Rainbow Soda Cake

June 15, 2022 Amanda Plott

Another continuation of rainbow inspired eats and treats geared towards PRIDE month! This fun and vibrant rainbow cake is made with literally just a handful of ingredients and fairly little hands on time. This cake uses one of the oldest tricks in the book as far as cake mixes go, and that’s simply using sparkling soda with the mix and nothing more!

That’s right. You can make a cake with a box of mix and a can of soda. Pretty impressive, huh? It’s so super easy to do too! Outside of that, you divide the batter and color it accordingly. I went with the rainbow colors of the PRIDE flag, but you can use whatever colors you wish…

Rainbow Pride Donuts

June 9, 2022 Amanda Plott

Continuing with Pride month and wonderful rainbow inspired eats and treats! I’m no stranger to colorful donuts, but these Rainbow Pride Donuts are the brightest and boldest ones I’ve made yet. It’s a happy coincidence that my donut pan is also heart shaped, which made these Pride donuts just that much more perfect!

To keep these donuts lightened up, I of course baked them. I also used less sugar and threw some whole wheat white flour in there. Other than that, these rainbow beauties are fairly standard to any other baked donuts. Except for being full of Pride and color!…

Skinny Birthday Cake 'Cake Batter' Cookies

June 6, 2022 Amanda Plott

I've made a LOT of birthday style eats and treats before. What can I say? My kiddo and I love rainbows and sprinkles. And there's no time like the month of June to bust our the rainbow sprinkles and cake flavored amazingness. It’s pride month AND we I have a lot of family birthdays this month too! This is an older recipe, so I decide to go back and revisit it.

Originally I found the idea for these cookies and they looked amazing, but as most of you know I can't help but tinker around and put my 'skinny' spin on everything…

Strawberry Crunch Monkey Bread

June 3, 2022 Amanda Plott

So you know those strawberry shortcake ice creams with the crumbly bits of strawberry crunch on the outside? So I may have come across the crumbs, and yes, you can actually buy them! Now what does one do with strawberry crunch crumbs? Well, obviously make some sort of tasty strawberry sweet! That’s when the idea for this Strawberry Crunch Monkey Bread came to be.

Take it as a breakfast, brunch, or even dessert. This nostalgic twist on monkey bread has to be one of my new favorites. It’s ridiculously easy to make too, just as most monkey breads are. Now, there really wasn’t a whole lot to do in the ways of making this lightened up. But, I did sub out some of the sugars for natural sweeteners…

Confetti Shortbread Cookies

May 31, 2022 Amanda Plott

Pride month starts tomorrow and I’m going to play around with rainbows in the kitchen as much as I possible can to celebrate. So here’s to hoping that these Confetti Shortbread Cookies will be the first of many Pride friendly treats and eats to come along for the next 30 days or so. I’m no stranger to shortbread cookies and I can tell you first hand that the dough can be more than a little finicky. But, the dough for these Confetti Shortbread Cookies was simple, easy to make, and didn’t give me much fuss at all.

Shortbread cookies are crumbly and buttery and sort of melt away in your mouth, and these here are no exception. Even with less sugar, these Confetti Shortbread Cookies are perfectly sweet and cut out really well with hardly any spreading at all…

Giant Monster Cookies

May 22, 2022 Amanda Plott

From Cookie Monster Cookies, now to these Giant Monster Cookies! I love making BIG cookies. These Giant Monster Cookies are peanut butter dough based and are loaded up with chocolate chips and M&M’s! They are fairly easy to make and all come together in one bowl with no chilling required, which quite honestly is one of my favorite parts.

The peanut butter in these cookies leave them perfectly soft and a little crumbly. I was sure to swap out all of the sugar for sweetener based alternatives. You should be able to use whichever brand you enjoy the most. My natural sweetener is stevia based and measures cup-for-cup like sugar, but the brown sugar blend that I currently have uses half of what standard brown sugar calls for…

Recent Forkable Bites

Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake "Dutch Baby"

You’ve just found your new kitchen obsession: the Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake. Think of it as the love child of a light-as-air popover and the garlicky, green-onion-forward goodness of pajeon. It’s quick, a little bit showy, and perfect for breakfast, snack time, or as an appetizer that will convince friends you are doing something wildly gourmet without breaking a sweat…

Tex-mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake

If breakfast had a fiesta, this Tex-Mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake would be the life of the party. It’s cheesy, bright with salsa, and full of Tex-Mex flavors—yet uses smart swaps so it’s lighter and still utterly satisfying. Think of it as nachos-turned-breakfast-casserole: layers of tortilla base, eggs, veggies, black beans, and just enough melty cheese to keep things comforting without sending your health goals running for cover…

Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake (No Bake)

If your dessert game needs a tropical mic drop, meet the Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake. It’s the best kind of culinary contradiction: bright, tangy passion fruit tucked into a creamy, lighter-than-it-looks cheesecake sitting below a crumbly cookie base. It’s sweet, tart, slightly exotic, and perfectly guilt-free when you use a few smart swaps. Yes, you can have cheesecake and feel like you did something good for your future self…

German Pancake "Dutch Baby"

If you grew up thinking pancakes were just flat cakey discs drowned in syrup, German pancakes (also called Dutch babies) are here to re-educate your brunch brain. These dramatic oven-baked beauties puff up like savory soufflés, then collapse into golden, creased pools of custardy goodness. They’re loud, theatrical, and oddly wholesome — the perfect plate to start a weekend with a little flair and a lot less guilt…

Black Bean Street Corn Tacos

Street corn and tacos: two food-world celebrities that, when teamed up, create a headline-making flavor duet. Add black beans—protein-packed, wallet-friendly, and endlessly comforting—and you’ve got a weeknight superstar that’s healthy, colorful, and obnoxiously easy to make. These Black Bean Street Corn Tacos bring together charred corn, smoky spices, creamy jalapeño sauce, and hearty black beans for a taco that hits every note: tasty, creamy, bright, and slightly rebellious…

French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake

If you love the idea of classic French vanilla but want something a little unexpected, meet the French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake — a playful flip on an indulgent favorite that keeps the texture silky and the flavor bright without dragging you into full dessert regret. This recipe flips the script with a golden french vanilla filling inside a light, creamy cheesecake so when you flip it, you get a crunchy crown of cookie and a tender, cloud-like cheesecake underneath. It’s fancy enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight celebration.

