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...

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...

Skinny Verde Chicken Enchiladas

April 22, 2015 Amanda Plott

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, I thought it would be a great week to fill with lots of Mexican inspired dishes! I'm all about Mexican food. I could seriously eat it every single day without complaint. My grandmother who is visiting me right now is the same way... and my mother as well. Oh, and my little one could eat her weight in beans and rice.

Yep, four generations of Mexican food loving women in my house right now!

I say Mexican food but, it's really more 'Tex-Mex'. I'm well aware that our idea here in the States of Mexican food is vastly different from what they actually eat in Mexico.

Yep! I've had real Mexican food before.

Regardless, one of my most favorite dishes are sour cream chicken enchiladas. So, I've taken those enchiladas and lightened them as best I can...

Couscous Crusted Chicken Tenders with Corn & Tomato Salad

April 9, 2015 Amanda Plott

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento. The opinions and text are all mine.

Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

Who watches Chopped? I do, I do! It's one of my most favorite shows. I love to watch the cooks on there immediately having to think on their feet with a basket of rather random and sometimes even off-putting ingredients.

Growing up, it was a weekly challenge to go through the fridge, freezer, and pantry to use up any and all leftovers into a completely new and delicious meal. My dad, being in the food industry all of my life, was all about repurposing food and making sure nothing went to waste! So, the show Chopped has always been right up my ally.

Sargento® is hosting a “Chopped at Home” contest, so today's post is a little different since I'm getting creative and doing a Chopped-inspired dish featuring Sargento® Shredded Cheese. The challenge was to use the following real ingredients: Sargento® Off the Block 4 Cheese Mexican, boneless chicken tenders, couscous, and salsa!...

Vegan Cauliflower Rice Taco Bowls

February 26, 2015 Amanda Plott

A while back I came across the idea of cauliflower rice. At first I was a bit skeptical, but after the first time I tried it, I knew it would be an instant hit. I've made it several times now and somehow it just never manages to make it here, for one reason or another.

I knew that I wanted to make the cauliflower rice to go in some sort of taco bowl, but wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go with it beyond that. Then I remember that I had made this green goddess dressing a while back, and absolutely fell in love with it. I kept trying to think of other ways in which to use it and finally came to the conclusion that the most of the ingredients in it would make for a perfect cilantro lime avocado dressing.

Aha! Perfect to go with my cauliflower rice bowl!

Once I had some of the basics nailed down, I let my local produce for the week speak for me and I ended up with a veggie-full bowl of wonderfulness...

Crock Pot Pork Chile Verde

November 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

I had some leftover tamales that I stored in my freezer a week or so ago, and I was wanting something warm to pair them with that wasn't chili. I'm a little burned out on beans lately. Gasp! No, no. Just meat and vegetables here. Somewhere in the midst of racking my brain, I remembered this Mexican style stew that they serve up at one of the favorite local Mexican places here in Austin. Pork green chile verde.

The name is debatable. It's called 'green chile verde' because it's made with green chiles. Not because it comes out green in the end result. Generally, pork chile verde is a slow simmered pork that's stewed in hatch green chiles...

Recent Forkable Bites

Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake "Dutch Baby"

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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

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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

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

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Strawberry Vinaigrette

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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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