Mediterranean Lunch Bowl

July 5, 2016 Amanda Plott

After this busy holiday weekend that was full of cooking out and even a few drinks, I was really looking forward to getting something fresh and green and clean in my system today. It's amazing how just a few guilty pleasures can leave you dragging behind, no matter how careful or conscious you are! Needless to say, I was well prepared with my shopping list having it's fill of mostly produce this week.

This mediterranean lunch bowl really hit the spot, being full of bright veggies and protein too! I kept the 'recipe' rather light and simple since coming down off of a busy (and rather long) weekend leaves me scrambling to get everything back in order. So, this would make an excellent make ahead grab-and-go lunch for work too!...

Veggie & Hummus Pinwheels

May 31, 2016 Amanda Plott

Last week I made my own homemade 5 Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, and I made a pretty tasty wrap using it. Since the wrap got a really good response over on Facebook, I decided that I would go ahead and post my actual recipe for it. The only change that I've made is making the wrap into pinwheels so that it could be served as either an appetizer or a fun little 'snackable' lunch option. Plus, let's face it... they are so bright and colorful this way!

These little wheels of awesome are packed with plenty of fresh vegetables and lots of flavor. The secret is in the hummus spread, and of course you can't go wrong with adding feta cheese to anything in my opinion...

Southwest 'Fried' Pickles

May 5, 2016 Amanda Plott

Recently, I had the honor to speak with Brooke Griffin, creator of SkinnyMom.com! I've been part of the SkinnyMom community for a while now, and it was truly a pleasure to get my hands on and review the new SkinnySuppers Cookbook that Brooke just released. It's full of 125 lightened healthier meals for your family.

She has some super yummy looking recipes, plenty of tips, tricks, and advice for the kitchen and surviving dinner time! It's a great read with plenty of home style and southern flavors. One of the first recipes that stood out to me was her Southwest 'Fried' Pickles. After all, who doesn't love a good fried pickle?...

Pesto, Spinach & Sun Dried Tomato Stuffed Sweet Potato (Crock Pot)

April 28, 2016 Amanda Plott

I've been a huge fan of cooking my potatoes in my crock pot for a good while now. It's a trick that I picked up a few years back and tend to use it when I'm feeling particularly lazy; being slammed by another good storm this week, I was just that. When it rains, it pours.

So, I decided to use this crock pot trick once again with making these amazing stuffed sweet potatoes. What I like most about cooking my potatoes this way is that they are entirely hands off, they don't really get 'over done' or 'under done', and I don't have to heat up my house with the oven being on...

Grilled Feta Skewers

April 19, 2016 Amanda Plott

The rain here in Texas has been crazy these last few days, and we still have more to come. Houston, you're in my thoughts! Despite the turn of weather (April showers bring May flowers...), I'm still getting my grill on this week. One way or another.

To add a little color and brightness to my life during this rather gloomy day, I decided to grill up these veggie-full skewers that couldn't be any more easy to make, or any more delicious. Let's face it, I'm a sucker for cheese is just about any form or fashion...

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings

April 16, 2016 Amanda Plott

I've been debating buying a bamboo steamer for a good long while now since I've been in full on wonton mode, and there isn't any better (or healthy) way to make potstickers or dumplings other than by steaming them. Needless to say, I finally broke down and got the steamer. I love it too because I can use it to steam other things too, not just dumplings.

I need something for steaming tamales too! So this was a good excuse to cover all my steaming bases.

The first thing I wanted to make with my bamboo steamer was some perfectly easy vegetable dumplings. These dumplings seriously couldn't be more easy to put together, and I'd like to think that after sealing up my fair share of wontons lately that I've become a lot more proficient with it...