Skinny Cherry Pie Bars

April 4, 2022 Amanda Plott

I'm sorry... and, you're welcome.

These cherry pie bars are easy as pie (insert chuckle here) and just flat out amazing! With less than 140 calories in a nicely sized square... how can you deny yourself such bliss?

I really can't wait to try out another flavor or maybe even use some fresh fruit for the filling.

Lemon Bar Cookie Cups

April 1, 2022 Amanda Plott

It’s Spring and that means its time for lemon bars and all things bright and light! These sweet little Lemon Bar Cookie Cups are the perfect individual lemon treat. They start out with a homemade cookie cup from scratch that’s somewhere between a sugar cookie and a short bread cookie. Then the sweet cups are filled with a homemade lemon curd that is super easy to make - and nearly fool proof too!

Now, I’ve made thumbprint lemon cookies before, but these cups take it a step further and give you a lot more cookie and lemon goodness, but the thumbprint version have their place too. Honestly these Lemon Bar Cookie Cups remind me of lemon pies too…

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

March 29, 2022 Amanda Plott

I don’t know about you, but we have just two months left until Summer break and I am digging deep to try and muster the energy to get us there. As we’re getting ready for Summer, I’m doing everything I can to make life a bit more easy and low maintenance. This Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna fits the bill for exactly what it says it is: lasagna on the lazy.

So if you’re feeling a hankering for lasagna, but don’t want to fuss with the layers and pots and pans that go along with it, this Instant Pot version is where it’s at! Plus, as usual, I made it just a little bit more healthified along the way too!…

Cowboy Casserole

March 23, 2022 Amanda Plott

What can I say? I love casseroles. I love them any time of day. Recently I had a chicken pot pie, but this time I decided to go with something vegetarian! Yeah, I know. I looks like there’s meat in there, but really there isn’t! I used some vegetarian ground ‘meat’ in this Cowboy Casserole that takes no time at all to come together. There’s veggies, cheese, soup, ground ‘meat’ and then tater tots on top to round it out and keep it light but still hearty and filling.

When I saw the original idea for this Cowboy Casserole, I just knew that I wanted to lighten it up and put a little bit more of a healthified take on it. The first thing I did was to swap out the meat. I also halved the recipe and used a reduced fat version of not only the mushroom soup, but also for the shredded cheese too! As usual, I swap out sour cream with greek yogurt anytime that I can get away with it…

Very Cherry Pie

March 20, 2022 Amanda Plott

You know, I haven’t actually ever made pie dough for a pie before. I’ve made something akin to pie dough for other eats and treats before, but I’ve never made pie dough for a pie before. I saw an idea for a strawberry infused pie dough a long while back now, and it’s sort of stuck with me. So when I decided to try my hand at a homemade cherry pie filling, I thought what the hell! I may as well make the pie dough myself and try to infuse it with some cherry goodness too!

So here we have it! THis Very Cherry Pie! It’s got cherries all the way through the filling and into the pie crust. And can I just say, this pie is actually pretty easy to make! You would think making the crust and the filling would be complicated, but it’s honestly not much more work than pre-made dough and canned filling…

Hash Brown Sheet Pan Breakfast

March 17, 2022 Amanda Plott

Breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day, so I’m always looking for inspiration and trying new things. I saw this idea for a sheet pan breakfast and just knew I was going to have to healthify it and give it a try! Boy, am I glad that I did. This Hash Brown Sheet Pan Breakfast is a super easy and delicious way to start the day.

The hash browns crisp up perfectly with the addition of the cheese on top. And then the bacon. …Did I mention the eggs? I would have liked my own yolks to have come out just a little more runny, but all in all I was super happy with the end result of this sheet pan breakfast!…

Recent Forkable Bites

Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake "Dutch Baby"

You’ve just found your new kitchen obsession: the Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake. Think of it as the love child of a light-as-air popover and the garlicky, green-onion-forward goodness of pajeon. It’s quick, a little bit showy, and perfect for breakfast, snack time, or as an appetizer that will convince friends you are doing something wildly gourmet without breaking a sweat…

Tex-mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake

If breakfast had a fiesta, this Tex-Mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake would be the life of the party. It’s cheesy, bright with salsa, and full of Tex-Mex flavors—yet uses smart swaps so it’s lighter and still utterly satisfying. Think of it as nachos-turned-breakfast-casserole: layers of tortilla base, eggs, veggies, black beans, and just enough melty cheese to keep things comforting without sending your health goals running for cover…

Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake (No Bake)

If your dessert game needs a tropical mic drop, meet the Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake. It’s the best kind of culinary contradiction: bright, tangy passion fruit tucked into a creamy, lighter-than-it-looks cheesecake sitting below a crumbly cookie base. It’s sweet, tart, slightly exotic, and perfectly guilt-free when you use a few smart swaps. Yes, you can have cheesecake and feel like you did something good for your future self…

German Pancake "Dutch Baby"

If you grew up thinking pancakes were just flat cakey discs drowned in syrup, German pancakes (also called Dutch babies) are here to re-educate your brunch brain. These dramatic oven-baked beauties puff up like savory soufflés, then collapse into golden, creased pools of custardy goodness. They’re loud, theatrical, and oddly wholesome — the perfect plate to start a weekend with a little flair and a lot less guilt…

Black Bean Street Corn Tacos

Street corn and tacos: two food-world celebrities that, when teamed up, create a headline-making flavor duet. Add black beans—protein-packed, wallet-friendly, and endlessly comforting—and you’ve got a weeknight superstar that’s healthy, colorful, and obnoxiously easy to make. These Black Bean Street Corn Tacos bring together charred corn, smoky spices, creamy jalapeño sauce, and hearty black beans for a taco that hits every note: tasty, creamy, bright, and slightly rebellious…

French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake

If you love the idea of classic French vanilla but want something a little unexpected, meet the French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake — a playful flip on an indulgent favorite that keeps the texture silky and the flavor bright without dragging you into full dessert regret. This recipe flips the script with a golden french vanilla filling inside a light, creamy cheesecake so when you flip it, you get a crunchy crown of cookie and a tender, cloud-like cheesecake underneath. It’s fancy enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight celebration.

