Black Bean & Roasted Butternut Squash Tostadas

September 23, 2017 Amanda Plott

A fresh local butternut squash means Fall is finally here! I love it when I start to get my hands on winter squash. They are easily one of the most tasty and versatile foods out there. Anywhere from stuffing them, to roasting them, to mashing them as a puree. I'm sold. Hook, line, and sinker.

Not only are these tostadas easy to make, they're also a meal you can make off of one baking sheet; making it a perfect weeknight go-to for any busy family. And believe you me... I've been one busy gal! Friday really tested my limits and put me through the ringer. I ran around like a crazy person getting my daughter into her doctor and off to get an x-ray on her little footsie. So, I knew dinner was going to have to be supremely quick and hassle free...

Instant Pot Asian Sweet Chili Chicken

September 20, 2017 Amanda Plott

If you haven't yet jumped onto the pressure cooker band wagon, you definitely should as soon as you can! I got mine back for my birthday and I haven't looked back. One of the things that I love the most about it is that it's multi-functional as a pressure cooker, crock pot, and even for a quick sauté. This makes it the perfect 'one pot' meal maker.

For a few weeks now, I've been working on perfecting this Asian Sweet Chili Chicken recipe. The first time I made it - it was really good. But, it wasn't quite where I wanted it to be. So, with a few more tweaks I gave it another go or two until I had it on point...

Breakfast Tostadas

September 18, 2017 Amanda Plott

Good morning, beautiful.

This is another oldie but goodie that I decided needed to get a bit of an update. The pictures were old and out of date and my cooking style has changed tremendously. It's the process of the ever evolving home cook.

Originally when I made these tostadas, my grandmother is visiting me from Oregon coast. She usually comes down once a year for a good 4-6 weeks to indulge in the Texas heat. What can I say? She's a born and raised Texan that is now denied the sun except for a single week out of the year when a few rays manage to peek through the ever looming clouds in the sky there on the Oregon coast.

Don't get me wrong. I love Oregon. And further more... I love rain.

At any rate, one of my grandmother's favorite things to eat are tostadas...

Marbled Chocolate & Matcha Candy Cups

September 15, 2017 Amanda Plott

This post was sponsored by Crisco® Coconut Oil as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

So, over a year ago now I had made these amazingly delicious PB&J Cups that were some of my most favorite homemade candies ever. Party because they were so good, and partly because they were - well - more wholesome for being homemade. These Marbled Chocolate & Matcha Candy Cups are no different.

They chocolate used here is a dark chocolate, which instantly gives you a few more benefits than most other chocolates. And to make it even better, I filled them with a matcha butter that is perfectly balanced with the swarms of white chocolate to give just the right amount of sweetness without being an overkill...

Skinny Tomato Basil Soup

September 5, 2017 Amanda Plott

This was actually one of the first recipes that I posted here. It's been a family favorite for years and years now. Well, at least 7 years anyway! It was also one of the first real recipes that I made for my family.

I love it for how easy it is to make, but it's also one of the most delicious soups you can make, and is rather guilt free too!...

Mediterranean Bowl

September 3, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, originally I was going to call this a 'breakfast' bowl, but then I started to realize that you could eat this for just about any meal. If you want it more 'breakfast' style you could cook the eggs scrambled or poached. For lunch? I prefer the hardboiled! Making it into dinner? Toss in some grilled chicken.

With all of that being said, I decided it was best to just call it the Mediterranean Bowl, and not label it with a specific meal type. No matter when you decided to enjoy it, it's packed with loads of nutrients and good-for-you stuff...