Appetizers & Snacks

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.

What: To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. Read the series → Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four Love really good popcorn, but don’t want to take the time to make it the old-fashioned way? Use sprouted corn kernels in place of conventional popping corn, and you can achieve popcorn perfection with the convenience of your microwave. Here’s how to do it. The keys to great popcorn are the multiple mini-explosions created when heat turns the moisture in each kernel into steam.

I had been in southeast Asia for three days when I hopped on a 16-hour overnight train out of Bangkok. Still jet-lagged and slightly overwhelmed, I didn’t have snacks too high on my to-do list. “Maybe I’ll stop at a grocery store in the morning,” had turned into “I’ll get lunch at the train station,” and then “I can probably buy food on the train.

I can’t remember an Easter where our pre-dinner snacks didn’t include deviled eggs. The same goes for picnics, summer barbecues and, well, most family gatherings. Just in time for spring, one of our readers emailed to tell us about her smart, mess-free way of taking deviled eggs to a party. (And no, it doesn’t involve buying a single-use deviled egg transportation device.) Here’s what our reader, Susan, had to say. Transporting deviled eggs drove me nuts for years.

If you’re getting ready to hop on a plane for your summer vacation, don’t forget to pack some snacks in your carry-on. I mean, those skimpy bags of pretzels airlines give out just don’t cut it. It’s safer, more satisfying, and likely less expensive when you pack your own snacks.

Last week I returned from a trip of a lifetime. My fiancé and I spent almost two weeks soaking up the beauty of South Africa. It was a such an incredible vacation that we’re already plotting our return, if we’re ever so lucky in the future. The only negative part was, well, the flight. I’ve been on 10- and even 12-hour flights before, but this was by far the longest I’ve endured. Book the nonstop from New York City’s John F.

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.

So you made yourself two-dozen homemade granola bars over the weekend. Congratulations! That means no more mid-afternoon raids of the office vending machine. The only thing is … now you have to eat the same snack for the next 24 days. Or, what if you found a few healthy-snacking friends and organized a snack swap at work instead?

Peppadew peppers have become one of our go-to appetizer components. Honestly, our relationship with these sweet, tangy and slightly spicy peppers borders on addiction, and they’re pretty much guaranteed to impress any guests.Peppadews are great on their own, but find out how to make them really sing…Peppadew is actually a brand name for sweet piquanté peppers grown in South Africa.

Have you ever tried Castelvetrano olives? We first had a sample at a farmers market. They were giant olives, bright green, with a crunchy bite and a clean, fruity flavor that actually – get this! – tasted like olive oil.These olives are very different from the salty, pungent cured olives that we also love. They are delicate and light in flavor, with a crisp bite. They are hard to find, though, and even when we find them they are of varying quality.

Marcona almonds have been enjoying a steady rise in popularity over the past several years. They receive prominent displays at gourmet markets, get name-dropped on fancy restaurant menus, and are frequently lauded as the best almonds ever by those in the know. Just what makes these almonds so special?Marcona almonds are a special product of Spain, akin to San Marzano tomatoes from Italy or caviar from Russia.

Picture this: You reach in the pantry for the dried fruit you thought you bought not that long ago, and what you find is far from what you expect. Those once-plump raisins and bright dried cranberries are now even more dry, shriveled, and maybe even hard. They kind of give new meaning to the words dried fruit. But don’t toss them just yet; this fruit isn’t a lost cause. With the help of a simple trick, there’s an easy way to bring them back to life.

Dips are an easy way to jazz up raw vegetables and make your afternoon snack a little more substantial. And the easiest way to make veggies and dip an on-the-go snack? Pack them together in a jar! Small mason jars are leak-proof and sturdy, and storing the veggies and dip together means you don’t have to carry an extra container in your lunch bag. Just spoon your dip into the bottom of the jar, fill the jar with the raw vegetables of your choice, screw on the lid, and go.

