Edamame & Avocado Power Sandwich

April 14, 2017 Amanda Plott

This post is sponsored by Soyfoods Association of North America in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Did y'all know that April is National Soy Foods Month? There's probably not a girl out there that love soy anymore than I do either. I could turn around and be a vegetarian tomorrow if I really wanted to. And trust me, I have threatened myself with doing that very thing. For over a year now, I've strived to create at LEAST one vegetarian family dinner a week. Though generally it turns into more like two or three dinners a week.

Eating meatless meals a few times a week can not only be better for you, it can also save you a lot of money at the grocery store. I'm talking... I can easily shave $50 off my weekly grocery bill for a small family of three...

Lemon Poppy Seed Granola

March 26, 2017 Amanda Plott

I'm so happy it's spring time finally. I seriously love all the bright flavors of citrus and the beautiful berries that I'm seeing at the store; like these jumbo blueberries that I got this past week. I mean... just look at those suckers! They are the size of two or three whole almonds. Yowza! Some of my favorite spring flavors have to be lemon and blueberry, so naturally I wanted to pair my giant blueberries here with something bright and lemony!

It's been a while since I baked up some granola, so I thought it was high time to make a fun 'Spring' granola that's loaded up with the good stuff. Poppy seeds along with some chia seeds, almonds, and oats. The honey I used for this was a 50/50 blend of honey and stevia; giving me less calories and the same flavor. It's just good all the way around...

Skinny Banana Pudding Poke Cake

March 20, 2017 Amanda Plott

What can I say? I needed some more dessert in my life, y'all! It's been a really hard week. I went into Spring break with my little one thinking that it was going to be smooth sailing. That I was going to get to sleep in, relax, and catch up on life. Hah! Boy, was I ever wrong.

My elderly cat (who is 13 years old now) had to get a few teeth (almost all of them) extracted. Nearly as an emergency too. He's a big boy - 18 lbs. at his heaviest as a mainecoon. Unfortunately one of their only bad qualities is their teeth. Despite my best efforts these past few years to get them cleaned regularly, it just wasn't enough and 5 of his teeth had to be pulled. Given his age and other health concerns it's been a week full of medication and even a trip to the emergency vet yesterday. Mid-recipe too!

Yep. Right after pulling this cake out of the oven I was hot-tailing it to the emergency vet. Bleh. While my poor old man is on the mend, I still am in desperate need for some dessert. Dessert, my mommy, and maybe some wine. I can't adult today...

Skinny Frozen 'Hot Chocolate'

July 15, 2016 Amanda Plott

The heat of the summer is definitely upon us! Whenever it's humanly possible, I'm steering clear of using my oven and stove at all right now. I've been focusing on staying cool with little or no cook meals, or things that can be grilled outside. Even so, I'm dreaming of the cooler months to come. The summer heat here in Texas can be brutal.

So, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of winter, snow, and the Holidays? ... Hot chocolate, of course! Trust me, I'll be all over hot chocolate when the time comes, but for now - it's all about this Skinny Frozen 'Hot Chocolate'! Basically, this is a frozen take on a classic hot chocolate, so it's perfectly enjoyable during the summer while you're waiting for the cooler months...

Pesto & Ricotta Summer Tomato Tart

July 10, 2016 Amanda Plott

I'm so excited to share this amazing little bite with you, and for more than one reason too! Not only does it taste absolutely awesome, there's also a surprise below in the directions. But, you'll have to go on down to find out what!

So, back to this fun pesto and ricotta summer tart. With it being well into the 100 degree days here in Texas for a few more months, I'm all about keeping food simple and cold. With little to no cooking or heat involved. This tart is just that. Simple. Clean. Fun. ...And so tasty too. Plus, with minimal cooking involved, you won't have to heat up the house.

Tip: If you're really trying to save on heating up the house, you can always bake the pie crust ahead of time or even outdoors on a grill!...

5 Ingredient Skinny Summer Vegetable Dip

June 8, 2016 Amanda Plott

It's getting warm here in Texas, though I'll be the first one to say that so far we've had a perfectly mild summer. Usually by now we are well into 100+ degrees days, and so far we've barely broken past the 90's. No, that's not a complaint either! It's these perfect summer days that I love to spend out in my backyard entertaining. Whether that means my little family or the whole lot of us.

No matter who's around, it's always about 'what to eat' and this 5 Ingredient Skinner Summer Vegetable Dip is the perfect spread! I've loaded this dip up with bell pepper, jalapeño (for taste - not heat), sweet summer corn, and olives! I know, bare with me, it might sound like a rather creative and interesting combination... and it is! It's completely amazing and full of flavor. You'll fall in love from the first taste...