Snacks and Facts

2007-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Gouda Cheese Dip

Snack:
you need-
Gouda Cheese (room temperature)
1 teaspoon Good Season's Italian Dressing (dry)
1/2 cup sour cream

Cut top off wax covering of cheese saving. Carefully spoon cheese out of remaining wax, saving the shell. Mash the cheese, add other ingredients, beat. Put back into shell. Serve with crackers.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Named after the Dutch town of Gouda, just outside Rotterdam, Gouda cheese accounts for more than 60% of the cheese produced in Holland.

*photo courtesy of cheese.com

2007-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Texas Tommies

Snack:
you need-
8 hot dogs
8 slices of cheddar cheese
8 slices of bacon

Cut a V-shaped wedge out of each hot dog, lengthwise. Insert a slice of cheese in each space. Wrap a slice of bacon around each hot dog and secure with a toothpick. Bake at 350 degrees until bacon is fully cooked.
ENJOY!

Fact:
In French, the word for hot is chaud[sounds like show] and the word for dog is chien, however the word for hot dog is un hot dog!

2007-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Hardly Handy

Snack:
you need-
2 plastic food service gloves
10 pieces of candy corn
1 bag cheddar cheese popcorn

Pointy end down, place a piece of candy corn into each fingertip of the gloves. Then fill the rest of the gloves with popcorn.
Tie with a twist-tie to keep fresh or eat immediately.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Halloween is recognized as the third biggest party day after New Year's and Super Bowl Sunday!

2007-10-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

Toasted Pretzel Treats

Snack:
you need-
2 sticks butter
1 package onion soup
18 oz. bag of broken pretzels

Melt butter in a baking pan. Mix in soup. Coat pretzel pieces evenly. Bake at 225 degrees for one hour and 15 minutes.
ENJOY!

Fact:
The first commercial pretzel factory in the United States was established in 1861 at Lititz, Pennsylvania.

2007-10-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sunny's Sausage Snack

Snack:
2 cups Bisquick
10 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
1 lbs. pork sausage

Mix ingredients by hands. Roll into balls and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
ENJOY!

Fact:
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest recorded jump by a pig was 70 cm, achieved by Kotetsu, a pot bellied pig.

2007-10-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Peanut Butter Ball Perfection

Snack:
you need-
2 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons peanut butter
2 cups granola
2 to 4 tablespoons milk- or as much as needed

In a large bowl, mix together the honey and peanut butter. Using a spatula, stir in the granola. Add enough milk just to moisten--you want it to stick together. Form the mixture into balls. Chill until you're ready to serve.
ENJOY!

Fact:
John Harvey Kellog first used granola- adapted from Dr. James Caleb Jackson's Granula- because he needed a breakfast to serve at his Michigan sanitarium. He orginally called it Granula as well but, after being sued, the name was changed to the commonly known- granola.

2007-10-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

Corn and Tomato Salsa

Snack:
you need-
1 ear's worth of corn kernels
3 medium ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 fresh hot green chili, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
4 tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 tbsp. basalmic vinegar
salt
crackers

Steam the corn kernels for about 5 minutes until just tender and quite juicy. Remove them from the heat and rinse under cold water. Mix together the tomatoes, onion, chili to taste, cilantro, vinegar, and salt to taste. Top each cracker with the salsa, the the corn, or mix the two together.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Salsa dancing originated in Cuba before gaining popularity in New York in the 1950's where it then incorporated traditional Puerto Rican rhythms.

2007-10-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Fall Treat

Snack:
you need-
1 1/2 cups pecans or walnut- chopped or whole
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Put pecans and butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. When butter is fully melted and coating the pecans, add the sugar and cinnamon. Stir for a few minutes, letting the flavors soak in. Add a bit more sugar and cinnamon to your liking.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Cinnamon ranks as the second most used spice after pepper in North American kitchens.

2007-10-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Perfection Pasta

Snack:
you need-
2 cups spaghetti noodles(cooked according to box directions)
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Garlic Salt
Salt
3 teaspoons parmesan Cheese

Combine cooked noodles and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When butter is fully melted and coated on the noodles, add a pinch of garlic salt, along with a pinch of regular salt. Stir for a minute, then add the parmesan, a little more or less according to your taste. Stir for a another minute, then serve warm.
ENJOY!

Fact:
There's an all-garlic restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden where they offer a garlic cheesecake.

