Confetti Shortbread Cookies

May 31, 2022 Amanda Plott

Pride month starts tomorrow and I’m going to play around with rainbows in the kitchen as much as I possible can to celebrate. So here’s to hoping that these Confetti Shortbread Cookies will be the first of many Pride friendly treats and eats to come along for the next 30 days or so. I’m no stranger to shortbread cookies and I can tell you first hand that the dough can be more than a little finicky. But, the dough for these Confetti Shortbread Cookies was simple, easy to make, and didn’t give me much fuss at all.

Shortbread cookies are crumbly and buttery and sort of melt away in your mouth, and these here are no exception. Even with less sugar, these Confetti Shortbread Cookies are perfectly sweet and cut out really well with hardly any spreading at all…

Vegetarian Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

May 25, 2022 Amanda Plott

It’s been… a week. My kiddo is sick ahead of their final exams, decisions need to be made ahead of next year, and the world is on fire as far as I can see. It’s going to be a difficult next few days for the lost of us and I’m buckling up for this bumpy ride to continue. The very least that I can do is to have some good food on hand that’s easy and quick to prepare. So here we are. Vegetarian Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole.

I’ve made burger casseroles before, but none of them included tater tots and none of them were vegetarian, so we’re making progress here I think. Or at very least doing something a little different right? Right. So instead of being a noodle based casserole this one is… not. It’s vegetarian meat based and tater tot influenced? Sure. Let’s go with that…

Giant Monster Cookies

May 22, 2022 Amanda Plott

From Cookie Monster Cookies, now to these Giant Monster Cookies! I love making BIG cookies. These Giant Monster Cookies are peanut butter dough based and are loaded up with chocolate chips and M&M’s! They are fairly easy to make and all come together in one bowl with no chilling required, which quite honestly is one of my favorite parts.

The peanut butter in these cookies leave them perfectly soft and a little crumbly. I was sure to swap out all of the sugar for sweetener based alternatives. You should be able to use whichever brand you enjoy the most. My natural sweetener is stevia based and measures cup-for-cup like sugar, but the brown sugar blend that I currently have uses half of what standard brown sugar calls for…

Strawberry Waffles

May 19, 2022 Amanda Plott

I took a little bit of extra time this week to make myself some breakfast and I was not disappointed. These Strawberry Waffles were the perfect little bit of summer sweet strawberry to wake up to. I made sure that these waffles were from scratch too. And while they do take a few extra steps to make, they are definitely worth it!

The texture of these waffles is a bit more dense due to all the real strawberry goodness in there. It’s sort of on par with how banana bread is more dense and moist than a standard white bread due to the additional moisture from the fruit. But don’t worry, they still end up crisp on the outside and spongy on the inside!…

Air-Fried Veggie Nuggets

May 16, 2022 Amanda Plott

It’s no secret that I do my best to eat as many vegetable and even vegetarian dishes as possible. Of course this isn’t an entirely vegetarian house, but I like to limit red meat to once a week and have at least two vegetarian dinners too. Over the past few years there’s been an enormous shift in the meatless section at the grocery store and now there are just limitless options to make it so easy to go meat free even if it’s just for one night.

That being said, you do have to be careful with some of those things. Sure they might be meatless, but that sometimes means that they’re loaded up with tons of fake nothingness as ingredients. These Air-Fried Veggie Nuggets are not only meatless and vegetarian, they’re also vegan and made with simple pantry and fridge staples that you likely already have on hand!…

Beef Stew Casserole

May 10, 2022 Amanda Plott

Like I’ve said, it’s the end of the school year and quick and easy meals are what I’m about. This Beef Stew Casserole is going to be a new family favorite that I think has to go into general rotation. It’s filling and savory and is so easily put together. So what is Beef Stew Casserole anyway? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, beef stew in the form of a delicious casserole and doesn’t take hours on hours to make.

Everything you love about beef stew traditionally is here; beef, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion. All the goods. And to make this a casserole, it’s tossed together and baked with some tasty egg noodles! The noodles soak up a lot of the broth goodness as it bakes together and you end up with a delicious pasta dish that the whole family will love…

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

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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)

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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

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Chimichurri

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Hawachae

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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

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Strawberry Vinaigrette

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Breakfast Tomato Eggs

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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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