Lily's Lunch Box (Week 5) - Tex-Mex

August 25, 2014 Amanda Plott

There's two things I can always count on getting my little one to eat. Beans and rice! In fact, she takes her beans and rice plain. No salt. No 'spice'... just a sprinkle of cheese and she's done. She has been that way with beans and rice for her entire life.

Though it's not my way of eating them, I'm more than happy to oblige her with this small request. Thankfully, corn and mandarine oranges are two more things that are on the top of her 'will always eat' list. What does that give you? A fun tex-mex lunch idea!...

Homemade Whole Wheat 'Easy Mac'

August 18, 2014 Amanda Plott

My little love was under the weather a for a few days this week, so we didn't exactly have the need for a 'lunch box' today, but... this is what I served her at home for lunch. After all, what's more of a comfort food than macaroni and cheese?

Well, not much! I pretty much put everything into this lunch that would be considered her favorite things. And they all tend to be things that most kids enjoy eating. It was a little bit of a happy accident that it happened to be just what she needed on her sick days! Grapes. Mac-n-cheese. Hot dog. And peas and carrots...

Skinny Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Whole Wheat)

August 15, 2014 Amanda Plott

You know when you're making some cookies and you just can't help but eat a spoonful or two of the dough? ... Even though you're not supposed to because of the raw egg or other 'icky' stuff that could be in there? It's one of those shameful moments that we all take part in at one time or another.

Yeah, well. Problem solved!

That's right. This cookie dough is meant for eating. Not for baking.

Please, do not attempt to bake this cookie dough...

Pesto Chickpea & Avocado Salad

August 8, 2014 Amanda Plott

I really cannot say enough about this salad. I would have never guessed that these 6-ish ingredients would have come together in such an awesome and delicious way. This mighty green salad was tossed together in less than 5 minutes and was unbelievably satisfying. Seriously. I've eaten it about four times already this week.

The lemon juice works to brighten up the pesto and together they actually end up as a rather substantial amount of flavorful 'dressing'. Yes, that's right - you don't need to add any dressing to this salad. The ingredients work together to make their own lemony pesto dressing that is de{light}ful and actually one of my newest favorite things...

Greek Pita 'Pizza'

August 1, 2014 Amanda Plott

This is one of those stupid-easy and crazy-good sort of recipes. The kind of thing that you throw together on some lazy end-of-the-week night and then think... "Oh, man! I'm brilliant! This is amazing!"

I was seriously not looking forward to cooking today. I've been in a tremendous amount of pain with my neck and shoulders since I cracked my eyes open this morning. ...It's the type of pain that is nearly blinding. It creeps up into my eye sockets and even makes my ears hurt! I've been in so much pain, that it's been a challenge to even consider food without getting blatantly nauseous.

So, needless to say... once I got some of the pain (and nausea) behind me, this was the perfect dinner for me tonight...

Avocado & Egg Spaghetti Squash Boats

July 30, 2014 Amanda Plott

I want to start off by saying, my grandmother was very upset at me for making a spaghetti squash dish just days after she left. I was hissed at more than once for it. Sorry Neenaw, but the show must go on! The good thing is, this dish is so super easy that she can make it at home for herself and her husband to enjoy.

It's not winter, I know... but it seems like I always have to make at least one spaghetti squash meal during the summer. Even though its a winter squash, it seems like I crave it a lot more on hot days rather than cold ones. Perhaps it has something to do with the cooler toppings and bright sauces that I use on it...