*photo courtesy of bigoven.com

2007-10-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

'Nana Nut Muffin

Snack:
you need-
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnut or canola oil
1 large egg
2 or 3 medium to large very ripe bananas, slightly mashed to about 1 1/4 cups
2 tablespoons buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 10 standard muffin cups; fill the unused cups one-third full with water to prevent warping! Stir together the flour, sugar, chopped walnuts, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a different bowl, whisk together the oil, egg, mashed bananas and buttermilk until blended. Add the dry ingredients and beat well until evenly combined and creamy. Spoon batter into each muffin cup, filling it even with the rim of the cup. Bake the muffins until they're golden, dry, and springy to the touch. Let them cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Bananas are a great way to up your mineral intake and get the cramps out of your legs and stomach!

*photo courtesy of tasteoftx.com

2007-10-17T15:33:00.000-04:00

Peach Melba

Snack:
you need-
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 peaches peeled and pitted
2 pints frozen raspberries, thawed
vanilla ice cream
slivered almonds

In a large saucepan, bring one cup of sugar and two cups of water to a boil. Add the vanilla and boil until the syrup reaches 232 degrees on a candy thermometer. Add the peaches and cook until they are tender enough t be pierced by a knife, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

While the peaches are cooking, combine raspberries with one cup sugar and one cup water in small saucepan, cook until thick then put through a blender and cool.

In individual serving dishes, put a layer of vanilla ice cream and top with the peaches. Spoon raspberry puree on top and sprinkle with almonds.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Peach melba was created in 1893 at the Savoy Hotel in London by the famous chef Auguste Escoffier to honor the great Australian singer, Dame Nellie Melba.

photo courtesy of www.sl.nsw.gov.au

2007-10-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Mango Kiwi Madness

Snack:
you need-
2 kiwis
2 mangos
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract

Slice the kiwis into 1/3 inch slices. Then chop up the mangos and mix the two fruits together. In a small saucepan, heat the sugar with one cup of water until dissolved. Add the almond extract and cool. Drizzle the syrup over the fruit.
ENJOY!

Fact:
A bird called a kiwi is a flightless bird native to New Zealand. The kiwi is the sole survivor of an ancient order of birds.

2007-10-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

Tantalizing Tuna Dip

Snack:
you need-
6 1/2 ounce can of tuna packed in water, drained
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 clove garlic, pressed
A little pepper for taste

Put all ingredients in a food processor and process until creamy. Transfer to a bowl and serve at room temperature. Serve with breadsticks or raw vegetables.
ENJOY!

Fact:
The tuna eats up to ten percent of its body weight daily. Depending on the variety, weights average from 10 pounds up to 600 pounds per fish.

2007-10-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Common Chocolate Cupcake

Snack:
you need-
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 ounces sugar
2 eggs plus 1 yolk (yolk is the yellow)
3 1/2 ounces butter
3 ounces semisweet chocolate
A pinch of salt

Combine the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs and extra yolk, then beat until smooth. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat melt the butter and chocolate together with the salt. Remove from heat and combine witht he flour mixture. Refrigerate for a few hours. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Scoop your batter into greased cupcake tins and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. This should be approximately 20 minutes.
ENJOY!

Fact: The word "cupcake" first appeared in E. Leslie's "Reciepts Cookbook" in 1828.

*photo courtesy of miettecakes.com

2007-10-13T18:28:00.000-04:00

Corniest Bread

Snack:
you need-
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flower
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, egg, and milk. Mix well. Stir the liquids into the dry ingredients until just blended. Pour the batter into a well-greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for about 25 minutes.
ENJOY!

Fact:
An average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows. There is one piece of silk for each kernel!

Photo courtesy of howstuffworks.com

2007-10-12T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hearty Hot Cocoa

Snack:
you need-
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream[or half and half]
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In the top part of a double boiler, melt the chocolate. In a separate pot, heat the milk and cream over medium-low heat. Be careful not to scorch. When the milk is hot, add a bit to the melted choclate and mix well. Then stir in the rest of the milk, and add the sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. With the double boiler over low heat, beat the chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on low for three minutes. Taste, and top with whipped cream if desired. Serve immediately.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Americans eat approximately 11 pounds of chocolate each year!

