‘Snack’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Spanokopita

October 3, 2018 · Narrative

Light, buttery, flaky layers stuffed with spinach and salty feta … this Spanokopita is so simple to make and seriously delicious.

A friend mentioned she wanted to make spanokopita, the popular Greek comfort food dish, for one of her kids, and we soon found ourselves in the kitchen learning how to make it. Although I like it, and have had it while eating out, I’ve actually never made it before. But after seeing how simple it was to actually make, and how delicious the end result was, I can see this making a regular appearance in my kitchen. If only my kids would eat it! Neither will eat spinach in any recipe, except occasionally these Spinach Cheese Squares.

I googled to find a few recipes and compared them, and ended up just winging it from there. Honestly, with just a handful of basic ingredients, this one is hard to mess up, and now that we have a basic guideline down, I can see making some different varieties in the future… maybe adding some pesto or sun-dried tomatoes, for example.

The two biggest tips I can give you are to put your phyllo pastry dough in the fridge the day before so it defrosts slowly on its own, and to make sure you really wring your spinach dry after defrosting it. If it’s too soggy, it will make a mess of your nice buttery layers.

Squares of this spanokopita make a nice light lunch or dinner when paired with a green salad or fresh fruit, or as an afternoon snack. Heck, I’d even eat it for breakfast!

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Recipe: Asian Quinoa Salad

January 17, 2017 · Narrative

Light, healthy, and super easy to make, this Asian Quinoa Salad makes a delicious lunch or side dish.

Last week, I ran a kids’ workshop where we focused on Chinese New Year. We did two crafts (more details on those coming soon), and we made this Asian Quinoa Salad.

Any time I can get the kids shredding and chopping vegetables, they are happy campers, and feeding them a healthy, clean salad is most definitely a bonus at the end of the class.

This recipes makes a HUGE bowl, so safe to say it serves six as a salad, or me if I feast on it for the week. You can add grilled chicken or shrimp to it and really make it a more hearty meal, or keep it as is for a light salad, snack, or side item. It takes less than 25 minutes to make, which means it’s an easy weeknight choice, or make it on Sunday and keep the dressing on the side and you’ll have lunch for the week.

I love how colorful it is, and how guilt-free it is. It’s kind of like Spring on a plate, despite the gloomy grey skies we’ve been seeing out of our window lately, and it’s got a great crunch to it.

*That gorgeous plate comes from Suite One Studios, and the beautiful wood background comes courtesy of my Saturday morning dumpster diving adventures as seen on Snapchat (I’m cateomalley on snap).

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Recipe: Cheesy Bean Dip

August 10, 2016 · Appetizers, Dips & Spreads

I’m a dip fan at heart, and if it includes hot, gooey, melted cheese, all the better. This Cheesy Bean Dip recipe is perfect when you have the munchies, are having a Movie Night at home, or just because.

No matter how many times I look at the word cheesy, it always looks like it’s spelled wrong.

Is it just me?

So… this summer I started teaching kids cooking camps. And that has actually morphed into some kids cooking workshops as well. It’s been a lot of work, but loads of fun. It’s truly one of those things where, during the first session, I looked around and thought, “this. this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

During one of my July sessions, my campers and I decided to have a Dip Day, where we spent the afternoon making all sorts of dip recipes, both savory and sweet.

Because, really, who doesn’t LOVE dip?

This recipe for Cheesy Bean Dip was one of my favorites, and I’ve already made it several times since then, most recently when we were down the shore with family this past weekend.

Just a few staple pantry ingredients, and a whole lotta fresh grated cheese, and you’ll be spooning this sinfully delicious stuff into your mouth in no time at all.

I’m not gonna lie. It’s probably not the healthiest thing you’re going to eat, despite the plethora of beans.

But balance. Focus on balance.

Just don’t miss this one.

Hungry for more dip recipes?
This Spinach Artichoke Dip is a healthy riff off an old favorite.
Pizza Dip was a recipe I made with some June campers.
For more hot cheesy deliciousness, this Bacon and Cheese Dip is another guilty pleasure.
And despite a flashback to bad photography and the trauma that surrounded Hurricane Sandy, this Warm Cheddar Dip is still a winner.

