Avocado Caprese & Olive Oil Caviar

August 19, 2015 Amanda Plott

I got to have some extra fun in the kitchen today with my lunch. With it still being rather hot here in Texas, I've been trying to keep my lunches pretty light and fresh. Caprese salads are always one of my staple go-to keeping it cool sort of lunches. They're easy to make, taste great, and are pretty healthy to boot.

I've had this little jar of olive oil caviar sitting on my counter for a while now. It's something that I haven't tried before and one of those things that I was nearly so excited to use that I couldn't think of a use for application that I felt would do it's genius justice. Then... it struck me!

Traditionally a caprese salad is drizzled with a little bit of olive oil, so I thought this would be the perfect way to show off the olive oil caviar in a simple and extremely tasty dish that takes little time and effort to toss together; using the olive oil caviar in place of the drizzle...

Peach Jalapeño Chicken Potstickers & Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce

July 31, 2015 Amanda Plott

I have this love-hate relationship with potstickers and wontons. I love to eat them and hate to make them. It kills me too! They are such an easy thing to make, but just as with any sort of individually wrapped food... it's time consuming! So I will start this off by saying, these are so easy-peasy - just be sure that you have some time on your hands to sit there and form each of them. It's not too bad, I think it took about an hour for me to prepare and cook these these, start to finish.

These potstickers are a million times tastier and better for you than the ones you'll get pre-made or at any restaurant. Why? Because you have complete control over what's going into them and how well they're cooked. Seriously, if I had the time I would make them everyday to eat.

Now, normally I would't step out of the box quite this far, but I had some leftover jalapeños and some lovely local peaches that needed to be used up, so I figured why not make some Asian fusion!...

Skinny Mexican Style Caprese Salad

July 21, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've been in love with caprese salads for a long time now. I think that my love of them actually started some years ago when I worked as a waitress in a newly opening restaurant when I was visiting home for the summer one year from college. It was a horrific experience, but only because I am not good at the whole waitressing thing. That job takes a very skilled and specific type of person to do properly. And I am not skilled or specific to customer servicing!

It did give me an entirely new perspective though on restaurants and I have always had another level or respect for those that wait tables.

Anyway, the restaurant had a caprese salad and I felt like eating vegetarian that day; plus, I mean... I got half off meals and they had great food there so I was pretty set on trying almost everything on the menu. It was love at first bite...

Melon, Mozzarella, Tomato & Prosciutto Snack

July 17, 2015 Amanda Plott

So, I've found lately that eating a couple of lighter snacks in the afternoon instead of an actual lunch has been fitting into my crazy schedule a bit better. Especially when at least one of the snacks includes cheese, I mean... come on. Who doesn't look forward to a little indulgence with cheese? I know I do!

This past week I ordered up a local fresh mozzarella from my grocery service, which I have to say... tastes about a hundred times better from the fresh mozzarella that you get from the grocery store. I was absolutely shocked with the difference between the local fresh mozzarella and what I've become used to. So if you can get your hands on some local mozzarella, I implore you to do so.

You won't regret it!...

Mediterranean Olive Salad

July 15, 2015 Amanda Plott

Thank you California Ripe Olives for sponsoring this post. Click here to enter the California Ripe Olives Facebook sweepstakes for a chance to win a Midsummer Mediterranean prize package!

As a health food blogger, I like to stay in the know about all the different diets and ways of eating that are currently being circulated. One of the ones that's become quite popular over the past few years has been the Mediterranean Diet.

The Mediterranean Diet is pretty simple and incorporates the basics of healthy eating; including fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and limited unhealthy fats. Any way of eating that allows for olive oil and a few glasses of wine is a bonus in my eyes.

The basis of the Mediterranean Diet is eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Replacing butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil. Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your foods. Limiting red meat and eating fish and poultry at least two times a week. Plus, red wine in moderation!

All of these things are pretty much how we eat in my house on a day to day basis...

Skinny Greek Yogurt Egg Salad

July 9, 2015 Amanda Plott

Wholesome snacking and healthy eating in general has been important to me and my family for all of my adult life. One of my favorite better-for-you swap out staples is greek yogurt. I find that I can substitute greek yogurt for not only sour cream, but also generally for any recipe that calls for mayonnaise as well.

It makes a pretty great substitute when baking as well.

Egg salad one of my most favorite 'guilty pleasure' snacks. So today I decided to lighten it up and make it my own by incorporating greek yogurt. I'm sort of a traditionalist when it comes to egg salad, being that I basically like for it to taste like a well combined deviled egg, another 'guilty pleasure' of mine...