Why French vanilla? French vanilla is all about the custard-forward flavor. In this cheesecake, that custardy depth and a crispy crunchy cookie crust shell is just perfect. The result is familiar and elegant — like dessert wearing a beret.

Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce

Bright, crunchy, and ridiculously satisfying — this Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce is my go-to when I want lunch that feels indulgent but doesn’t leave me sluggish. Think crisp raw veggies, tender marinated mushrooms (or tofu), fresh herbs, and a creamy, tangy peanut sauce wrapped up in a whole-grain tortilla or rice paper. It’s fresh, protein-packed, and perfect for meal prep. Best part: the peanut sauce doubles as a dip for snack carrots, because nobody should deny themselves that level of deliciousness.

Why you’ll love it

Fresh and crunchy textures with a creamy, savory sauce.
Flexible — easily vegan, gluten-free, or low-carb.
Quick to assemble, great for lunches, picnics, or a light dinner.
Balances fiber, healthy fats, and plant protein for a filling meal without heaviness…

Upside Down Blueberry Filled Cheesecake (No Bake)

If cheesecake could wear a pair of comfy sneakers and a party hat, this would be it. Meet the Upside Down No-Bake Blueberry-Filled Cheesecake: a glossy, jewel-toned blueberry layer that INSIDE of a pillowy, tangy no-bake cheesecake, all cradled by a lightly sweet, cookie-forward crust.

It looks fancy. It tastes like summer. It requires zero oven time and minimal effort. Translation: perfect for heat waves, last-minute company, or when you want dessert that’s both impressive and unapologetically easy…

Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No Bake Cheesecake

If banana pudding and cheesecake had a love child it would be this: silky, banana-forward, and just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving without sending you spiraling into sugar regret. This Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No-Bake Cheesecake keeps all the cozy, nostalgic flavors—banana pudding, creamy cheesecake, and a touch of caramel—while trimming calories and ditching heavy baking. It’s perfect for hot days, last-minute gatherings, or whenever you want dessert that feels indulgent but behaves itself…

Chimichurri

Chimichurri: bright, herby, slightly spicy — and a total game-changer for everything from grilled steak to roasted veggies. If you’ve ever had a bite of anything sauced in Argentina or Uruguay, you probably met this vibrant green condiment: an herb-forward sauce that’s equal parts punchy and versatile. Here’s everything you need to know to make a fresh, health-conscious chimichurri that tastes like it belongs at a backyard grill party — without the guilt…

Hawachae

If you're hunting for a drink that’s fruity, fun, and somehow both festive and entirely guilt-free, say hello to hwachae. This Korean fruit punch is like summer in a shallow bowl: colorful, bubbly, and built for sharing. Think of it as a fruit salad you sip—refreshing, lightly sweet, and endlessly adaptable. Perfect for warm afternoons, brunches, or whenever you want something more exciting than plain water but less indulgent than a soda cocktail…

Miso Caesar Dressing

The tangy, umami-packed upgrade that your salad has been waiting for!

If you love the bold, savory comfort of classic Caesar dressing but want something lighter, brighter, and just a smidge more interesting, say hello to miso Caesar dressing. It keeps everything you adore about a Caesar—creamy texture, salty tang, garlicky bite—then swaps in miso for depth, and ties it all together with citrus brightness. It’s umami-forward, slightly funky in the best way, and totally guilt-free. Also: it makes kale feel like a party guest instead of a punishment…

Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats

If you love the nostalgic bliss of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars but want a breakfast that’s fast, healthy, and won’t require a spatula duel at 7 a.m., meet Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats. This guilt-free spin captures the flavors you love — sweet strawberries, fluffy strawberry and vanilla oat vibes, and a few topping options— but in a nutrient-packed, make-ahead jar. It’s breakfast that feels like dessert and behaves like a responsible adult…

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Salads deserve better than boring dressing. Enter strawberry vinaigrette — a sweet-tart, blush-pink dressing that makes greens sing, fruits dance, and even roasted veggies look forward to showtime. It’s the kind of dressing that tricks your brain into thinking you’re indulging, while your body high-fives you for picking something wholesome. I’ve taken the classic fruit vinaigrette, given it a Skinny Fork twist, and kept it guilt-free without sacrificing flavor…

Breakfast Tomato Eggs

Tomato + eggs = morning magic. This humble combo is a breakfast staple around the world — from shakshuka to Chinese tomato-and-egg stir-fry — and for good reason. It’s fast, comforting, and jam-packed with flavor and nutrition. Think vibrant tomatoes, silky eggs, and a few tricks to boost protein and fiber while keeping things bright and fresh…

Tomato Salad

There’s something about a great tomato salad that makes summer feel like it lasts forever. Ripe tomatoes are the literal embodiment of sunny days—vibrant color, juicy sweetness, and a little tartness that wakes up the tastebuds. But tomato salad isn’t just a summer fling; with the right ingredients and a few health-conscious swaps, it becomes an everyday side, a light main, or a refreshing starter that fits into a wholesome lifestyle…

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