They’re a picnic/family reunion/potluck staple, but we’ve been eating just one or two deviled eggs as a quick snack lately. Hard-boiled eggs are so nutritious and easy, and devil-ing them takes no time at all…We boil one or two eggs, let them cool, and then slice them and carefully scoop out the yolk (a 1/2-teaspoon measuring spoon works great for this, if you don’t have a teaspoon small enough).

It’s been almost a year now since the entire food contingent of the internet went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs roasted chickpeas. Since then home cooks have been tossing them in all sorts of flavors! Some are sweet while others are savory, but no matter which one you choose, they all look dyno-mite! We spent a ridiculous amount of time searching out different flavors to accompany the toasted nuttiness of The Chickpea.

Q: My best friend’s infant daughter is in the hospital. They live about 400 miles away. I’d like to send her something helpful like food so they can just grab a healthy snack while they’re in the hospital with her.Any thoughts for healthy snacky foods that ship well?Sent by DanaEditor: Dana, we’ve talked about mailing treats a couple of times — there are some good tips and ideas in these threads:• Recipes for Healthy, Mailable Treats for Care Packages?

When it comes to snacking, we are devout popcorn fans. It’s quick to make, travels wellWe always toss the popcorn with melted butter or a drizzle of olive oil before adding any of the toppings. It helps the spices and herbs to stick to the individual kernels. In all cases, we use around a tablespoon of spice mix for a 6 cup batch of popped corn.

Wasabi peas are a favorite afternoon snack in our house. They’re crunchy and light, and they pack a nice balance of sweet and sinus-clearing punch. Don’t those peas up there look tasty? Ok, now take a look at our homemade attempt below!Yeah, these peas weren’t quite what we were going for!

Have you ever tried re-popping unpopped popcorn? (Also, try saying that three times fast!) Dumping those stubborn kernels in the trash has always bugged us, so we decided to start collecting them in a jar and see if we could get them to re-pop. And guess what? It worked!I didn’t do anything very special with my unpopped kernels.

Although our main focus is usually on food for human consumption, with the weather oh-so-toasty lately, our four-legged friends are also in need of a little refreshment. Snacks for pets are always less expensive to make yourself and we’ve rounded up 10 ideas to keep them cool and your wallet full all at the same time! Without getting into the world of what’s actually healthy for dogs to eat, we’d like to give you a few options of great frozen snacks for dogs and cats alike.

Rolled up in a sheet of seaweed, rice and vegetables can become a simple and easy-to-pack lunch for both adults and kids. This is one of our favorite uses for leftovers, and we often cook extra rice and vegetables at dinner so we can make rolls the next day.Although similar to Japanese maki sushi, our “leftovers” rolls don’t require the use of special vinegared rice, just whatever we have on hand, be it white or brown rice, and occasionally even quinoa.

How excited would you be to find one of these roll-ups waiting in your lunchbox? I think very. And if you’re noting a striking resemblance to a certain Little Debbie snack cake that many of us know and love from our own time in grade school, you’re not imagining things. Shelly from the blog Cookies & Cups shows us how it’s done.To make these roll-ups, Shelly says we need a batch of brownies, a batch of frosting, and a rolling pin. Check!

You can spot a display of Granny Smiths a mile away. Among the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the other fruits, these bright spring-green apples shine like they have their own special spotlight. And maybe they do.The Granny Smith hybrid was first propagated in Australia in 1868 by, yes, the real Granny Maria Ann Smith and it is now grown in apple-growing regions around the world.

I was floored when I opened up the April issue of Bon Appétit and read a confession from Andrew Knowlton, the BA Foodist, about his love of one of my own guilty pleasures: cottage cheese with potato chips. It’s a funny little snack that my husband often sets out when he has friends over — and even the most skeptical are always converted.What makes it so good? As I scoop yet another chip into the tub of cottage cheese, I often ask myself that same question.

