Butternut Squash Salad + Maple Vinaigrette

September 13, 2022 Amanda Plott

Yes, another salad! This Butternut Squash Salad is a little different though since it’s got a lot of fun Fall flavors packed into it and it’s super easy to make. The homemade maple vinaigrette has to be one of my all time favorites, and it’s easy to see why. This salad starts off with a base of greens. I went with a mixture of baby spinach and a spring blend, but arugula would be a good option too!

After that it’s loaded up with oven roasted butternut squash, cranberries, feta cheese, and YES even bacon! The homemade maple vinaigrette might sound strange, but trust me, you’re going to love it. I used a bourbon aged maple syrup, but you can use any kind you want so long as it’s actual factual maple syrup, and not just flavored like maple syrup. Trust me, there IS a difference…

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

September 10, 2022 Amanda Plott

It happens almost every year around this time. It’s still pretty hot outside and I’m over here trying to entice the cooler weather by cooking up hearty winter sort of meals. And this Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings is one of those! I love chicken and dumplings and I will literally accept any reason at all what-so-ever to make them for dinner. So when they were brought up in passing conversation a few weeks back? I knew what I had to do. Make chicken and dumplings!

This Instant Pot version of chicken and dumplings is SUPER easy to make and can be done with no fuss and no muss - all in the pressure cooker. To start this out, you cook up the chicken on it’s own in the pressure cooker. Then you add everything else in with the drippings from that. Yes. Everything. Even the dumplings!…

Apple Pecan Jar Salad

August 23, 2022 Amanda Plott

So, while it may be starting to cool off, it’s still very hot here. That being said as we slide into the end of August I am READY for Fall this year more than I even usually am. Which is saying a lot since Fall is probably my favorite season next to Spring - which we entirely skipped this year somehow and instead just went Winter straight into Summer. Bleh.

This Apple Pecan Jar Salad gives me all the vibes of Fall while also being light, cold, and crisp while we’re in the middle of this heat still. So it’s definitely a win-win situation. Plus, these jar salads are absolutely perfect for having on hand when you want and need a bite for lunch but also don’t have time to whip something up. Make ahead meals for the win!…

Pantry Pottage (Crock Pot & Instant Pot)

December 7, 2021 Amanda Plott

This Pantry Pottage became a traditional Thanksgiving Eve dinner many many years ago in my family. I think the original recipe was one that my mom had gotten off the local news station when I was still in high school. The idea behind the dish was to use up all the canned beans and vegatables from your pantry and toss them into a crock pot to cook up some fabulous and easy dish that would serve up a house of visitors.

Several years ago now, the original printed recipe that my mom had ended up disappearing among a chaotic move. I've since scowered the web to find it, though to no avail. I did, however, manage to find a similar version that I've tweaked to be closer to what my mom and I remember…

Pecan Upside Down Cake

December 1, 2021 Amanda Plott

This tasty upside down cake has been winterized for your pleasure! That’s right, I’ve taken a classic upside down cake and made it into something that’s more festive to the season with ooey gooey pecan topping! This Pecan Upside Down Cake is super easy to make with most of the ingredients being pantry staples and it’s perfect not only for dessert, but also as a sweet option for breakfast or brunch.

This cake is the perfect mix of a pecan pie and an upside down cake. All of the pecan crunch and goo paired with a simple cake mix. I prefer this to be served warm and straight away with some homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream…

Skinny Turkey & Wild Rice Soup

November 28, 2021 Amanda Plott

It happens every Thanksgiving... What do you do with all that leftover turkey? And believe me when I say that I have a freezer full of it this year. And you know what? I'm not at al mad at it either.

I'm happy to say that I've got a solution for you right here.

I originally started making this soup after Thanksgiving a few years back, and honestly, I still haven't changed the recipe from my original version of it. That's just how good it is...