When we posted a snack of Yogurt Swirled with Peanut Butter, Honey, and Graham Crackers last week, a few people commented that they'd love a regular "afternoon snack" feature. We thought that sounded like fun, since we're always looking for surprising, healthy things to munch on. So we're going to try to bring you regular offerings, with the following ground rules: Snacks should need only a few ingredients (ideally ones you have on hand) and not require much cooking or dirtying of dishes. Read on for today's idea...

We know what many of you are thinking: "Who has sweet piquante peppers just hanging around the kitchen?" Point taken. But these little guys, which are also called Peppedew™ peppers (a name that's trademarked by the South African company that imports them), are on every olive bar we see. They are crunchy and sweet, with a tiny bit of heat, and they come whole and hollowed out—all ready to go.

For the filling, we cut up a few tiny chunks of Grana Padano and some slices of salami. We loved the salty tastes with the sweet pepper. But you could also try the following:

• Mozzarella and a sprig of arugula, lettuce, or basil.
• Turkey, ham, or other sandwich meat with any kind of cheese.
• A salted almond and a chunk of parmesan.

They're bite-sized, colorful, and full of flavor, which is just what we're looking for in a snack. Next time you buy bulk olives, look for these peppers and pick up a few. They're great on sandwiches, too.

Previous snack: Yogurt Swirled with Peanut Butter, Honey, and Graham Crackers

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)