Split Pea Soup (Instant Pot)

February 26, 2021 Amanda Plott

The stores here in Texas are slowly getting back to normal after our bit of insanity a week ago during the winter storm. That being said, it’s still slim pickings when it comes to a lot of things on the store shelves. Recovery is going to take more time, especially with an entire state in panic. And that’s on top of the anxiety we’ve all had when it comes to food, lockdown, and this virus.

That being said, one thing that I was prettifying confident I could get my hands on was dried split peas. For some crazy reason or another it’s one of the only things you’ll almost always find on the shelves. Even when everything else is long gone. Now, I’ve eaten split pea soup before, but I’ve never made it. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so…

Three Bean Salad

May 30, 2019 Amanda Plott

This dish is a great substitute for any of it's less healthy BBQ friendly counterparts such as pasta, chips, or dip. It’s an older recipe, one of the first I ever made. So, it needed a little bit of an update and some of the dust to be blown off of it.

Why not impress your tastebuds and save the calories for a beer or glass of wine at your next cookout instead? Now that's what I call BBQ friendly! This salad here is served COLD and loaded up with cannelloni beans, garbanzo beans, and baby lima beans. Tossed with a simple dressing and a few other veggies for added crunch!…

5 Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

May 23, 2016 Amanda Plott

Another busy weekend behind me and I couldn't be looking forward to next week anymore than I am! My little girl will be out of school and done with her dance for this season; giving me a much needed little break. With the last few days, weeks, and months all blurring together, I needed something easy and light to toss together after milling around the store today for my weekly shopping trip.

I decided some homemade hummus would hit the spot perfectly. I've made my share of hummus before, but hadn't yet dabbled with a roasted red pepper variation which happens to be one of my favorites to buy...

Healthified Hoppin' John (Crock Pot)

January 2, 2016 Amanda Plott

Here in the south, black-eyed peas are a staple when bringing in the New Year. Funny enough, my mother was actually telling me the story this morning of how black-eyed peas became known in the south as a symbol of 'good luck'. Apparently though, there's a lot of stories out there that tie black-eyed peas and luck to one another.

No matter the actual and factual truth, having black-eyed peas on New Year's day has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. Seriously, my mom wouldn't let us go to bed on New Year's day until we had at least one spoonful of what were then plain old canned black-eyed peas.

Thankfully, as soon as cooking came into my life our take on black-eyed peas changed. It sort of became my mission around New Year's to create better-for-you and delicious ways to enjoy black-eyed peas...

Chickpea, Butternut Squash & Green Pea Curry

September 11, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've had this love-hate relationship with curry lately. I made a new vegetarian version of it a few weeks ago and it turned out great. I then made it again about a week ago and it was horrible. So, I went back to the drawing board.

I wanted to keep this version of curry somewhere between summer and fall with flavors and vegetables blending over from both seasons. So, I decided to use fresh green peas and spinach as an ode to summer, while the butternut squash was my fall inspiration.

This curry is full of flavor, but not very spicy if you ask me. The sweetness of the peas and butternut squash naturally tone down the spicy kick of the curry. So, if you're not one for hot and spicy things, this curry is right up your alley!...

Black-Eyed Pea Gumbo

January 2, 2014 Amanda Plott

Every year when I was growing up, my mother force fed us black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. What can I say? We're southern and it's a tradition thing. It's supposed to bring you good luck for the upcoming year. But, what eating 'dirt peas' has anything to do with a new year or good luck... escapes me entirely.

The peas were often straight from a can and without any seasoning of any kind. Usually served on the side of some sort of ham. While my mother enjoyed the out dated and rather odd tradition... the rest of us could barely stomach the one spoonful a year which we struggled down just to put a smile on my mom's pretty face. Love you, mom!