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Recipe: Baked Zucchini Fries

August 8, 2016 · Narrative

Baked Zucchini Fries are a super simple, nearly guilt-free snack or appetizer recipe that will keep you coming back for more.

I’ve gotta be honest.

When it comes to zucchini, I can take it or leave it.

I have no problem eating it, but I’m just not going to be craving it anytime soon.

And I speak from years of experience.

So, like cauliflower, it means that I tend to keep my eyes out for ways to get creative with it, in the interest of eating more of it.

So here we are.

At 14, Nick is a full-fledged teenager, and with that comes the appetite. Although he, more often times than not, chooses healthier fare on his own, he does love mozzarella sticks, so I was aiming to make something that might taste like mozzarella sticks … without all that fried guilt.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’ll think you’re eating mozzarella sticks when you take a bite of these zucchini fries, but they just might be the next best thing.

Slice your zucchini up into fry-like pieces, dip them in an egg wash bath, and then a bread crumb coating and bake them up. Serve them with a side of marinara sauce for the runner up to the more traditional mozzarella sticks.

No joke, these were actually my dinner last night.

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Recipe: Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola Bars

March 3, 2016 · Clean Eating, Narrative, Snacks

A tasty, crispy granola bar with bits of chocolate chips that will keep you coming back for more.

In all my years of clean eating, I will say that one of the biggest keys to success is 1) not bringing junk into your home, and 2) making sure your kitchen is stocked with healthy items.

Grab and go items? Even better.

If I don’t have Doritos in the house, I’m not going to eat them.

It really is that simple.

Because while I like Doritos, I’m not going to get in my car and go to the store to specifically buy them.

So if you and I make sure our cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator are consistently stocked with healthy items, it’s far easier to stay on track.

#goals

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Recipe: Trail Mix Energy Balls

December 14, 2015 · Snacks

Healthy and delicious little energy balls are just the thing when that afternoon slump hits … or any other time of the day.

When it comes to making good food choices, I think no matter what plan, lifestyle, or diet anyone follows, I think we can all agree on one thing.

If you don’t have crap in your house, you won’t eat it.

It really is that simple.

Rarely do I have a craving so intense that I will actually LEAVE my house, GET in my car, and GO GET IT.

So that means that if you keep healthy (or relatively healthy) items in your house, chances are that’s what you’ll eat.

If you have Oreos in your cupboard, you’re more prone to eat them.

#life

Which means I make a conscious effort, for the most part, to make sure I stock the healthy stuff.

That’s not to say that Oreos aren’t in our pantry.

They are.

But a) they don’t tempt me and b) it’s all about balance, baby.

So here we are … Trail Mix Energy Balls.

Takes less than 15 minutes to make them, and it will take the edge off when you’re a little bit hungry but don’t need a meal. Or to cover you during that afternoon slump when you’re CRAVING ALL THE THINGS. Or if you need a little sweet finish to end your evening. This is that. I’ve included the recipe below, but know this … it is forgiving. Swap out the agave and use honey. Use chia seeds instead of flax. Or go crazy and USE BOTH. Allergic to peanut butter? Almond butter or sunbutter is a-ok too. Carob chips would be a great substitute for the chocolate chips. Just understand the basics of the recipe and the measurements, and GO TO TOWN.

Hungry for more?
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls are similar, but different, and equally delicious in their own right.

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A Day in the Life {Milk Life}

October 22, 2015 · Ad-Free, Narrative

The folks at Milk Life asked me to talk about A Day in the Life of our home and how I instill healthy eating habits, and as the kids had a heated debate over who was going to eat the last Nutella and Go, I had to chuckle.

Because that’s really it right there.

Nutella is life.

I mean, it has dairy in it, right?!

No, no, no … that isn’t my message.

At least not this time.

An hour earlier and they were divvying up the roasted broccoli to make sure they each had a heaping plateful.

And that’s my message.

All things in moderation.

