Vampire Bread

September 30, 2024 Amanda Plott

Sink your fangs into a slice of Vampire Bread, an enchanting twist on the classic loaf that’s perfect for your next spooky soirée! Crafted with a mix of colors swirled, this bread boasts a deep, irresistible hue that’ll leave you craving more (no garlic necessary!)

Packed with homemade goodness and a touch of sweetness from natural ingredients, it’s a guilt-free treat that pairs perfectly with spreads, soups, or even just a sprinkle of cinnamon. Whether you're preparing for Halloween or simply want to add some fun to your breakfast table, this delightfully quirky bread will satisfy your cravings without the bite!...

Mini Shortbread Christmas Cookie Bites

December 21, 2020 Amanda Plott

These tiny Mini Shortbread Christmas Cookie Bites are really one of the best things I’ve put in my mouth this week. They’re light, crisp, buttery and full of festive holiday sprinkles. Of course, I didn’t go with traditional ‘red and green’ sprinkles. I found some awesome colorful ‘gingerbread’ holiday sprinkles that really made these tiny bites pop!

The very same ones that I used in my Healthified 'Lofthouse' Soft Sugar Cookies! The sprinkles here DO make a difference, so be sure to use your favorites. Jimmies and ‘confetti’ style sprinkles work best because they don’t bleed out color into the batter as easily as some others…

Healthified 'Lofthouse' Soft Sugar Cookies

December 13, 2020 Amanda Plott

I've basically taken that original tried-and-true recipe and trimmed it down as best I could without losing the amazingness of that cookie.

The first thing I did was swapped out some of the regular flour for some whole wheat white flour. If you're going to be bad, you may as well get some good in there too! At least you can say you had some whole wheat, right?

I also substituted in some sweetener for about 1/3 of the sugar originally called for. Why? Well, if you can get away with less sugar, then why not? For the cookie dough, I used a light butter rather than full fat. Again, if you can get away with it... do it!

I made a few other minor changes as well, and still ended up with a perfectly light and decedent cookie that has over 50 calories less per serving than it's store bought counter part. Plus, I know exactly what in these cookies since well... I'm one that put it all there!

I'm telling you, they taste almost exactly like the original…

Gingerbread Cobbler

December 5, 2020 Amanda Plott

Sometimes you just have to shake dessert up. This holiday season would be the great time to start a new tradition. Instead of the usual pies and cookies, why not try out this Gingerbread Cobbler! This Gingerbread Cobbler is very similar to my Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cobbler, but more in line with Christmas or New Years than Thanksgiving!

Cobbler just seems like the perfect winter dessert. It’s warm, gooey, and filling too. My mom seems to think that this cobbler is like those old fashioned pudding cakes where you layer the batter on the bottom of the pan and pour hot liquid on top to bake. While baking, the cake bubbles up to the top and the gooey pudding cobbler goodness is on the bottom…

Goat Cheese & Pomegranate Tartlets

November 21, 2020 Amanda Plott

With the Holidays on our heels, we could all use a good, easy, simple recipe to have on hand as an appetizer. Let’s face it, sometimes the family gets hungry before the main meal is done, and these Goat Cheese & Pomegranate Tartlets are just that.

Small bite sized mini tarts that are filled with goat cheese and honey before being baked and topped off with crushed rosemary and fresh pomegranate seeds. They’re a little sweet, a little savory, and lots of good flavor. The richness of the goat cheese is cut with the bright pop of pomegranate for a seasonal treat everyone is sure to enjoy…

Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Spread

November 6, 2020 Amanda Plott

This Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Spread has been in my family for years. The base of cream cheese and green onions is topped off with a homemade cranberry sauce that’s kicked up a bit with the warmth of jalapeño and bright citrus notes from orange and lime.

You can serve this dip warm or cold and pair it with bread, crackers, or fresh veggies for the perfect snacky appetizer to have on hand for the holidays. One of my favorite parts of this spread is that you can make it ahead of time and have it ready to go to serve as needed or wanted!…