Fika (pronounced fee-ka) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun. Do you fika? If so, tell us more about this delicious-sounding tradition!Having never experienced fika in person, I am by no means an expert.

I am the sole granola eater in my house, which suits me just fine. (All mine!) But toward the end of eating my way through a big batch, I find that the granola can start to lose its crisp and get a little stale. A quick spin in the microwave helps take care of that.Microwaving heats up the oils absorbed by the granola and re-toasts the nuts and grains. I usually place the few spoonfuls I’ll be eating that morning into a ramekin and give it about 10 seconds on HIGH.

Bread has a bad reputation these days, but that doesn’t mean we should overlook one of its most irresistible forms: toast! Whole wheat or brioche, sourdough or seeded, a slice of toasted bread is a base for all kinds of toppings that make a light yet satisfying meal any time of the day.

I don’t use white sugar much at home these days. Now I reach for a more unrefined cane sugar like turbinado, or experiment with maple syrup or honey as sweeteners. But the problem with this, for bakers in particular, is that you have to be careful about adding extra liquid to a recipe because it changes the entire composition and structure. So what’s a good solution if you want to add a deep, dark sweetener like maple syrup? Pick up a bag of maple sugar!

Spring is around the corner, but it’s still really cold outside. I find myself craving a warm cookie from time to time, but I really don’t want an entire batch lying about. So this recipe for just two chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookies is totally brilliant! Joanna Goddard pointed out this recipe and I couldn’t help but share it here too. This recipe is quite quick and easy, and yet it turns out a pair of truly chewy and delicious chocolate chip cookies.

If you’re looking for a quick snack or weeknight meal, don’t forget about the humble egg wrapper! Did you know you can bake egg rolls? It’s easy and far healthier than deep frying, and the filling options are almost endless. Here are a few favorites: 1. Reuben Sandwich Filling: This classic combo can be easily wrapped up and dipped in Thousand Island dressing instead of including it inside. 2.

I went on a bit of a granola bender the other week for reasons best left between me and my obsessive brain. The upshot of this, as you can probably guess, was that I ended up with a lot of granola sitting on my counter. After foisting jars of it onto my friends and snacking on it every afternoon, I still had more granola than I could conceivably eat before it went stale. The solution? Freeze it.

I usually tuck some type of whole fruit in my bag to eat with lunch or snack on later in the day. It might roll around a bit or — if I put it directly into my backpack or purse — encounter who-knows-what at the bottom of my bag. To protect apples, pears and other fruit with edible peels, I’ve come up with an quick way to keep them clean and protected from bruises.When I pack my lunch in the morning, I use a cloth napkin to tie up the fruit in its own little protective pouch.

I spent a bit of time in Italy last month and came away with a lot of cheese fodder. Hard to pick just one thing to highlight. Two of my favorites are easily replicable now that I’m back home, and they’re both super simple, super elegant starters. Or rather, aperitivi. The first contains just four ingredients, and would be equally welcome as a starter or a dessert: Figs, pomegranate seeds, olive oil, and plum-sized balls of fresh mozzarella.

Do you buy olives at your local grocer’s olive bar? I mean, who can resist those piles of glistening Castelvetranos and Kalamatas? As a person who will buy olives over potato chips any day, this area of the grocery is an absolute weakness. But is the olive bar really worth it? I began to wonder — why don’t I just make my own marinated olives? It seems so simple! The olive bar is just too tempting, normally.

I love a burrito or fajita night as much as the next girl, but since I’m usually cooking for just two, I often find myself with a stack of leftover whole wheat tortillas. Here are some ways I’ve come up with to use the extras, incorporating them into afternoon snacks all week long. Like I said, I usually make these snacks with a whole wheat tortilla, but a plain flour tortilla would work as well!

Peeling kiwi fruits is a slippery business, which is why — unless I’m cutting up the fruit for yogurt or a fruit salad — I prefer to eat them the lazy, quick way: with a spoon! I learned this trick years ago from the reader comments of Emma’s post about making kiwi push pops; quite a few readers mentioned it as their preferred way to eat kiwi fruit.

