Skinny Southwest Chicken Dip (Crock Pot)

August 6, 2014 Amanda Plott

I was craving something that was a little 'snacky' for a dinner this week. Sometimes, you just don't feel like having a meal for a meal. If that makes any sense at all to anyone else. So I settled on a chicken dip.

A while back I made a really tasty Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip before, but since this was going to be partially for dinner, I wanted something that was a little different and maybe had some more substance to it. I did, however, use the same basic idea from the buffalo dip to create this southwest version of it.

This southwest chicken dip was nothing short of amazing, and it totally didn't feel or taste as if there was anything skinny or light about it. It's always nice to feel as if you're indulging, even if you aren't!...

Garlicky Parmesan & Rosemary Roasted Chickpeas

July 21, 2014 Amanda Plott

I was turned on to roasting chickpeas several years back when seeking out healthier snack alternatives. Roasted garbanzo beans are seriously so easy to do that my four year old could almost pull it off all on her own. Well, almost. Plus, they taste absolutely amazing!

If you are a fan of hummus or chickpeas in general, then you will love toasted garbazo beans. I've been on a bit of a chickpea kick lately, if you hadn't noticed already. So... I thought what better time than now to roast some up for a grazing snack to have on hand...

Strawberry Caprese Salad

May 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

Sometimes, you just have to step outside the box for a moment to find something truly amazing.

I have always loved caprese salads, and I have also always loved the combination of strawberries and balsamic vinegar... So, why not put the two together? While the pairing might seem a little odd to some, I promise this is sure to surprise and de{light}!

There's just something about the mixture of sweet juicy strawberries and the twang of balsamic vinegar that goes so perfectly together. I guess you could say, it's sort of a play on the whole 'sweet and sour' thing...

Crock Pot 'Baked' Potatoes (With Skinny Pesto & Parmesan)

April 26, 2014 Amanda Plott

For the longest time, I never knew this little trick. You can fake-bake your potatoes in a slow cooker, and it's so super easy that it's pretty ridiculous!

I've been using this method for a while now, and it's definitely handy during the hotter spring/summer months when you don't want to boil the house up with turning your oven on. Plus, the potatoes can sit there and cook through the day leaving you not to h ave to worry with them at all...

Steak on a Stick

April 16, 2014 Amanda Plott

A month or two back I was whisked away off to a magical land of mystery and whimsey, otherwise known as the Sherwood Forrest Faire. While there I was enticed to try meat-on-a-stick for lunch. I was somewhat skeptical at first but after the first bit I was enchanted. It was amazing! As a side, the meat-on-a-stick could come with a baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream, pesto and parmesan. Also... To. Die For.

The meat on a stick was a thicker piece of what appeared to be flank steak, grilled with some mystical yellow seasoning that I could only fathom was turmeric. So, I went on a hunt as soon as I got home...

Healthy Brown Bag Popcorn (Garlic Parmesan)

April 14, 2014 Amanda Plott

It was a little gloomy here Sunday and us girls (grandma, mom, daughter, and myself) were all a little tired out from the weekend. We decided to spend our afternoon being lazy with watching a movie and eating some popcorn.

So, I went in my kitchen and whipped out a brown paper lunch bag and my popcorn kernels and started to get to it. My mom is always curious about my popcorn. Seriously? You can just do it yourself? Without a box or some sort of expensive popcorn machine? Seriously. Yes. You can...