Creamy Dreamy Sleepy Time Drink (Sponsored)

December 4, 2017 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyItalianMoment #CollectiveBias

The Holidays are upon us in a huge way and we all know that the countdown is on until the big man makes his appearance. In my house, it's always rather chaotic the night before Christmas, and everyone tends to have a tough time falling asleep. I know that my family isn't alone in this so... now I've got a solution; this Creamy Dreamy Sleepy Time Drink!

We've all heard the old adage to drink a cup of warm milk to settle the mind and the stomach before bed. Even Santa himself enjoys milk and cookies during his one night trip around the world. This Creamy Dreamy Sleepy Time Drink is a more wholesome version of the classic warm milk that's sure to help soothe and send you off to dream land...

Santa's 'Magical' Reindeer Poop Cookies

November 30, 2017 Amanda Plott

You know that in the Spring and Summer I'm all about rainbows and unicorns but during the winter months I like to let my imagination go with snowmen and reindeer and all things holly and jolly.

Just the other day my daughter's Elf on the Shelf (Candy Cane) brought my little girl some 'reindeer poop' chocolate mints. And while I thought they were cute and all, they weren't quite the magical poo that I had imagined Santa's reindeer to have. I mean... come on, they guide Santa's sleigh and fly around the world!...

Skinny 'Starbucks' Gingerbread Loaf

November 28, 2017 Amanda Plott

It's been a hot minute since I posted a take-out fake-out, and it's about time that I made one that was more of a breakfast or dessert. Now that pumpkin spice season is over, it's all about sugar cookies, gingerbread, and eggnog. So... here we go!

The idea for this Gingerbread Loaf comes straight from Starbucks. Let's face it, they have some of the most indulgent and tasty breakfast treats that you'll come across. But, when you're trying to save a buck or a few pounds, those numbers are scary and staggering...

Healthifed Tater Tot Casserole

November 21, 2017 Amanda Plott

Tater tot casserole. It's one of the great American classics. Almost all of us have eaten it before, mostly during our childhood years when it was one of those quick weeknight meals that the parents would put together at the end of a busy work week.

Well, that wasn't my first experience with it but I know for many of you it was. For me, it was something that I had made for my own family. At least... I'm pretty sure my mom never made it for us. She was much more about the Hamburger Helper and cans of La Choy back when I was in grade school...

Nordic Nut & Seed Bread

November 19, 2017 Amanda Plott

If you're like me, you've got a stockpile of random nuts in differing containers that take up half of your pantry. Especially around the holidays. Every cookie, every recipe, everything you cook has a different sort of nut - and none of the recipes use up only and completely one entire bag of nuts. So, you end up with nutty chaos raining down on you from the pantry.

Well folks, here you have it. Finally, a way to use up all and any of those nuts that you may have hanging around. Not just that, but this also gives you a chance to clean up those seeds that have gathered in there as well!...

Harvest Vegetable Soup

October 4, 2017 Amanda Plott

And then just like that, it was soup season.

We're getting into that time of year when winter squash and hearty vegetables are in season, and one of my favorite ways to use them up is a good soup! This soup is full of the bounties of a Fall harvest.

It's completely vegetarian and as filling as they come. Plus, it's completely guilt-free and feeds a crowd a pretty hefty sized bowl of soup...