Get ready to impress your co-workers! This genius method for eating popcorn doesn’t require a bowl and — depending on your dexterity — is even hands-free. And there is a good chance you have all the equipment you need in your gym bag. What’s the secret? A hooded sweatshirt! I spotted this tip on Twitter and had to give it a try — and was surprised by how well it works.

Even the best of granola has its good and not so good days. You know what I mean: that moment when you realize your granola isn’t as toasty and crunchy as it used to be — instead you find yourself staring at a bowl of slightly soft and not nearly as delicious oats. Lucky for you (and me) I have a few ideas up my sleeve for other ways to use granola in the kitchen.

The conversation over what kind of cheese is cool for consumption during pregnancy has got to be one of the more polarizing debates among cheese-eaters-with-child.

Several of you asked me about the crudité and hummus cups I served at the wedding I’ve been sharing with you this week. These are one of my favorite make-ahead appetizers for a big group; it’s so nice to have some fresh, crunchy vegetables in an easy-to-eat format. Here are a few tips for making these really stand out.

Scenario: You come home late after drinks with friends. Dinner was many, many hours ago and now you’re hungry again. So, what do you eat before going to bed that won’t make you groggy the next day? I admit that more often than not, my sights are set on the cheesiest pizza I can get my grubby hands on, but I know that’s not usually the best option. Let’s change that. Here are 5 simple snacks you can make when hunger strikes after midnight.

Okra is one of South Carolina’s greatest crops, but I hear you. It’s slimy. Even the most adventuresome eaters can have a few texture issues, and okra is guilty of having one heck of a gross texture. Though I like it just about any way — stewed with tomatoes, in gumbo, breaded and fried — I get it. I want my children to love it, if only because it’s cheap and plentiful in the summer. The way I make it? They eat it like french fries. What’s my secret?

When I was a teenager, my mom picked up a habit that she’s kept ever since — keeping a plate of crudités in the fridge at all times. It’s her favorite way to have a healthy snack on hand, and now it’s mine, too! If I’m rummaging around in the kitchen for a snack, my usual M.O. is to grab whatever’s most convenient.

Move over candy apples, this year Halloween is all about pear ghosts! The way we see it, there are two sides to Halloween. There’s the super spooky, ghoulish side filled with wicked witches, haunted houses and devilish costumes. Then, there’s the other side, filled with everything that makes us ooh and aah, like these adorable pear ghosts. Not only is this holiday snack super cute, it’s also easy to make. Here’s how to do it.

Before rice crackers with tuna tartare and platters of canapes, there were pigs in blankets. A classic finger food that not only saved snack time, but in many ways, acted as the gateway to more mature appetizers, teaching early eaters just how playful and filing small bites of food can be. A very important lesson, indeed.

Q: I’m looking for good make-ahead, easy-to-transport appetizers to bring to all the holiday parties that are directly after work this season (although I think things that could be reheated in an oven or microwave would be fine). I live in a place where it’s not easily feasible to go home between work and social functions. I know I could pick something up at WF or TJs but I’d like to make the effort to make something! Sent by Mo Editor: Check out these posts for some ideas!

One of the things that made flying cross-country with a toddler a bit more bearable was the free snacks handed out on the airplane. These little bags of treats helped maintain both my blood sugar level and acted as bribes to keep my daughter from roaming the airplane cabin. My favorite discovery in the basket of snacks was cinnamon-sugar pretzel bites. Sweet and a tiny bit savory, these pretzel bites were addicting but really weren’t the healthiest option.

Making your own granola bars allows for superior snacking. You can easily customize the size of your bars and the many ways to flavor them, but it can be a little tricky to obtain a perfect texture. If you’re on Team Chewy Granola Bar, there’s one ingredient that can help you in your snacking quest. Do you use it? The secret to the very best chewy granola bars is brown rice syrup! Emma explains why brown rice syrup is best for granola bars in her guide to how to make granola bars.

