick and easy to make for a grab-and-go breakfast bite that will help me and my family in our healthier lifestyle journey this year...

Crock Pot Beef Stew

December 31, 2017 Amanda Plott

The New Year is on the horizon and I couldn't be more excited! I've got my brother and my nephew in town visiting and one thing that my brother requested I make for dinner one night while he's here is Beef Stew! Now, I've made my fair share of beef stews in the past but since we're out and about this weekend I figured I would make a simple crock pot version.

Beef stew is pretty traditional. Beef. Veggies. Broth. And an extended cook time. Using the crock pot or instant pot is a great alternative to standing over the stove and having to worry over the stew all day. Instead, let the crock pot do all the work for you!...