Appetizers & Snacks

Prep deviled eggs ahead and save on time!

Celery leaves — known primarily as a throwaway top to an already underappreciated vegetable — are so often discarded. It’s a real shame. Celery leaves are actually a bonus to their stalks and completely virtuous on their own. Here’s everything you need to know about prepping them and turning them into a vibrant pesto. Celery leaves are delicious, nutritious, and packed with intense celery flavor.

When I think of that little glass pot of yeasty goodness, with its familiar yellow lid and iconic label, I can't help but ask myself one simple question: How do I love thee?

Watch the video to learn how to cut a mango.

Last week I made a list of small bite meals around the worldA meze is a big part of the dining experience in Eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Arab countries When served with alcohol like anise-flavored liqueurs such as arak or, ouzo, raki (alcohol made from grape pomace,) or wine, a meze is a main meal. Without alcohol, this is called muqabbilat in Arabic and means “starters,” or appetizers.

It’s unfair. Fresh, hot, from-scratch cinnamon buns are a beloved treat, especially for tasty Christmas breakfast. Who doesn’t want to wake up to the smell of cinnamon and caramelizing sugar, or stumble down to the kitchen to find fresh-from-the-oven, slathered-in-icing cinnamon buns, just waiting for you to dive in?

A board covered in flavorful butter? Yes, please!

You’ve probably heard of roasting pumpkin and other winter squash seeds, but what about summer gourds like cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon? Nutty melon seeds are an inexpensive, fun snack and a great way to prevent food waste. This isn’t a totally new idea, either — roasted watermelon seeds are common in several Asian and Middle Eastern countries. To roast melon seeds, rinse, drain, and pat them dry.

Let’s be honest — when it comes to popcorn, the plain stuff is kind of boring. I’m not saying I’d turn it down, but it just feels a little lackluster. Sure, it has the crunch factor going for it (I’ll give it that), but there’s no flavor or pizzazz. Let’s call popcorn what it really is: a bite-sized vessel waiting to get loaded up with all of your favorite flavors and toppings. Each of these five simple bowls of popcorn starts off the same way.

Up your knowledge on these baking basics.

It has nothing to do with lime, the pit, or plastic wrap.

Did a bin of firm, underripe avocados dash your hopes for a piece of avocado toast once again? I don’t mean avocados that are still rock-hard — those specimens that seem like they require a chainsaw to cut open. I’m talking about the avocados that dash your plans because they’re just a little too firm for making your favorite batch of guacamole.

You'll want to memorize these.

When it comes to egg preparation, you really can’t get more versatile than hard-boiled.

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a quick but filling and nutritious meal on a busy day. One thing I’ve learned to do is to tuck a few sweet potatoes into the oven whenever I’m baking something. That way, I have a head start on a delicious, nutritious meal, ready to go whenever I’m hungry but pressed for time. Read on for several suggestions for how to use a baked sweet potato.

In case you haven’t heard, avocados taste great. And whether you use them to make guacamole or the ever-popular avocado toast, they also make a great snack. Which is why, today, I want to look deeper into avocado’s bag of tricks and show you what else this fruit can do — beyond getting smashed into a creamy spread. Almost all of these bites are raw and don’t require cooking or heat (hooray!

Popcorn is easily one of my favorite snacks — it’s high in fiber and I love that if I munch on it one piece at a time, it takes a while to eat so that I can stretch out snack time. Sweet or savory? Doesn’t matter to me since I love it all. Making popcorn doesn’t have to involve buying a box of microwave popcorn that has a lot of artificial flavorings and weird chemicals in it.

The easiest snack that's also totally feel-good.

Here are the strategies I'm using during this hectic time.

They're the ultimate nostalgic treat.

I have spent years perfecting this method.

Popcorn is a fun, filling snack. We put 8 methods for popping it to the test to find the very best.

What’s not to love about nachos? Crunchy chips, savory meat and beans, fresh toppings like salsa and guacamole, and of course, smothering it all with a thick layer of melted cheese. This party food is shareable, easy customizable to your personal tastes, and just so hard to turn down. While it’s not a hard dish to put together, there are a few things to avoid when nacho building so that your homemade nachos are constructed perfectly.