Q: I am flying to a bachelorette party in Las Vegas and am looking for appetizers that will travel well and don’t need refrigeration or cooking. I need ideas besides snack mix! Sent by Leslie Editor: Take a look at these posts for some ideas: What Make-Ahead Appetizers Will Travel Well? Ideas for Make-Ahead Appetizers That Don’t Need to be Refrigerated? What Is Your Best Appetizer Recipe? What Are Some Good Make-Ahead, Easily Portable Party Appetizers?

I try hard to get three square meals into my toddler every day, but sometimes I’m guilty of not doing the same for myself. So when 5 o’clock hits, my stomach starts growling and I need something to tide me over until dinner time. I’ve often made the mistake of grabbing a bag of chips, and before I know it, half the bag is gone and I’m not hungry for dinner anymore. Here are some rules I’ve set to keep myself in check if I decide to snack before dinner!

Even if you’re trying to only stick to three meals a day, you can’t ignore the occasional need for a snack when hunger strikes. Snacks can be grab-and-go affairs that you stash in your purse to nosh on between errands, or they can be eaten during your ritual 4 o’clock break on workdays. No matter the reason you need a snack, I’m sure we all would prefer it be healthy and delicious. Here are some tips to help you prepare and make the best choices for snacking!

Walnuts, almonds, pepitas, or pine nuts — most people have a stash of nuts and seeds in the cupboard. And with the help of some other common ingredients, you can transform this simple snack food into something special. Perfect for entertaining guests or just your grumbling stomach. The simplest way to spice up nuts is with, well, spices. Don’t be afraid to get creative here.

While some people always have a loaf of bread in the fridge, I keep a package of tortillas on hand at all times. I have found them truly indispensable when it comes to staying full and satisfied throughout the day. And before you think tortillas are only good for quesadillas, think again; these floppy round disks of dough are destined for way more. Pleasing to the eye and mouth, pinwheels make a super easy snack, for kids and adults alike.

Growing up, my mom always told me tales of the frozen peas her mother served as an after-school snack. I think the story was supposed to make me feel grateful for the apple and cheddar slices I got at home. But now, in my thirties, I realize my mom (and her mom) were really onto something genius.

Popcorn is already a pretty common snack; one we often enjoy while watching movies at home or in the theater. And while popcorn drenched in butter has its merits, it’s destined for so much more than that. So whether you pop your own kernels or use a nifty microwave bag, try these popcorn tricks and treats the next time you’re looking to mix up your snack (or movie) routine. One way to boost the flavor of your typical bag of popcorn is by adding unexpected spices.

Disclaimer: Eggs as a snack food will require more minutes than, say, mixing nuts with yogurt. That’s because eggs usually require boiling water, a hot skillet, or an oven before you can eat them. But before you discount the egg as a snack food, keep in mind that none of the steps to cooking an egg The most simple of egg snacks are hard-boiled eggs.

I don’t usually plan when I’m going to snack. Instead I reach for something to nibble on the moment my stomach starts grumbling. And as for what I reach for, it’s usually whatever is the most convenient and requires the least amount of work in the moment. Smarter snacking comes down to this: prep, packaging, and storage. Here are five helpful tips to make those things, and smarter snacking, a little bit easier.

Warning: You may wish you had a time machine after reading this post. Because what you’ll discover is that, for years, you’ve been missing out on a ridiculously tasty treat — baked vegetable peels. When prepping potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and other root vegetables, it’s common practice to first wash and then remove the outer layer of skin. But the next time you ready these ingredients for a recipe, throw out old habits instead of the scraps.

Along with milk and eggs, cherry tomatoes have a permanent spot on my shoppig list. For one, my kid eats them by the fistful. For two, I snack on them constantly while I cook. And for three, they act as a secret weapon when a dish needs a little extra color or flavor boost — because, in case you didn’t know, tomatoes are bursting with natural umami.

