Vanilla Chia Pudding & Strawberry Puree

May 12, 2015 Amanda Plott

As warmer weather starts to roll in, I'm always looking for meals and snacks that are easy, healthy, and also not requiring any source of heat. Chia pudding is and has been one of my favorite quick breakfast and snack options. Toss it together the night before and bam, the next day you have an easy breakfast or a beautiful treat.

Chia pudding is generally gluten-free so there's that as an added bonus, but I wanted to do something a little different today. I also wanted to make it dairy-free as well. I try to do what I can to provide recipes for all special dietary needs, and I often times feel like I lack a little when it comes to lactose/dairy-free.

This perfectly de{light}ful pudding is great for either a breakfast, snack, or even a dessert option. It's sweet enough for dessert and yet healthy enough for breakfast!...

Crock Pot B.B.Q. Shredded Beef

May 7, 2015 Amanda Plott

It was Teacher's Appreciation this week at my little one's school, and the parents all hold an Annual potluck accordingly; serving the teachers breakfast, lunch, and even a dessert. As part of the potluck for the teacher's I decided I wanted to take something that was versatile and well liked by all, shredded barbecue beef!

B.B.Q. anything is a staple around here and it's probably even a law somehow that every Texan is required to eat something barbecued at least once a week. Otherwise you might lose your license to grill. Hah!...

Spicy Chipotle & Poblano Spaghetti

May 5, 2015 Amanda Plott

Mother's day is nearly upon us! I'm pretty excited because I've got some fun things planned, for not only me but for other special women in my life. I'm fortunate enough to have four generations in my family right now of ladies that are all perfectly beautiful and amazingly inspiring to me.

The first is my grandmother (we call her Neenaw around here though!) She's a fierce little firecracker bundled up into a cute little blonde that gives some of the most amazing hugs on the plant! Don't let her short stature and usually quiet demeanor fool you though, much as myself, she's a live-wire.

The next is my mother who is a unique, quirky, effervescent and bubbly spirit that I could only do justice by comparing to a fine champagne! She's all about fun. I mean, her favorite color is 'glitter', how fun is that? She's as beautiful as they come, both on the inside and the out; an old soul that just wants everyone around her to be happy!

I'm the third generation. A well blended combination of the other three.

Finally, there's my little girl. Not that I'm bias or anything, but she's pretty amazing! What can I say? She's a girl after my own heart. She knows what she wants and gets it; as hard headed as they come. This one is against the grain, her favorite color is blue and she's the only left-handed person in our family. How's that for standing out?...

Healthified Huevos Rancheros

April 30, 2015 Amanda Plott

I'm a Texas girl, and with that comes lots and lots of Tex-Mex, and not just for dinner either. Breakfast, brunch, lunch... doesn't matter the time of day, there's always a good excuse for Tex-Mex! One of my most recent favorites for breakfast or brunch is a healthier take on an older classic, Huevos Rancheros!

Don't know what Huevos Rancheros is? You poor thing!

Huevos Rancheros (rancher's eggs) is a pretty basic dish, usually consisting of fried eggs over a lightly fried tortilla and served with beans, salsa, and avocado in some form or another. Everything is generally topped off with a traditional tomato-chili sauce otherwise known as 'ranchero' sauce...

Mustard & Jalapeño Grilled Chicken Sandwiches (Sponsored)

April 28, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #KetchupsNewMustard #CollectiveBias

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer around here and I'm more ready than ever to fire up the BBQ grill outside to cook up some festive summer inspired foods. This spicy Mustard & Jalapeño Grilled Chicken Sandwich is the perfect send off into BBQing season.

Ugh, seriously the poor grill has been stuck under it's cover for far too long by now. It's time to bust that big boy out and dust him off!

The mustard marinade and sauce used on this chicken is fantastic. It's sweet, it's spicy, and it's full of flavor! Plus, it's super easy to toss together in the midst of a chaotic morning or on a lunch break even to leave your chicken marinating while you go about the rest of your day. That's one of my favorite things about mustard, you don't have to do much to it to get something amazing in the end when being used as a marinade or sauce...

Skinny Mimosarita

April 24, 2015 Amanda Plott

I'm a huge fan of mimosas. It's one of my most favorite brunch drinks! I think the first time that I ever had one was many many years ago on my parent's boat on one of our Sunday-Funday weekend excursions around the local lake at the time.

Love at first sip!

So what in the world is a mimosarita? Well, since I'm sticking with my Cinco di Mayo theme this week so I didn't want to go for the typical mimosa or margarita. Instead, I decided to go with a mimosarita! So what is that? It's basically a combination of a mimosa and a margarita; made with limeade instead of orange juice. The best of both worlds...