Caprese Pasta Salad

June 27, 2021 Amanda Plott

As it’s getting hotter and hotter outside I’m craving the cold stuff. The lighter stuff. The stuff I don’t have to turn my oven on to enjoy. This Caprese Pasta Salad is just that. Get it started in the morning when it’s cool out and then finish it off in the afternoon or evening as lunch, dinner, or a side for one of the two. The pasta dish itself is based off one of my all time favorites - caprese!

What’s a caprese? Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar in one form or another. I basically turned that into a light, easy to make salad that includes fresh baby spinach and some pasta to make it just a little more hearty…

Cheesesteak Macaroni Casserole

April 23, 2021 Amanda Plott

There is only ONE more month of school left here and it is busier than ever! What does that mean? Easy cheesy weeknight meals are where it’s at! That’s where this Cheesesteak Macaroni Casserole comes in. Not only is this casserole easy AND cheesy, it’s also one that you could make ahead of time and then toss in the oven for the final step when it’s time for dinner!

So what makes this casserole ‘cheesesteak’ anyway? Well, that would be the beef, onion, and bell pepper in there. Yep. It’s at simple as that when it comes to this dish. Plus, it’s made with just a handful of ingredients which are mostly household kitchen staples anyway…

Pumpkin Gnocchi

November 13, 2020 Amanda Plott

Ever had the pleasure of trying gnocchi?

If you aren't familiar, these are sort of the italian equivalent to dumplings.

Gnocchi are traditionally made with semolina, flour, egg, potato, breadcrumbs, cheese, or other similar ingredients. These soft little pillows of pumpkin heaven are the perfect replacement for usual gnocchi, making any dish even more fall-friendly!…

Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta

August 15, 2020 Amanda Plott

Pasta is one of my favorite things. So is cheese. So, of course I love myself a good Lasagna Fritta. What’s a Lasagna Fritta, you ask? It’s an Olive Garden appetizer dish that I adore. But, you know… fried stuff. Being as I’ve got a handy dandy air fryer, I thought I’d try my hand at a Lasagna Fritta copy cat dish that’s made a bit more healthy!

This Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta got rave reviews from around the table. I literally got a thumbs up from my brother and was told that I should make it again sometime really soon. I too was surprised with how GREAT this Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta turned out. Air fryers can be one of the most amazing kitchen gadgets to have. For cooking CERTAIN things…

Whole Wheat Cheeseburger Casserole

July 17, 2020 Amanda Plott

If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, look no further! This Whole Wheat Cheeseburger Casserole comes together in well under an hour and is super simple to make. It is absolutely perfect for busy weeknights and could even be made ahead of time if you really wanted to save time before dinner.

This casserole also only requires 7 ingredients to make it. That’s right. Just seven! It’s made with all the usual burger favorites, beef, cheese, pickle and onion. Top it off with the same condiments that you do your burger and you’ve got yourself a dinner that everyone will love…

'Lazy Lasagna' Baked Ravioli

April 23, 2020 Amanda Plott

Need a quick and easy dinner idea? This 'Lazy Lasagna' or Baked Ravioli is just about as easy as dinner comes. With just three, yes count them THREE, ingredients in the entire dish and all of 5 minutes of hands on time, this dinner is not only easy, it’s a family favorite!

Right now, in the world we’re all living in, it’s best to just keep things simple and return to our roots when it comes to food. That’s why I’ve been busy baking and making so many things from scratch or even finding clever ways to use up pantry and fridge staples…