Why French vanilla? French vanilla is all about the custard-forward flavor. In this cheesecake, that custardy depth and a crispy crunchy cookie crust shell is just perfect. The result is familiar and elegant — like dessert wearing a beret.

Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce

Bright, crunchy, and ridiculously satisfying — this Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce is my go-to when I want lunch that feels indulgent but doesn’t leave me sluggish. Think crisp raw veggies, tender marinated mushrooms (or tofu), fresh herbs, and a creamy, tangy peanut sauce wrapped up in a whole-grain tortilla or rice paper. It’s fresh, protein-packed, and perfect for meal prep. Best part: the peanut sauce doubles as a dip for snack carrots, because nobody should deny themselves that level of deliciousness.

Why you’ll love it

Fresh and crunchy textures with a creamy, savory sauce.
Flexible — easily vegan, gluten-free, or low-carb.
Quick to assemble, great for lunches, picnics, or a light dinner.
Balances fiber, healthy fats, and plant protein for a filling meal without heaviness…

Upside Down Blueberry Filled Cheesecake (No Bake)

If cheesecake could wear a pair of comfy sneakers and a party hat, this would be it. Meet the Upside Down No-Bake Blueberry-Filled Cheesecake: a glossy, jewel-toned blueberry layer that INSIDE of a pillowy, tangy no-bake cheesecake, all cradled by a lightly sweet, cookie-forward crust.

It looks fancy. It tastes like summer. It requires zero oven time and minimal effort. Translation: perfect for heat waves, last-minute company, or when you want dessert that’s both impressive and unapologetically easy…

Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No Bake Cheesecake

If banana pudding and cheesecake had a love child it would be this: silky, banana-forward, and just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving without sending you spiraling into sugar regret. This Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No-Bake Cheesecake keeps all the cozy, nostalgic flavors—banana pudding, creamy cheesecake, and a touch of caramel—while trimming calories and ditching heavy baking. It’s perfect for hot days, last-minute gatherings, or whenever you want dessert that feels indulgent but behaves itself…

Chimichurri

Chimichurri: bright, herby, slightly spicy — and a total game-changer for everything from grilled steak to roasted veggies. If you’ve ever had a bite of anything sauced in Argentina or Uruguay, you probably met this vibrant green condiment: an herb-forward sauce that’s equal parts punchy and versatile. Here’s everything you need to know to make a fresh, health-conscious chimichurri that tastes like it belongs at a backyard grill party — without the guilt…

Hawachae

If you're hunting for a drink that’s fruity, fun, and somehow both festive and entirely guilt-free, say hello to hwachae. This Korean fruit punch is like summer in a shallow bowl: colorful, bubbly, and built for sharing. Think of it as a fruit salad you sip—refreshing, lightly sweet, and endlessly adaptable. Perfect for warm afternoons, brunches, or whenever you want something more exciting than plain water but less indulgent than a soda cocktail…

Miso Caesar Dressing

The tangy, umami-packed upgrade that your salad has been waiting for!

If you love the bold, savory comfort of classic Caesar dressing but want something lighter, brighter, and just a smidge more interesting, say hello to miso Caesar dressing. It keeps everything you adore about a Caesar—creamy texture, salty tang, garlicky bite—then swaps in miso for depth, and ties it all together with citrus brightness. It’s umami-forward, slightly funky in the best way, and totally guilt-free. Also: it makes kale feel like a party guest instead of a punishment…

Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats

If you love the nostalgic bliss of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars but want a breakfast that’s fast, healthy, and won’t require a spatula duel at 7 a.m., meet Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats. This guilt-free spin captures the flavors you love — sweet strawberries, fluffy strawberry and vanilla oat vibes, and a few topping options— but in a nutrient-packed, make-ahead jar. It’s breakfast that feels like dessert and behaves like a responsible adult…

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Salads deserve better than boring dressing. Enter strawberry vinaigrette — a sweet-tart, blush-pink dressing that makes greens sing, fruits dance, and even roasted veggies look forward to showtime. It’s the kind of dressing that tricks your brain into thinking you’re indulging, while your body high-fives you for picking something wholesome. I’ve taken the classic fruit vinaigrette, given it a Skinny Fork twist, and kept it guilt-free without sacrificing flavor…

Breakfast Tomato Eggs

Tomato + eggs = morning magic. This humble combo is a breakfast staple around the world — from shakshuka to Chinese tomato-and-egg stir-fry — and for good reason. It’s fast, comforting, and jam-packed with flavor and nutrition. Think vibrant tomatoes, silky eggs, and a few tricks to boost protein and fiber while keeping things bright and fresh…

Tomato Salad

There’s something about a great tomato salad that makes summer feel like it lasts forever. Ripe tomatoes are the literal embodiment of sunny days—vibrant color, juicy sweetness, and a little tartness that wakes up the tastebuds. But tomato salad isn’t just a summer fling; with the right ingredients and a few health-conscious swaps, it becomes an everyday side, a light main, or a refreshing starter that fits into a wholesome lifestyle…

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