As a kid, I mistakenly called zucchinis “bikinis” — and that was pretty much the extent of my relationship with them for the past 30 years. My mother, on the other hand, could and would eat steamed zucchini for every meal of the day, which just goes to show the polarizing nature of this vegetable. Some people enjoy zucchini raw, while others need a load of butter and the threat of no dessert to choke them down.

I don’t have much of an athletic background. I made an attempt to get involved in sports when I was growing up, but it was all just downright awkward; I was so much happier reading a book or baking cookies. Fast forward to my late 20s — it was probably a surprise to everyone who knew me when I took up triathlon. Maybe a greater one yet, when I really latched onto it, and my days started to revolve around race schedules and training plans.

There’s no question that tortilla chips are perfect for dipping in salsa and scooping up guacamole, but they’re way more than just a snack food. In fact, they have a well-deserved place on the dinner table — here are five types of meals that prove it. Were nachos the first thing that came to mind when you thought about tortilla chips for dinner? It was for me! This is one of the most obvious ways to turn tortilla chips into a meal, and certainly a delicious one.

Save the tricks for another time — this year Halloween is all about the treats. From homemade candy corn and adorable candy spiders, to jack-o-lantern sandwich cookies and a graveyard dirt cake, these 15 sweet recipes are perfect for kids and adults alike. These arachnids are the friendly sort, and they’d love nothing more than to march across your buffet table and perch on the edge of your plate.

We spread it onto sandwiches, blend it into smoothies, mix it into our morning oats, and bake it into cookies, but almond butter can be more than a supporting player. This nutty spread has what it takes to be the main star, and these satisfying three-ingredient snacks prove it. The heart and soul of each one of these snacks is thick, gooey almond butter. It’s always there for you when you need a mid-morning, afternoon, or late-night pick-me-up.

Love the idea of a smoothie for breakfast, but wish it filled you up a little more? I hear you, and I’m totally with you. My main criteria for any breakfast, including smoothies, is one that isn’t going to leave my stomach grumbling a couple hours later. The key to a good breakfast smoothie is making sure it has the power to carry me through the morning. One of the easiest ways to do this? Add a scoop of oats!

Here’s the thing about snacking: it shouldn’t be difficult, and there’s no reason why it can’t be nutritious. Enter these three-ingredient bean dips. All you need are a few ingredients pulled from the pantry and a blender; in minutes, you’ve got a healthful, delicious treat. So skip the store-bought dips — homemade dip is easier than you think.

You know the feeling well: It’s the middle of the afternoon on a work day, or that time just before you start to make dinner, and you need a little boost. If you’re like me, you’re reaching straight for some cheese. With the right balance of protein and fat, a few slices are just what I need to tide me over. And of course, the only thing better than cheese on its own is when it’s paired with something else.

Sometimes when you start dreaming of Doritos during that yawning space between an early lunch and a late dinner, it’s because you are actually hungry and really need a snack. And sometimes it’s because you’re exhausted, bored, or just craving a little social interaction after hours of screen time. For those afternoons when your snack cravings are about more than simple hunger, here are a few suggestions for beating them — in five healthy, satisfying ways.

You hit it like a wall at work. That drop in energy, accompanied by a deep need for a snack that is sugary, fatty and/or crunchy — it’s the 3 p.m. snack slump. Have you ever wondered why it happens so predictably on weekday afternoons? Here’s a look at the science that may help explain the late-afternoon slump, and why we crave snacks when it strikes.

Edamame may be your warm-up before a sushi dinner, but its best role is as a snack-time superstar. On its own, edamame doesn’t pack a whole lot of flavor, but when you think of it as a total blank canvas, the possibilities of turning it into a punchy snack are endless. Here are five smart and easy ways to turn edamame into a totally tasty snack.