Avocado Caprese & Olive Oil Caviar

August 19, 2015 Amanda Plott

I got to have some extra fun in the kitchen today with my lunch. With it still being rather hot here in Texas, I've been trying to keep my lunches pretty light and fresh. Caprese salads are always one of my staple go-to keeping it cool sort of lunches. They're easy to make, taste great, and are pretty healthy to boot.

I've had this little jar of olive oil caviar sitting on my counter for a while now. It's something that I haven't tried before and one of those things that I was nearly so excited to use that I couldn't think of a use for application that I felt would do it's genius justice. Then... it struck me!

Traditionally a caprese salad is drizzled with a little bit of olive oil, so I thought this would be the perfect way to show off the olive oil caviar in a simple and extremely tasty dish that takes little time and effort to toss together; using the olive oil caviar in place of the drizzle...

Skinny Summer Jalapeño Corn Chowder (Crock Pot)

July 27, 2015 Amanda Plott

I know it's summer, and who could possibly want hot soup when it's 100 degrees outside... but, sometimes you just have to roll ahead with seasonal produce while you can. It's all about corn right now in central Texas, so I wanted to make something a little different that would stand out and make that corn shine.

This corn chowder actually reminds me quite a lot of a loaded baked potato soup, just with a lot less potato and a lot more sweet corn flavor. I got some red potatoes, jalapeño, and chives in my local produce box this week, plus I had some bacon stashed away in my fridge. All of those things instantly made me think to make my twist on on this corn soup...

Skinny Greek Yogurt Egg Salad

July 9, 2015 Amanda Plott

Wholesome snacking and healthy eating in general has been important to me and my family for all of my adult life. One of my favorite better-for-you swap out staples is greek yogurt. I find that I can substitute greek yogurt for not only sour cream, but also generally for any recipe that calls for mayonnaise as well.

It makes a pretty great substitute when baking as well.

Egg salad one of my most favorite 'guilty pleasure' snacks. So today I decided to lighten it up and make it my own by incorporating greek yogurt. I'm sort of a traditionalist when it comes to egg salad, being that I basically like for it to taste like a well combined deviled egg, another 'guilty pleasure' of mine...

Skinny Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes

July 2, 2015 Amanda Plott

I'm sort of in love with greek yogurt, if you hadn't noticed. I tend to find any reason and excuse to use it in almost every meal and in every way possible; not just as breakfast in the morning!

Wholesome snacking and summer fun is what it's all about for me right now. And any way that I can escape using the oven right now is key right now during these hot summer months. This no bake cheese cake is the perfect hot weather snack or dessert; cool, refreshing, and super easy to do.

Key limes are definitely one of my favorite flavors, especially in the summer, they're sweet, tangy and with just the right amount of lime flavor without giving too much of a sour punch to your taste buds. So, when I got a bagful in my local produce box this week, I knew exactly what I wanted to do; no bake key lime cheesecakes!...

California Chicken & Vegetable Bowl (With Green Goddess Dressing)

June 22, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Birds Eye®, and Tyson® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FastFreshFilling http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

The heat of Texas summer is upon me! The last couple of weeks I've been doing everything possible to use my oven as little as I can manage. It's amazing the difference that just a few minutes of the oven being on can make when it's above 90 degrees outside. So, I'm starting to get really creative with creating tasty and easy meals during the busy and rather hot days of summer without having to give up nutrition in the process.

I was wanting something fresh and light that also involved avocado, and then I remembered this Green Goddess dressing that I made a few months back that I was absolutely in love with. So, I decided I wanted to make use of it again in this California style Chicken & Vegetable bowl. Perfect!

The only change that I made to the dressing this time was around was using some fresh basil in placed of the thyme or tarragon that I had used before. Fresh basil just screams summer to me...

Skinny Summer Breakfast Parfait

June 16, 2015 Amanda Plott

I love a good parfait, especially for breakfast! Parfaits are the perfect summer time breakfast. Why? Because you don't have to heat up or cook anything, which is a pretty big deal here in the southern states when we start pushing 100 degrees. Every little thing will set off that expensive air conditioner bill. Yikes! Let's not do that...

This beautiful little breakfast is the perfect way to start off your day; keeping you full, satisfied, and so happy! I mean just look at all those fun bright colors. How could you not get a smile on your face with eating that rainbow?...