snack

Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus

If we are being honest with one another, I have a problem. The problem snuck up on me pretty slowly and now I’m in a full on free fall. I think I’m addicted to hummus. Yes, hummus. Plain, garlic, or spinach I’ll eat it. I think of it more of a super power. Sure, Superman can fly, and stop trains and save people, but can he down a container of hummus in a single sitting!? While on a hummus high I mixed up a batch of this delicious Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus and now there’s no going back!

Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus

Ingredients:

1 Can Chickpeas
1 Roasted Red Bell Pepper
5 Cloves of Roasted Garlic
2 tbl. Tahini
1 tbl. Lemon
1/2 tsp. Parsley
3/4 tsp. Cumin
1/4 tsp. Paprika
1/4 tsp. Salt
Olive Oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Remove the stem and seeds from the bell pepper, and cut in to pieces. On a baking sheet, brush the bell pepper with olive oil and roast along side a head of garlic for an hour.

Once they are cooked remove from the oven and allow to completely cool.

In a food processor blend the bell pepper and garlic. Add in the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and drizzle in olive oil.

Blend together until smooth.

Finally, mix in the seasonings (parsley, cumin, paprika, and salt) and blend until the mixture reaches the desired consistency.

Serve with chips, bread, vegetables, eat it with your fingers, find some pretzels, you get it. It’s just time to get down to business.

Crispy Apple Chips

New York Housewives Premiere tonight! What better way to ring in the new season than with some apple chips. Perfectly crisp and indulgent chips that make you feel like your eating heathy, because you are! After your second martini tonight you’ll need a snack.

Crispy Apple Chips

Ingredients:

2 Medium Apples
1/2 tsp. Sugar
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

Begin by peeling and coring two apples. Cut each apple in half, using a mandolin, thinly slice the apples.

On a metal baking sheet, lay the slices in a single layer (make sure not to over lap them).

Mix together sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Sprinkle on top of the apple slices.

Bake the apple chips for 40 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and flip the slices over. Sprinkle again with cinnamon mixture and continue to bake for another 40 minutes.

Once the apple chips are slightly browned, and edges have curled, it’s time to remove them from the oven.

When you initially take the chips out of the oven they will still be slightly soft. Don’t worry! Allow them to cool, and they will crisp up!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, so eat up!

Date Bites

Snack time! What’s better than some yummy snacks you don’t have to feel bad about? The majority of mainstream snacks on the market today are filled with chemicals and artificial ingredients. Rest assure, these delicious bites are only five ingredients and so easy to make. Kids and adults alike will love these babies!

Date Bites

Ingredients:

1 c. Dates
1/4 c. Almonds
1 tb. Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
Coconut Flour

Makes 11 bites.

Begin by chopping the almonds in a food processor. When the almonds are finished, remove them and set them aside. Next, place 1 cup of dates in the food processor. Once the dates are completely chopped, add the almonds, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix everything together until it forms a ball.

Prepare a small, shallow dish with coconut flour. Tear off evenly-sized bits from the mixture and form into a balls. Roll each ball in the coconut flour and dust off any extra flour.

If you’re feeling really crazy, try rolling the date bites in shredded coconut or ground nuts. If you really want to go for it, roll in some confectioner’s sugar. Variety is the spice of life, so live it up!

Popcorn Sliders

Summer is almost over but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any more fun to come! One of my favorite things on rainy summer days is to binge watch movie after movie. Comedy, Black and white, Drama, if its on, I’m watching. Before Labor Day hits and everyone goes back to their regularly scheduled lives, it’s time to round up the troupes to have a few more get togethers. Next movie night create some fun with these popcorn sliders.

Popcorn Sliders

Ingredients:

For popcorn:
1/4 c. Popcorn
1/3 c. Popcorn Kernels

For Sliders:

6 c. Popped Popcorn
1/2 c. Coconut shreds
1/2 c. Almond Slivers
1/4 c. Coconut Oil
1/2 c. Honey
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Almond extract
1 1/2c. Chocolate (dealers choice)
Cupcake Liners

Makes 12

If you’ve never popped your own popcorn, it’s pretty easy. Place 1/4 cup coconut oil into a large pot, heat on low. Place three popcorn kernels in the oil and put a lid on it. Wait till all three kernels have popped. If the kernels are taking a while, turn the heat up slightly. Once all three test kernels have popped, pour 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels into the pot and cover with a lid. When the popping starts to slow, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to rest until the popping completely stops. Put the popcorn in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Now you’re ready!

In a microwavable bowl place 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/2 a cup of honey. Heat until the ingredients have melted, about 30 seconds. Once they are melted, add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and mix.

Remove any of the kernels that haven’t popped from the popcorn bowl. Add 1/2 cup of almond slivers and 1/2 cup of coconut shreds to the popcorn and mix Next, add the honey mixture to the popcorn mixture and thoroughly coat the popcorn.

Spoon a small amount of chocolate onto the bottom of lined cupcake tins. Pile popcorn onto the chocolate, making sure to push the popcorn down into the chocolate. Place the cupcake tins into the freezer, so that the chocolate can harden.

Once the chocolate is set, take them out of the freezer and enjoy!