This plate is stacked high with crispy, chewy snacks that fall somewhere between potato chips and French fries — and it's all because I didn't throw out my potato scraps.

A cup of yogurt is always an easy choice for a quick breakfast or snack, but after a while it can lose its sparkle.

They're so good, you may just have to buy more pumpkins.

Snacks get a bad rap, but this year I have managed to fill my pantry with an arsenal of good choices. As my kids geared up for back to school over the fall my snack mission was find treats that were easy, health conscious, actually taste good, and make my kids feel like I am spoiling them. This was no easy task. We’ve been back to school for a few months now and packing snacks can get to be a real pain. I’m a packer — a lunch and snack packer.

How do you store snacks at home? Do you have a system to keep them organized and easily accessible for your kids? Or is it more of a free-for-all in the pantry? If you’re in need of inspiration for how best to wrangle snack packs and treats, take a cue from these snack stations and setups! Tell us: what are your snack storage secrets?

Q: My best friend is having her first baby in January and I want to meet up with her to cook her some freezer meals and snacks for when baby arrives. I’ve found a lot of tips recommending easy meals, handheld snacks, and fresh produce, but I want to know what actually works for people. What can I make that has a lot of healthy ingredients (for a nursing mom), but that can be eaten during nap time, or in the car, or that her husband can put in the oven any night?

If I learned anything while reading The Baby-Sitters Club series in my youth, it’s that minding a gaggle of little ones can really work up an appetite. Babysitters need to be just as fueled as the kids are — after all, they’re the ones taking them to Little League and soccer practice and cello lessons. Here are seven of the best snacks for babysitters, as inspired by this iconic book series (they’re probably all hidden in Claudia Kishi’s bedroom).

Feeding kids isn’t something you can just do on the fly. Okay, fine, maybe if you have that unicorn child who eats nothing but kale salads and local ahi poke with ponzu sauce, you can assume your kid will eat anything on the go. But if you’re like the rest of us, praying and hoping you can make it through the 17 chores you have to do before getting your kids home for dinner, you know to be prepared with a multitude of snacks.

Have you ever noticed how many recipes there are for banana muffins out there? The plethora of banana-flavored toddler snacks? Or how many banana songs there are for kids? (If you like to eat, eat, eat eeples and baneenies you’re not alone.) There’s a reason for that — it’s because bananas are heaven’s gifts to parents with hungry kids. Yes, they’re chock-full of potassium and a good source of vitamin C. Sure, they are self-contained.

Wholesome ideas for tired parents & hangry kiddos.

While I am generally not a fan of my kids snacking, there are times — like right when they get home from school — when they just want a little something. Immediately. And they don’t care that I’m actively cooking dinner that will be ready in five minutes. So while I’d rather they not snack, I’m also a realist. As long as I can guide them toward something healthy, I know they can feed their growing bellies.

Toddler parents know this one thing to be true: A hungry toddler is a cranky toddler. And while we’re often in a rush to feed our littlest eaters before they melt down, we also want to make sure they are regularly trying new foods and getting balanced nutrition, too. Need fresh ideas? We got you. Some of my fellow editors (all parents!) and I brainstormed a massive list of our favorite easy and wholesome toddler food ideas — and below, you’ll find all of them.

My main struggle with snacks is that when I’m bored, I want to snack. My daughter is the same way, but it was hard for her to accurately gauge (not to mention communicate) if she was bored or actually hungry — especially when she was a toddler. My husband and I would inevitably find that in the window of time before dinner, she would come clamoring up to us, asking for a snack. Out of this came our family’s most important snacking rule, and one I try to get everyone to follow.

This shape makes eating watermelon even more fun (and less messy).

The only problem will be when people ask for the recipe.

Do you know what 100 calories of almonds looks like?

Some nights, you need a break.

Just toss your ingredients in a food processor and hit the purée button.

It’s true that you can actually get a good meal, maybe even a great one, with wine pairings to boot, on an airplane — that is, if you’re flying first class. For main cabin passengers, it’s another story altogether. Airlines have whittled down their complimentary onboard options to a selection of itty-bitty packets of peanuts and pretzels — and that’s if you’re lucky.