*photo courtesy of dane101.com

2007-10-10T06:25:00.000-04:00

Simply Shrimp

Snack:
you need-
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound large shrimp, peeled & deveined
lime wedges

Combine the oil, garlic, rosemary and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Add shrimp and toss around to coat evenly. Marinate at room temperature for an hour.

In a nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat, place the shrimp in one layer and cover with the rest of the marinade. Cook, turning once, for four to eight minutes. Serve with lime wedges.
ENJOY!

Fact:
In 1999, the total production of farmed shrimp was 700,000 tons!

Photo courtesy of dipaula.com/products/shrimp.asp

2007-10-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

Honey Marguerties

Snack:
you need-
saltine crackers
honey
chopped nuts

Place crackers on baking sheet. Spread crackers with honey and chopped nuts. Place in 325 degree oven until slightly browned.
ENJOY!

Fact:
According to the National Honey Board, bees can travel up to 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to produce one pound of honey.

2007-10-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

Flavorful Fruit Salad

Snack:
you need-
1 small can of pineapple chunks, drained
1 apple peeled, cored, and cubed
1 cup grapes
1 small can mandarine oranges, drained
1 cup vanilla yogurt

Place all the fruit in a bowl. Toss gently with the vanilla yogurt.
ENJOY!

Fact:
The essential oil from mandarin oranges is often used in the making of perfumes, especially those with a floral edge.

2007-10-06T06:56:00.000-04:00

Homemade Hummus

Snack:
you need-
15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained
1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and mashed
salt

Mix all ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth.
Serve with pita triangles or crackers.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Although they are originally from the Middle East, garbanzo beans are the most consumed legume
in the whole world!

2007-10-05T05:45:00.000-04:00

Favorite Shake

Snack:
you need-
4 scoops vanilla or chocolate ice cream
3-4 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 large spoonful peanut butter
3 cubes of ice
1/4 cup of milk
Sprinkles

Put all the ingredients except for the sprinkles together in a blender. Blend on high until mixture is thick and creamy. Eat immediately and sprinkle top of milkshake with sprinkles if desired.
ENJOY!

Fact:
The largest known milkshake was created in New York in 2000. It measured 6000 gallons!

2007-10-04T06:52:00.000-04:00

Delicious Devileds

Snack:
you need-
6 eggs
1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing
2 tablespoons mustard
salt
pepper
onion powder
paprika

Boil the eggs for 20 minutes. Peel when cool. Cut in half lengthwise, removing yolks and saving them in another bowl. Smash the yolks with a fork. Miix in all ingredients except paprika. Spoon mixture into reserved egg white halves. Sprinke with paprika.
ENJOY!

Fact:
White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes according to the American Egg Board.

2007-10-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Chex Chow

Snack:
you need-
9 cups Chex cereals
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Put cereal into a large bowl; set aside. In a medium-sized microwaveable bowl, combine semi-sweet choclate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for one to one and a half minutes. Stir at one minute until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal mixture into a large resealable plastic bag with powdered sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.
ENJOY!

Fact:
More than $4 billion of the United States' economy each year comes from peanuts.

*photo courtesy of jupiterimages.com

2007-10-01T05:50:00.000-04:00

Quicky Quesadilla

Snack:
you need-
2 flour tortillas
Approximately 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spray a frying pan with non-stick cooking spray and layer the pan with a toritlla, then the cheese spread evenly, topped with another tortilla. Cook on medium heat until the cheese is melted, then flip on to the other side using a spatula. Let it cook until both tortillas are golden brown and crispy. Take it off the heat and cut using a pizza slicer. Serve with sour cream if desired.
ENJOY!

Fact:
A normal cheddar cheese wheel weighs about 60-75 pounds. However, Queen Victoria received one as a wedding present that weighed over 1,000 pounds!

*photo courtesy of jupiterimages.com

2007-09-30T06:30:00.000-04:00

Creamy Carrot Dip

Snack:
you need-
1 cup sour cream
4 teaspoons dry ranch-style salad dressing mix
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber
1/4 cup finely chopped zucchini

Combine the sour cream and dressing mix in a medium bowl; mix well. Stir in any or all of the vegetables you desire, cover the dish. Refrigerate for an hour or two to let the flavors mix. Serve the dip with carrots, celery or any other fresh vegetable dippers.
ENJOY!

Fact:
Carrots were first grown in Afghanistan in the 7th century. They were originally yellow on the inside and purple on the outside!