Beyond the Bowl: 5 Protein-Packed Snacks Starring Cottage Cheese

published Jun 5, 2017
Post Image
(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

Growing up, I knew cottage cheese was a healthy snack and that it tasted great piled high in the seeded center of a juicy cantaloupe. It wasn’t until I was an adult that my mom started combining cottage cheese with diced apple and cinnamon that my eyes opened to pairing the protein-rich cheese with other simple, healthy partners. Now, Hood® Cottage Cheese has an array of both sweet and savory flavors that have expanded my thinking further, allowing me to go beyond the bowl when I create recipes using this healthy, versatile snack.

(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

Hot and Cheesy Garden Veggie Dip


Ingredients: Hood Cottage Cheese with Garden Vegetables, grated Parmesan cheese, crackers or crostini for serving

This dip transforms cottage cheese into either a snack to share or straight-up party fare. I mix 1 (16-ounce) container of Hood Cottage Cheese with Garden Vegetables with 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, pour the mixture into a 1-quart baking dish, and place 6 inches below the preheated broiler for about 5 minutes. The dip comes out lightly browned and melted, perfect for scooping up with crostini, crackers, or crudités.

Cracker Bites


Ingredients:
Hood Cottage Cheese with Maple & Vanilla,
graham crackers, mixed berries, maple syrup for drizzling


Hood Cottage Cheese with Maple & Vanilla is the perfect partner to fresh berries, but I like to skip the spoon by layering them on
graham crackers for texture and spice and finishing the healthy treat with a drizzle of
maple syrup. The first time I made these was for my kids, but they weren’t the only ones who came back for more.
(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

Smoked Salmon Roll Ups


Ingredients:
Hood Cottage Cheese with Cucumber & Dill,
wraps or tortillas, smoked salmon


If you like smoked salmon with cream cheese, you’ll love these roll-ups, which have two distinct advantages over the former: (1) an increased serving of protein, and (2) a flavor boost from added cucumber and dill in the cottage cheese. Simply spread Hood Cottage Cheese with Cucumber & Dill on a tortilla or wrap, top with a thin layer of smoked salmon, roll up tightly, and use a serrated knife to slice into rounds. My kids love this one, too!

(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

Honey Pear Tarts


Ingredients: Hood Cottage Cheese with Honey & Pear; 1 medium pear, cored and chopped into bite-size pieces; ground cinnamon; 6 store-bought dessert cups
This is inspired by my mom’s apple and cottage cheese bowl, but with a dessert-inspired twist. I combine
pear and
cinnamon and tuck this sweet mixture into prepared dough cups. I’ll serve them this way as a snack for my kids and me, or, if we’re having company, I’ll garnish the tarts with thinly sliced pear and a dusting of cinnamon for a special touch.
(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

Prosciutto and Peach Toasts


Ingredients:
Hood Low Fat Cottage Cheese with Peaches,
toast (your favorite), sliced prosciutto, loosely packed baby arugula


I love eating
Hood Low Fat Cottage Cheese with Peaches on its own, but adding three ingredients in three minutes transforms it into a spectacular snack. Just slather toast with
Hood Low Fat Cottage Cheese with Peaches, layer on a slice or two of
prosciutto, and top it with a handful of
baby arugula for a irresistible crunchy, cream, sweet, and savory snack break.
(Image credit: Ryan Dausch)

While I’m still a big fan of good old cantaloupe with cottage cheese, I only rarely eat it now that the floodgate of possibilities has opened. No longer are my cottage cheese options limited to fruit or bowl, making healthy snacking easier and tastier. So have some fun using Hood Cottage Cheese’s creative flavors, whether to use in my concoctions or your own!

Find out where to buy Hood Cottage Cheese, and use these coupons to try any of these flavors!

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