Snacks are an essential part of travel. They keep hunger — and impulsive, hanger-driven decisions — at bay, sustaining long days on the road (or on your feet). They also offer a tiny piece of home, whether it’s the familiarity of a pack of peanut M&Ms when you’re in a foreign country or the knowledge that you’ve got your go-to granola handy for breakfast.

Summer is travel season. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, chances are you’ll get in a car, catch a train, or board a plane at least once. And if your summer plans do involve travel, you’ll want to start thinking about snacks. This week, we talked with five different road warriors, people who spend a good percentage of their lives getting from here to there and going basically everywhere, during the summer and throughout the year.

Step one: Take it out of the plastic tub.

It's easier than whatever else you had planned for dinner.

Eggs are good for you, but let's stop and talk about how luxurious they are. These five recipes show off the glamorous side of these yolky delights.

The easiest, tastiest way to eat a bunch of snacks for lunch.

So long brown guac!

This simple tip is the key to achieving hummus bliss.

I have a semi-shameful secret. It’s a victimless crime I commit either alone in a dark kitchen, crouched in front of my fridge while my family is glued to the television, or during the 15 minutes a week I am alone on the train or in a taxi. I know it’s ridiculous and it’s stealing from my children, but I just can’t stop. I love children’s snacks.

Think twice before tossing those trimmings and peels.

Whether you like it chunky or creamy, spicy or mellow, guacamole is basically the best thing on the snack table, and a welcome addition to a weekend meal of breakfast tacos or carnitas. But if you’re making guacamole, do it right. Here are five important things you should know about making the best guacamole. Do you have a knack for picking avocados with a streak of brown inside? Or ones that aren’t quite ripe enough?

There are plenty of times in life when thinking big is best, but not when it comes to making cheese balls. This kitschy, retro appetizer is an exception to the bigger-is-better thinking. Whether you’re feeding the whole crew or just a couple people, here’s why tiny cheese balls make more sense. Choosing tiny cheese balls (over a single, large ball) is your ticket to embracing variety with this irresistible app.

Is there anything more fun than s’mores? For me it brings back nostalgic childhood memories, the warmth of friendship around an open campfire. But there’s no reason you can’t enjoy them now, too! Try one of these eight takes on the classic and remind yourself why melted chocolate is oh-so-great.No one is quite sure about the origin of the s’more (contraction for “some more”).

Do you ever cook squid at home? To be honest, it’s usually a dinner-out dish for me, and one that most often takes the form of crispy fried calamari. But this method for oven-roasted squid from Chez Panisse chef David TanisThis comes from Tanis’s most recent cookbook, Heart of the Artichoke. He describes tossing the sliced squid in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then roasting them at 450°F for about fifteen minutes. Could it get any easier than that?

Chances are, you’ve read about what foods to carry on the plane (it’s been quite a popular post for some time now). But in the summer, we find ourselves in a car even more than an airplane. So, what should we snack on?In the backseat of your own car, you don’t have to worry about TSA regulations or fitting your food in the side pocket of your carry-on bag. But other rules apply…. Here are our thoughts:No tiny pieces.

Fruit is like the hole-in-one of my children’s lunch boxes; it is one of the few things my kids are guaranteed to eat every day. (The same cannot be said for green vegetables or even baby carrots.) The pitfall of fruit is that some of its best specimens — summer strawberries, delicate fall pears — take a beating in transportation from backpack to bus stop to school cubby.

One of the first things my son asked to learn to make was dip. I suspect he’s envisioning all the parties he’ll host, many of which will involve sitting in front of a screen watching movies or sports, or playing video games with his friends. (We don’t have a television, so this is obviously the first thing on our sons’ list to buy when they move out.

It’s hard to beat Cheez-It crackers. They’re cheesy! They’re salty! They’re crunchy! They’re crowd-pleasers for kids and adults! There’s just one thing better than a Cheez-It cracker — and that’s a burnt Cheez-It cracker. You know what I speak of: The Cheez-It you find in every other handful that somehow got a little more well-done than the rest in the bunch.