Winter Berry & Citrus Salad (With Black Berry Vinaigrette)

December 4, 2016 Amanda Plott

Just because it's winter, doesn't mean you can't enjoy a salad! This Winter Berry & Citrus Salad with Black Berry Vinaigrette is full of winter fruits and flavors to satisfy you on even the coldest and gloomiest of days. I mean... look at those glorious bright colors there, it's a sure-fire way to climb your way out of the winter blues with some winter greens! Hah! See what I did there?

The deep red and green here make me think that this would make for a perfectly seasonal dinner salad or festive side salad to a Holiday meal. What I love most about this salad is that the dressing is completely homemade and super simple to make too!...

Healthified Crock Pot Turkey Taco Soup

December 1, 2016 Amanda Plott

So, one of my most popular recipes has to be my Healthified Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, which also happens to be a family favorite and has been for many years now. With that being said, I decided to make something similar, but more with the flavors of another favorite; tacos! This Healthified Crock Pot Turkey Taco Soup is going to knock your socks off with it's amazing flavors, even if it wasn't really what I had planned on making today.

Yep! Even I have fails in the kitchen still. My original recipe for today turned out to be a flop. Literally. It flopped straight over into the trash. I don't know what's wrong with me lately! My brain just can't seem to get things going quite as well as it usually does. It feels like I'm on auto pilot. I could blame that on the craziness of the holidays or... that it's a particularly hard time of the year for me, as I think it is for a lot of other people too...

Skinny Crock Pot Dulce De Leche

November 29, 2016 Amanda Plott

I know, I know... how can dulce de leche be skinny? Well, that's pretty simple actually, you make it using a reduced fat sweetened condensed milk. Tada! Really dulce de leche is similar to a caramel, though it's generally a little thicker and made with a slow cooking process using sweetened condensed milk. The slow cooking changes the taste and texture of the sweetened condensed milk, giving you a sweet caramel like sauce that literally only takes one ingredient and minimal effort!

It makes a great gift too. Especially when you put it in cute little jars with decorative notes and ribbons. Why? Because who doesn't like caramel?! Plus, like I said... it's easy to do, tastes great, and has very little hands-on time needed...

Healthy Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

November 27, 2016 Amanda Plott

A little chicken noodle soup for the soul, anyone? 2016 has been a year that will go down in infamy. I don't think this year hasn't touched everyone in a particularly strange (and I'll even dare to say negative) way. I for one, couldn't be more happy to see it in it's last several days. I know that 2016 will go out kicking and screaming the entire way, but I can't wait to see what next year brings.

Only good things, I hope.

My Christmas tree bit the dust last year, and I guess that should have been a sure sign of the things to come. So, I decided to add some extra Christmas tree to my life this year by including it in this soup as early as November. MOVE OVER DECEMBER. We're getting this year done and over with...

Breakfast Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

November 22, 2016 Amanda Plott

It's just a couple of days before Thanksgiving and I'm running around like a mad woman to get things done. This year we're doing things a bit different... getting the family the heck outta here for some untraditional turkey day glamping (that's camping in a glamorous manner.) I'll be the first to admit that God didn't build me in a manner that would suffice actual 'camping'. I enjoy hot showers, beds, central air, and food far too much to be the outdoorsy type.

Glamping though? Sign. Me. Up!

I got a small cabin in the woods rented out for a couple of days and I am all about this fancy-pants version of camping. Awe-SOME. While I'm getting myself in order and ready to head out on the road, I can't neglect breakfast this week. So, I'm hot on the tails of these AMAZING Breakfast Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Seriously. This is one of the best breakfasts I've concocted in a good while...

Vegan French Toast

November 19, 2016 Amanda Plott

By now, it's no secret that I'm always making sneaky swaps in the kitchen for more wholesome options at the dining table. It's not very often (if ever) that I get any sort of complaint, much less notice being taken. Like I said... they're sneaky swaps. The way I see it, if I can get it past my picky eating family, everyone else is golden.

Honestly though, this Vegan French Toast has to be one of my all time favorite sneaky swaps. Why's that? Because it's so amazingly good. Even if you're not a huge fan of banana (and I know there's some of you out there) I implore you to try this recipe! The banana flavor is very light and subtle among everything else that french toast has going on. It's simple, tasty, and a guilt-free way to enjoy one of the classics...