Favorite make-ahead snacking foods?

[lalaland42]

I am 9 months pregnant, tired, and I have a 4.5 year old picky pants. I am looking for some recipes that I can make ahead and keep for snacking. Like finger foods, mini-muffin or the like. Anyone have a favorite hummus recipe?

I don't have a microwave so it is not so easy to reheat things like leftovers and I don't have a crockpot (yet). I do have an immersion blender and reheating soup is easy so that would be OK.

TIA!

[Cullens_Girl]

subbing

[napless]

Here's the hummus recipe I use.

For a more traditional hummus flavor, replace the peanut butter with 3 Tbsp (45 mL) of tahini (sesame butter).

You'll need a food processor for this recipe.

1 can (19 oz/540 mL) chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)

1 clove garlic, pressed

2 Tbsp/30 mL smooth peanut butter

2 Tbsp/30 mL lemon juice

1 Tbsp/15 mL oil

pinch paprika

Drain the chickpeas, reserving some of the liquid. Rinse the chickpeas in a colander under water to remove any salt.


Place all ingredients in food processor and process until very smooth. (This may take a while. Be patient! I used to stop too soon, and I ended up with bits of solid chickpea in my hummus. You may need to stop processing occasionally and use a spatula to push any solids down towards the blades.)


If the hummus is too thick, add a bit of the reserved liquid from the can until you have your desired texture.

Spread on crackers, serve as a dip with carrot and celery sticks, or use as a sandwich filling.

[napless]

...and here's a nice white bean dip

1 can (19 oz/540 mL) white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp/15 mL lemon juice

1 Tbsp/15 mL olive oil

1 clove garlic, pressed

1/2 tsp/2 mL dried oregano, crumbled

1/2 tsp/2 mL salt

1/4 tsp/1 mL pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor fitted with a blade.
Blend until very smooth.

[napless]

...and some tasty Protein Snacks

You can use either hulled or unhulled sesame seeds.

1 cup/250 mL peanut butter

1/2 cup/125 mL dry milk powder

1/2 cup/125 mL raisins

1/2 cup/125 mL sesame seeds

1/4 cup/60 mL honey

In a medium sized bowl, cream the peanut butter with the milk powder.
Stir in the raisins and sesame seeds.
Add the honey. Mix until well combined.
Using your clean hands, shape the mixture into small balls.
Chill, or enjoy immediately.

[napless]

...and some Peanut Butter Balls!

1/2 cup/125 mL dry milk

1/4 cup/60 mL peanut butter

1/4 cup/60 mL honey

1/4 cup/60 mL oats (quick or old fashioned)

1/4 cup/60 mL crisp rice cereal

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Using your clean hands, shape the dough into 1 inch/2 cm balls.
Put another 1/2 cup/125 mL crisp rice cereal into a ziplock bag. Crush the cereal with your hands.
Place the balls, a few at a time, in the bag. Shake until the balls are covered with cereal.
Eat immediately, or store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

[Magelet]

Another peanut butter ball recipe:

Mix Coconut oil and peanut butter (maybe slightly more pb than coconut oil, but you can change it for your taste), and a touch of honey. Refrigerate it, then scoop out balls and keep them refrigerated. You could also mix raisins into the mix before scooping.

[cristeen]

Deviled eggs

I used to keep a big bowl of cubed meat and cheese on hand. Usually a mix of pastrami, cheddar and pepper jack, but any mix of cooked/roast meat and cheese would work. It's a great quick protein snack.

[e(Lisa)beth]

[velochic]

I keep fruits and vegetables cut up and ready to eat in the fridge.

Sliced cheese and crackers.

I mix up cream cheese, roasted red peppers, sharp cheddar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, a bit of paprika or cayenne pepper and fresh herbs that I happen to have (basil or parsley, thyme, maybe). Dd loves to dip pretzels in this or spread it on crackers.

We often have overripe bananas, so I make banana bread regularly. I also keep canned pumpkin on-hand for pumpkin bread. Carrot cake is good, as is zucchini bread in the summertime. Sometimes dd likes to have a shmear of butter and honey on my homemade regular bread fresh out of the oven.

Also, for fruit that is getting ripe, I whiz it up in the blender with some milk or yogurt and make homemade popsicles. We keep frozen strawberries on hand, so a ripe banana, some strawberries and plain yogurt make a really delicious smoothie or popsicle.

Dd loves little tea sandwiches. I don't bother to cut of the crusts and slice the bread thin. Or I buy these mini pita pockets and let her stuff them.

The hummus we make doesn't have tahini in it. It's just chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.

Mini bagel and cream cream or peanut butter.

I make ww waffles and freeze them. Dd likes to toast them and eat with Nutella. I realize in the US Nutella doesn't seem healthy, but it's all natural (and dd cannot have anything that has preservatives or additives in it) and is really the peanut butter of Europe. She discovered it when we lived there and still enjoys it.

A favorite after-school snack is popcorn.

Wraps that are cut in to bit-sized pieces. Some cheese spread, lettuce, shredded chicken in a whole grain or flaxseed wrap would be a really simple idea.

Guacamole and chips... pita or tortilla.

Hope one or more of these ideas help. Dd isn't picky, so I'm not sure what picky eaters eat. Good luck!

[Carhootel]

deviled eggs for sure!

I also like to make fun smoothies and freeze them in popsicle containers, it's healthy, usually tastes sweet and easy to grab when I need a little pick me up.

One thing I remember from doing South Beach many years ago was to make little crustless quiches or baked omelettes or whatever in muffin cups - they save well, can be popped in your mouth and have a good amount of protein and veggies for you

[crunchymama514]

Wow, great thread. Thanks for the great ideas everyone!