Crock Pot Pork Chile Verde

November 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

I had some leftover tamales that I stored in my freezer a week or so ago, and I was wanting something warm to pair them with that wasn't chili. I'm a little burned out on beans lately. Gasp! No, no. Just meat and vegetables here. Somewhere in the midst of racking my brain, I remembered this Mexican style stew that they serve up at one of the favorite local Mexican places here in Austin. Pork green chile verde.

The name is debatable. It's called 'green chile verde' because it's made with green chiles. Not because it comes out green in the end result. Generally, pork chile verde is a slow simmered pork that's stewed in hatch green chiles...

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!...

Skinny Southwest Chicken Dip (Crock Pot)

August 6, 2014 Amanda Plott

I was craving something that was a little 'snacky' for a dinner this week. Sometimes, you just don't feel like having a meal for a meal. If that makes any sense at all to anyone else. So I settled on a chicken dip.

A while back I made a really tasty Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip before, but since this was going to be partially for dinner, I wanted something that was a little different and maybe had some more substance to it. I did, however, use the same basic idea from the buffalo dip to create this southwest version of it.

This southwest chicken dip was nothing short of amazing, and it totally didn't feel or taste as if there was anything skinny or light about it. It's always nice to feel as if you're indulging, even if you aren't!...

Mexican Style Breakfast Toast

July 25, 2014 Amanda Plott

There's something about me that many of you may not know. I have gone my entire life turning my nose up to any sort of egg that wasn't either scrambled or hardboiled. I didn't make such a decision based on taste. No, no. My dislike for runny yolks was merely fear of the unknown.

Just over a year ago, I was out having brunch with my mother. I ordered an item that, unbeknownst to me, came with a fried egg on top. The place was pretty busy and I had a mimosa in me, so I figured, why not? Liquid courage at it's finest! I tried it and I liked it. Oh, happy day!

Over the last year, I hadn't really been fearing the previously inapproachable yolky versions of eggs. And in the past weeks, I've had more and more. Dare I say... I actually like runny yolks now? Gasp...

Mexican Summer Tomato Salad

July 14, 2014 Amanda Plott

If you're looking for a super easy and fresh Mexican inspired side dish for the summer, this is it! This salad takes all of 5 minutes to prepare and toss together while tasting absolutely amazing with it's bright and bold flavors.

This dish actually reminds a bit of a greek antipasto salad, except that it's meatless and hints towards Mexican roots. There's queso fresco instead of feta, jalapeño in place of peperoncinni and the proud zing of some lime and cilantro added in there...

Mango Chile Lime Popsicles (Paletas)

June 15, 2014 Amanda Plott

A couple of months ago I was out at Eeyore's birthday here in Austin.

Yes... we celebrate Eeyore's birthday here. It's quite a thing, actually.

Anyway! It was pretty warm out that day and there was a vendor selling some rather interesting sounding homemade organic local popsicles. One of the flavors on the list was a mango chile flavor.

Of course, that's the one that I ordered! Unfortunately, they were all sold out. Ergh!

Well, it sounded easy enough. I've made my share of popsicles in the past so I thought I'd try my hand at this mango chile one too!