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A Dozen Simple Snack
Solutions
by Leslie Sausage
1. Ants on a
Log Cut celery sticks into 3 or 4-inch lengths. Spread peanut butter
down the center, and then add raisins on top of the peanut butter. A Kid
Favorite!
2. Boiled or Deviled Eggs: Boil a dozen at a time.
Perfect Deviled Eggs
12 large eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon snipped fresh chives
1 teaspoon snipped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon each salt, pepper and garlic powder
For perfect eggs with no green center (caused by overcooking), place 12 eggs
in a large pan and cover with 3" water (any amount of eggs, same
directions). Do not use hot water. Place on burner over medium-high heat and
immediately start timing for exactly 20 minutes. When water comes to a
rolling boil, turn heat to low. Cracking eggs while still hot makes the
shells easily slip off. Slice in half and scrape out yolks into a mixing
bowl. Blend remaining ingredients well and fill egg halves. Sprinkle with
additional paprika, chill well.
3. Crackers and Cheese Cut cheese into small squares. Serve cheese
with a handful of saltines or other crackers. Kids love to make little
sandwiches out of them. Add cut up squares or triangles of lunchmeat if you
like.
4. Crackers and Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese If your family has no
peanut butter allergies, saltines with peanut butter is delicious. Top with
raisins, banana slices, or substitute cream cheese for the peanut butter.
Jam or Jelly is also a great standby with peanut butter or cream cheese.
5. Fruit Fresh fruit such as apples, bananas, oranges, and any
other in season fruit make super snacks. Dried fruits are also good--
apricots, banana chips or raisins. Canned fruit, especially peach or pear
halves, and pineapple slices all have great kid appeal.
Fast Fruit Dip
2 parts marshmallow cream
1 part cream cheese - at room temperature
Blend the two and refrigerate until serving time. Fruit Dip may be thinned
with fruit juice or milk, if desired. Mix all ingredients in mixer until
fluffy. Cover and chill. Serve with fresh fruit for dipping.
Kool-Aid Yogurt Dip
2 tablespoons Kool-Aid sugar-sweetened soft drink mix, any flavor
1 cup vanilla yogurt or sour cream
Stir soft drink mix into yogurt in medium bowl. Refrigerate 1 hour or until
ready to serve. Stir.
6. Kid Kabobs These are fun! You need toothpicks, cheese cubes,
pineapple or banana chunks, and cooked meat chunks (cubed spam, ham chunks,
or hot dog slices). Use your imagination! The kids love to thread their own
kabobs.
7. Popcorn Popcorn, popped on the stove, or in popcorn popper-such a
great invention! For a special treat, add some melted butter.
8. Quickie Quesadillas Using a toaster oven-put one or two
saucer-size soft flour tortilla on the toasting rack. Add shredded cheese of
your choice. Toast until cheese melts. Fold over. Serve with salsa. This is
one our favorites!
9. Sandwiches Cut them into small triangles or squares for a great
addition to the snack tray. Even the "plain Jane", PB&J gets added
significance when served on a special tray.
10. Snow on the Chimney Similar to Ants on a Log--except you use
cream cheese instead of peanut butter. Cut clean celery sticks into 3 or
4-inch lengths. Spread cream cheese down the center, and then add raisins on
top of the peanut butter. Grown-ups like this too!
11. Tortilla Chips and Cheese Add a large pile of tortilla chips to
a dinner plate. Sprinkle the chips generously with your favorite shredded
cheese. Microwave or toast until the cheese melts. This can in the oven
using a pizza pan. Serve with salsa, bean dip or guacamole dip. To make an
easy bean dip, combine several tablespoons of salsa with refried beans.
12. Vegetable Sticks Carrot and celery sticks are the usual--but
broccoli, radishes, turnip slices, green pepper and summer squash show up
regularly. Serve with your favorite dip.
Leslie Sausage is the editor of Heart4Home.net website. For more creative,
practical and fun ideas for your home visit the site
www.heart4home.net
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