Pumpkin & Black Bean Soup

September 24, 2014 Amanda Plott

I'm putting pumpkin in everything while I can since it's 'seasonable' for the next couple of months. I love fall for many reasons, but pumpkin has to be pretty close to the top of the list! In my opinion, there just isn't too much that you can't put pumpkin in; drinks, desserts, entrees... You name it, and I've probably already thought of a way to put pumpkin in it, if I haven't already put pumpkin in it before - that is!

This pumpkin soup is pretty great. I'd compare the consistency of it to a creamy tomato soup. In fact, it's color and texture are pretty much the same too but a lot more soft and calm with it's flavors since tomato soup has the zing of acidity....

Crock Pot Pumpkin & Maple Pork Tenderloin

September 22, 2014 Amanda Plott

Oh. My. Goodness.

My house smelled like maple heaven for an entire day with this cooking up in the kitchen. And yes, it tastes just as great at it smells! It was all I could do to keep from going in there towards dinner time and picking off the 'crispy' end pieces to snack on.

Yes, I'm that one. My mom and I are well known for tag-teaming the burnt ends at any family barbecue.

This pumpkin maple tenderloin was pretty amazing and perfectly fitting with pumpkin season and fall weather as it rolls in. I was a little skeptical at first since I'm not generally a fan of adding sweetness to my pork, but it was just the right amount of sweet and tang with the apple cider vinegar...

Healthy Fall Salad

October 30, 2013 Amanda Plott

There are all sorts of spring and summer salads out there... but why not enjoy a salad in the fall or winter months?

Instead of working off the winter weight after the fact, just kick it in the pants ahead of time.

This salad is exploding with flavors of fall with baby spinach, bleu cheese, cranberries, pear, and even some pumpkin kernels!

Apple Spice Oatmeal Cookies

October 3, 2013 Amanda Plott

These cookies are great for breakfast, snack, or desert. They are a perfect collection of fall flavors, such as apples, raisins, spices and oatmeal.

Mine turned out crisp on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. An added bonus? This was a perfect 'breakfast on the go' for myself, little munchkin, and visiting grandmother... which was something that I desperately needed this week!...

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos

September 25, 2013 Amanda Plott

These tacos are an absolutely perfect meal for the end of summer and the beginning of fall. There's a little bit of sweet, a little bit of heat, and even some crunch in there!

For about a year now, I've been working really hard to have at least one, and usually more like two, vegetarian dishes for dinner every week. We definitely don't eat red meat more than once in seven days and clean eating is something Im striving towards...

Butternut Squash Faux Fries

September 11, 2013 Amanda Plott

These baked Butternut Squash Faux Fries are an amazing alternative to their potato brethren. They taste just as amazing as sweet potato fries, and are remarkably similar, but come in way less on their calorie count!

Not to say anything bad about zucchini, but the health benefits of winter squash far exceeds that of their summer time family. The butternut squash is high in fiber and low in fat, making it a very heart-healthy choice.

This fruit is full of potassium, B6, folate, and last but not least carotenoids! A 1-cup serving will give you nearly half the recommended daily dose of antioxidant-rich vitamin C. And what's more? It's an anti-inflamitory as well...