Archive for the ‘Snacks & Dips’ Category

How to Make Homemade Banana Pudding (Video)

At a local store here in my small town, I pick up bananas at a big discount on Tuesdays.  On Wednesday nights after church we like to have some sort of snack or treat.  So, many times I whip up a quick batch of banana pudding and stick it in the fridge to have ready when we come home.

I found a video online that shows how to make homemade banana pudding and their recipe looks pretty easy. (The actual version I use without eggs is down below underneath the video.)  I usually forgo the cookies to cut back on sugar…and no complaints from the boys…they still look forward to it!

One additional note: I usually add a little nutmeg for extra flavor.  Nutmeg has some health benefits (click here), including effectiveness in killing a number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Ingredients:

* Water
* 2 c. skim milk
* ⅓ c. sugar
* 3 tbsp. cornstarch
* 3 large egg yolks
* Pinch of salt
* 4 medium-ripe bananas
* 12 shortbread or vanilla-flavored cookies, crumbled
* Whipped cream

*For an easy homemade pudding without eggs, I use this “vanilla pudding recipe” (adding a little nutmeg), let it cool for 30 minutes in the fridge, then I mix in about half a tub of 8 oz. whip cream, add in my sliced bananas, and the put in the fridge for a couple of hours.

With this method, I have an easy “one scoop & serve” dessert.   You can sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top to spiff it up if you wish.  For best results, mix in the dry ingredients with the milk before heating and constantly stir over heat until thickening begins to prevent lumps.  Turn off heat immediately to prevent scorching.

Spinach Dip Knorr Recipe

Last Friday evening we had a ladies’ fellowship at our church.  My friend, Kristina, brought a spinach dip that was sooooo good that all the ladies were fighting for more. (I think my pastor’s wife tried to secretly confiscate it under her sweater to sneak it home. *Wink* )  Anyway, my friend was kind enough to send me the recipe…it’s the recipe from the Knorr vegetable soup mix. (Find it in the isle where you find dry soup mixes.) Very easy to make!

Spinach Dip with Knorr’s Veggie Soup Mix

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed (do not use fresh)
16 oz sour cream
1 c. mayonnaise
1 (4 oz.) pkg. Knorr vegetable soup mix
1 (8 oz.) can water chestnuts, finely chopped
3 green onions, finely chopped

Squeeze spinach until dry. In medium bowl, stir together spinach, sour cream and soup mix. Add finely chopped water chestnuts and green onions. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Easy Egg Salad Sandwich Recipe

While you’re boiling those eggs…stick in an extra 6 eggs and make these sandwiches.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

3 TB Mayo

2 tsp. mustard

1 tsp. celery seed

Lawry’s seasoning salt

Directions:

Chop eggs. Mix in the other ingredients.  Sprinkle lightly with Lawry’s seasoning salt.  (Just enough to add some delicious flavor, but not so much to make it too salty.)

Place on your favorite bread or buns.  Rye bread is also delicious…or try making wraps with flour tortillas.

My 3 boys love mom’s salsa.  I make a fresh batch every Thursday.  They tend to eat lots…which allows me to sneak in extra vegetable servings. I also use this salsa in the Mexican Rice recipe posted awhile back.   Add a little of this salsa to some other meals you make to pep up the taste.

Mom’s Easy Salsa Recipe

1 lg. can whole tomatoes (28 oz.)
1/2 onion,  finely chopped
2 jalapenos, finely chopped
1 tsp. garlic powder (or more if desired)
Lawry’s Seasoning Salt (to taste)
Juice of 1 or 2 limes (optional)
Cilantro, chopped (optional)

Place all the above ingredients in a blender until well blended.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to permeate together.

Fun Snack Ideas for Kids

It’s no secret that kids love to snack.  While kids are young they use a lot of energy that requires constant refueling of their hungry tummies, but as you know, buying pre-made snacks can be quite costly.   It only requires a little planning to keep snacks fun, exciting and affordable.

Here’s a few healthy and fun snack ideas for kids:

Fruit on a Stick – Cut up a bunch of different fruits such as apples, bananas, kiwis, mango and add a few grapes. Thread them onto a skewer for a delicious summer time treat. To make it a little more special add a few pieces of marshmallows between the fruit.

Pickle on a Stick – If your kids love pickles, put a big sweet or dill pickle on a stick.  They’ll think it’s extra special.

Quick Banana Ice – Take a few bananas and mash them in a bowl. Cover and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, fluff up with fork for a healthy, ice cream like treat.

Pitta Pizza – Spread a little tomato sauce on a pitta bread and cut into small triangular pieces. Top with a little grated cheese and place in a moderately heated oven for about 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts and starts to bubble.

Sweet Tortilla Shapes – Using small fun shaped cookie cutters cut fun shapes out of a tortilla (wrap). Place on non stick cookie sheet and lightly brush with a little butter. Lightly sprinkle (you only need a little) with a mixture of 1 part cinnamon and 3 parts brown sugar and bake in a moderately hot oven for 10 minutes for a sweet and crispy treat.

Frozen Mandarin Wedges – Peel a few mandarin slices and cover in plastic wrap. Place in the freezer for about an hour for a thirst quenching treat.

Banana Wheels – Place a cup or so of cheerios in a plastic bag and using the back of your hand or a rolling pin flatten until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Slice a banana into rounds and place a few at a time in the plastic bag. Shake lightly to cover the banana pieces (banana wheels) with the cheerios mixture.

Mini Wraps – Lightly spread a tortilla with a little cream cheese and place one or two slices of thin ham or turkey over the cream cheese. Roll tightly and cut into small rounds.

Jiggly Fruit – Make a portion of strawberry flavored jello per package instructions and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Open and drain a can of fruit cocktail and add to the jello and mix. Place back in the fridge until jello is fully set.

Ants on Boats – Cut a few apple wedges and spread thinly with peanut butter. Add a few raisins over the peanut butter and enjoy. You can also use cream cheese instead of peanut butter.

Pick and Mix – Kids seem to really enjoy the variety of finger foods rather than eating a lot of one thing. A great snack is to place a selection of finger foods on a serving plate and let the kids choose. You can serve a combination of foods like carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, cherry tomatoes, pretzels or pretzel sticks, small savory crackers, bread sticks, little cubes or slices of cheese, small slices of ham or turkey, grapes and other pieces of cut up fruit, mini muffins, and dried fruit such as raisins or apricots.

*Please share some of your own fun snack ideas for kids by commenting below.

Simple Spinach Dip

1 10 oz pkg frozen spinach (thaw, squeeze out excess liquid and chop)
1 cup low fat sour cream
1 cup mayo (I use Kraft mayo with olive oil)
1 can water chestnuts – diced
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 pkg. Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix (dry)

Combine all ingredients and chill for an hour.

Note: I simply used some Lawry’s Seasoned Salt (containing no MSG) to add seasoning instead of the Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix .  You may also experiment with other seasoning mixes if you like.  I’ve seen other recipes include these for seasoning:  1 pkg. Ranch salad dressing mix or  1 pkg. Mrs. Grass homestyle vegetable dip and soup mix