My name is Amanda and welcome to my blog! I created this as an outlet for healthy recipe creation while searching for a sustainable and balanced life. Follow my journey and together we can encourage and cheer each other on!
Air Fryer Beer Battered Cod with Tartar Sauce
Light and crispy beer battered cod that that will satisfy your cravings for fried fish without leaving you feeling greasy or weighed down. My homemade Lemony cajun tartar sauce makes for the perfect dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Parmesan Kale Chips
Light, crispy, and by far my favorite way to eat kale. Only 10 minutes in the air fryer and it’s the perfect salty, cheesy snack! Not to mention kale is a superfood loaded with calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, vitamin A, C, and B6.
Chickpea Salad
Tastes like tuna salad but with plant-based protein and fiber from chickpeas! A creamy and crunchy vegetarian salad that can easily be made vegan by swapping out the avocado mayo for a vegan version. Enjoy as a sandwich or on a bed of lettuce for a nutritious and filling lunch.
Teriyaki Style Grilled Chicken
I used coconut sugar and a little bit of honey as the sweetener for a sweet and savory marinade and sauce. The sauce creates a flavorful teriyaki style glaze that is sticky when applied to the chicken still on the grill. Serve with some rice and vegetables as a delicious dinner or make teriyaki chicken skewers and serve as an appetizer at your next event. Adult and kid approved!
Shrimp Ceviche
Meaty chunks of shrimp paired with sliced cherry tomatoes, jalapeños and creamy avocado. Healthy, fresh and bursting with citrus flavor, this ceviche is incredibly simple to make and has beautiful color. It’s the perfect appetizer to bring to that summer picnic.
Vegan Cabbage Rolls with Brown Rice & Mushrooms
Plant-based cabbage rolls stuffed with mushrooms and sweet chewy currants bursting with flavor from Chardonnay wine and savory coconut aminos. This dish is light, fresh and nourishing. For extra protein, add in one of your favorites such as beyond meat or lentils!
Cilantro Feta Turkey Meatballs
These turkey meatballs are flavorful yet so simple to make with just a few ingredients including my homemade creamy cilantro lemon dressing. An added bonus of using the creamy dressing in the meatball filling is that it makes the meatballs juicy and keeps them from drying out. Serve them as an appetizer with the same dressing for dipping, or coat them in your favorite sauce and pair with pasta and a side of veggies for a complete meal!.
Creamy Cilantro Lemon Dressing
Made creamy with protein packed Greek yogurt, this versatile dressing is perfect to for salad or as a sandwich spread. The bold flavors of lemon, cilantro and garlic make this great as a marinade and can even be brushed on salmon before baking! Use it as a healthy condiment for turkey burgers or as a creamy bright dressing for a pasta salad. Having this simple nutritious dressing on hand is a great way to add tons of flavor fast to any dish.
Kabocha Squash Gnocchi with Pea Arugula Pesto
Pillowy soft gnocchi packed with vitamin A, vitamin C and Magnesium from Kabocha squash, also know as the Japanese pumpkin squash. This delicate gnocchi is paired with lemony pesto made with peas, greens, and fresh herbs resulting in a delightfully bright and nutritious dish!
Green Bean Casserole with Air Fryer Onions
Green bean casserole is a Holiday classic especially in the midwest. My recipe is for mushroom lovers! Forget the cream of mushroom soup and instead use real mushrooms and real cream for an elevated comfort side dish. To make this extra special, I fried some onions in my new air fryer to keep it scratch-made and light. You won’t miss those plastic can french fried onions, I promise.
Balsamic Mushrooms with Sausage Stuffing
There is something about pairing mushrooms with sausage and green pepper that I cannot get enough of. It’s the perfect flavor combination. These stuffed mushrooms are extra special with the addition of luxurious balsamic glaze that adds a slight sweetness and complexity to this show stealing appetizer. Serve as an Hors d'oeuvre for the Holidays or just enjoy paired with a salad for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Sriracha Dipping Sauce
This coconut shrimp is gluten-free, keto and incredibly easy to make! Pan fried in heart healthy avocado oil to make it extra crispy!
Mejadra
Mujadara or mejadra, however you spell it, is one of my favorite items to order from the Mediterranean restaurants here in Ann Arbor, MI. These lentils and rice are so flavorful and filling while still feeling somehow light. This dish is all about the caramelized onions which adds a touch of sweetness pairing perfectly with the warm Middle Eastern spices we all love.
Fall Turkey Chili with Pumpkin
I’m always looking for more ways to enjoy the flavors of fall. Pumpkin adds a wonderful creamy texture to this chili making it even more hearty and tasty. I added in some delicate squash for more texture and fall spirit! A tiny bit of cinnamon is the secret ingredient — trust me on this, the cinnamon flavor is not easily recognized but it adds such warmth and depth to the chili.
Crispy Spiced Chickpeas
Cottage Pie with Sweet Potatoes
It’s getting cold outside which means cozy comfort food season is here. Cottage pie, or Shepherd's pie, is one of the top comfort foods in my opinion. Cottage pie is just Shepherd's pie, but with beef instead of lamb, both being delicious! I swapped white potatoes out for sweet potatoes to add a lower GI starch and I love the bright orange color it adds to this dish. This hearty meal kept me full and satisfied for hours while leaving me feeling energized and nourished.
Chicken Enchiladas
Made with corn tortillas to keep them Gluten-Free and loaded with chili pepper flavor! These enchiladas have been a friend and family favorite. Definitely a crowd pleaser!
Salsa Canning
This is my favorite way to preserve tomatoes and peppers grown over the summer. I have yet to find a quality store bought salsa without any added sugar and homemade salsa is so easy to make in large batches so it can be enjoyed anytime!
Herb Turkey Meatballs with Buttery Sage Apples
Thanksgiving inspired Turkey meatballs packed with fresh herbs tossed in sage butter and warm apples. A hint of apple sweetness and fragrant sage pairs perfectly with these meatballs bringing in the fall vibes.
Orange Ginger Shrimp Kabobs
Shrimp marinated with fresh orange and ginger then skewered with veggies for the perfect grilled summer meal.
Sweets
Savory
Breakfast
