Baking Bacon

July 12, 2014 Amanda Plott

Baking bacon is a handy trick that I picked up a few years ago and quickly fell in love with the idea.

So, why bake your bacon?

Baking your bacon will save you the usual mess in the kitchen (or your microwave.) Plus, it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely while a vast majority of the grease is discarded! Another bonus? You can make a rather large batch of baked bacon rather effortlessly as compared to pan frying. Baking your bacon also tends to keep it from curling up, leaving your bacon straight and perfect!...

Crock Pot Red Curry Lentils

July 10, 2014 Amanda Plott

I have a confession to make... I've never cooked with lentils before!

Okay, well... I have. I did cook with them when I was attempting to make this same meal a few weeks ago and somehow managed to do something wrong and ruined the entire crock pot of curry. Ugh. Live and learn!

I guess what I should say is that I've never successfully cooked with lentils before. I have eaten them before, but it's always been in soups and never as the 'star of the show'. I knew from the soups that I'd had, that I did like lentils and have been looking for an excuse for a while now to use them...

Skinny Purple Monster Smoothie

July 8, 2014 Amanda Plott

I needed a bit of a lift today after the exceptionally long weekend of festivities. Not only was it the 4th of July, where I was busy BBQing and roasting in the Texas heat... but, it was also my mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!

Now, I feel as if I should start off by saying that I am generally not a smoothie fan. I would much rather indulge in eating my calories rather than drinking them (unless they are in the form of wine, of course - hah!) Plus, the task of actually making a smoothie always seems incredibly daunting to me... That is until I got my new handy emersion blender for my birthday!...

Cutting Watermelon

July 6, 2014 Amanda Plott

If you have tiny hands in your house (like I do) or are just looking for an easier and less messy way of cutting your watermelon this summer - then this idea is for you!

I've done my fair share of watermelon butchering, and it's almost always been a rather unpleasant task that more often than not ends up with my kitchen in the midst of a sticky mess that lasts for days. Thankfully, about a year ago, I came across a method of cutting watermelon that skips the waste and saves so much time. Plus, it's great for little fingers to grab up...

Healthy Veggie Wrap

July 3, 2014 Amanda Plott

I've had this wrap at the back of my mind for quite a long time now. It has been suggested to me more than once that I should post a 'wrap' friendly lunch (thanks, mom!) I'm trying to cut out some of the meat in my life this week; eating cleaner and leaner in the process.

I'm going a little Mediterranean here!

This wrap is definitely full of good stuff. Once again, we're eating the rainbow, which is never a bad thing.

Well, unless it's in the form of candy... and even then it's debatable!

Avocado & Egg Breakfast Toast

July 1, 2014 Amanda Plott

This summer breakfast toast has been a staple among my weekly menu. It's quick. It's easy. And it doesn't heat up my poor little kitchen much at all. While one lonely slice of toast might not seem like much, this is a rather filling little dish that's full of healthy fats and protein to keep you going and powering through your morning!

Healthy fats? What - you thought all fats were bad? Nope!

Your body needs healthy fats.

Healthy fats keep your skin smooth, energize you, provide essential fatty-acids, and even help with vitamins that your body needs!...