Skinny Cranberry Bliss Bars

December 16, 2022 Amanda Plott

Here’s another recipe from years back that needed an update in the looks department… but, not so much to the recipe itself! Here’s the original post below.

The madness is just about over here with the mass of holidays! Phew, thank goodness! I was happy to step back and have a few days to spend with my family, but now it's time to get back to work. Okay, so... here we go.

I've been wanting to make a skinny variation of the Cranberry Bliss Bar that they have Starbucks for a long long long time now. I have, in fact, had this recipe in my handy-dandy little note book for quite a while now (about two years actually) but for whatever reason it keeps getting pushed back each year.

Well, a few weeks before Christmas one of my aunts sent me a special request for a Skinny Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe. She mentioned that the one at Starbucks is something like 360 calories for one bar. Yikes! And just like me, it's one of her favorite holiday treats! So, of course I was more than happy to oblige…

Chicken & Herb Gravy

December 13, 2022 Amanda Plott

Keeping it simple today with this Chicken & Herb Gravy! It’s an easy chicken dish that cooks up in one pan and is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The recipe is easily to double for a larger family, but I stuck with two servings. This dish starts out with searing the chicken and then using the drippings and good bits at the bottom of the skillet as the base for your gravy.

Homemade gravy is always the way to go and this one is super simple. Roux, broth, herbs, and you’re done! The chicken is then finished off cooking in the homemade gravy and is great served with potatoes or even over some rice…

Cranberry Orange Pecan Salad

December 10, 2022 Amanda Plott

Winter means don’t always have to be warm and hearty. Sometimes (like when it’s 80 degrees out in December) you just need something cool and light to enjoy. That’s where I’m at right now. This Cranberry Orange Pecan Salad takes the flavors of winter and puts them into salad form so that you get the best of both worlds.

For being a super flavorful, this salad is made with just a few ingredients and you can even make it ahead of time ‘salad jar’ style if you leave the dressing separate until you’re ready to enjoy. The dressing is good stuff too. I tried to get plenty of orange goodness in there to play well with the sweet of the dried cranberries and the sharp of the feta cheese…

Jalapeno Cheddar Bacon Cornmeal Waffles

December 7, 2022 Amanda Plott

Coming in HOT today with these Jalapeño Cheddar Bacon Cornmeal Waffles. Get it. Hot. Jalapeños. These waffles are savory and loosely based on the cornmeal ones that I’ve done before, the only difference being that these here are loaded up with 2 cups of goodies! Bacon, jalapeños, and cheddar - oh my!

Since these waffles are savory instead of sweet, they can be for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even dinner! I decided to have mine for breakfast and paired them with some cooked eggs and plenty of more hot sauce to go along with the spicy syrup…

Shepherd's Pie Soup

December 4, 2022 Amanda Plott

While it may not yet be time for shepherd’s pie, it is soup season. I had seen this really cool idea for a soup that was based on shepherd’s pie, so I decided to take that and make a more healthified version of it. This definitely gives you quite a lot of soup too and it’s filling and hearty to boot. It’s loaded up with all the things you will find in any standard shepherd’s pie, including meat, potatoes - mashed and otherwise, and plenty of other veggies.

This soup is full of flavor and definitely is what it’s set out to be. Shepherd’s pie in soup form! It’s also pretty akin to a baked potato soup as far as the consistency goes, and that’s probably due to half of the potatoes being mashed and the other half being left cubed to give a thickness to the soup and some added texture!…

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

December 1, 2022 Amanda Plott

After the rush that was last week, I've kept it pretty simple this week. And nothing is more simple than a grilled cheese. This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese takes it a step further, leaving you making the famous American sandwich hands free in the air fryer. The best part is that you get a perfectly crisp toast on the outside and an ooey-gooey melted cheese on the inside. You truly can’t go wrong here.

There isn’t a whole lot here to healthify or make better-for-you while also keeping with the classic. I started this sandwich off with Texas toast, because there’s no other way to have the sandwich if you’re aiming for traditional. But, you could definitely swap the bread out for something whole wheat or sprouted grain. Today though? I want CLASSIC…

Recent Forkable Bites

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Tex-mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake

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German Pancake "Dutch Baby"

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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…

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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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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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