I don’t harp on what is healthy, and what isn’t healthy necessarily. I more or less guide the kids as to what may be a better choice, and what we need to keep a rein on (see: Nutella), and it’s served me well over the years.

Madeline eats cherry tomatoes like they’re Hershey Kisses. And Nick loves to snack on frozen grapes and yogurt. And yesterday, when they saw I came home with a bunch of broccoli for dinner, they high-fived each other. Because roasted broccoli is everything. No joke.

From the time we wake up to the time we hit the pillow, we just try to make smart choices most of the time.

A grab-and-go breakfast like these Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, a granola bar, a Go-Gurt, or something else along those lines.

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Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars

June 17, 2015 · Narrative

A delicious twist on the traditional Rice Krispie Bars, this Chocolate Peanut Butter version is in a league of its own.

Confession.

There are two recipes that, over the years, have become my Achilles Heel.

Barefoot Contessa’s Outrageous Oreo Brownies. Try as I might, I have given up on successfully making the recipe and shall live vicariously through others.

Because the ingredients are just too expensive to continue to waste them in my failed attempts.

And Rice Krispie Bars. As strange as that may sound. I mean, I can make a decadent Creme Brulee that will leave you looking for more, but I can’t master a traditional kid treat that EVERYBODY makes?

I don’t know. Something about the part when I’m mixing the marshmallows with the Rice Krispies.

So it should come as a big surprise that when I saw this recipe on Elise’s site, I decided to make them.

I think I was #partydrunk.

That moment pre- or post-party when you are too delirious from all the planning to really act rationally.

I was heading to the last planning session before a friend and I threw a party for 65 people. I wanted to bring something to snack on, you know, to keep us going, saw this recipe, and here we are.

Clearly I wasn’t thinking straight, given my Rice Krispie history, but somehow this one worked.

#cuethechorus

Super simple to make, you might even have the ingredients on hand. It’s the perfect thing to bring to a summer fete at a friend’s house, a block party, or a last minute planning sesh when you need brainstorm (raising my hand).

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Recipe: Buffalo Wing Popcorn

June 15, 2015 · Narrative

A cross between Cracker Jacks and your favorite hot wings, this recipe for Buffalo Wing Popcorn just might be your new favorite snack.

My kids were out, I had a ton of work to do, and I wasn’t hungry.

Which is the perfect storm that led me to eating Buffalo Wing Popcorn for dinner on Friday night.

That, and not only did I just spy this recipe the night before, but the folks at Frank’s Red Hot Sauce had just sent me a few bottles of their hot sauce.

If that isn’t fate, I don’t know what is.

Ever since I started being ridiculously diligent about reading labels, Frank’s is the only hot sauce I use because it’s made without sugar.

And once you start reading labels, you soon realize how sugar is added to EVERYTHING.

I will be the first to say that this recipe, although quick to make, is a tad finicky. The caramel making portion of the recipe, that is.

Because it took me three attempts to be successful at getting it to the “deep camber color,” but avoid the “burning it” phase.

Burned it twice.

My advice?

Don’t turn it up to medium-high as the recipe suggests.

Don’t let it go 10-12 minutes as the recipe suggests.

And watch it like a HAWK.

And then you’ll be fine.

Once you’ve mastered that little piece of it (and by the second ruined batch of caramel, I was determined, darn it), the rest is quick and easy.

The end result?

The popcorn reminded me of what would happen if Cracker Jacks married hot wings.

It would result in this deliciousness.

Slightly sticky.

Slightly sweet.

And despite only a quarter cup of hot sauce, slightly hot.

Good stuff.

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Recipe: Sweet Potato Curly Fries

June 11, 2015 · Narrative

Craving french fries, but not the side order of guilt? Make sweet potato curly fries and indulge.

By now, you have likely heard of zucchini noodles, or “zoodles,” as they are sometimes called. When I bought my spiralizer over a year ago, that was the first dish I made, and to this day, it is the most repeated one. But for every time I make a zucchini noodle dish, I try to make a recipe using a different ingredient. Because I know all too well how easy it is to fall into a rut.

Just ask me what I’ve had for lunch every day for the past three weeks…

(egg salad sandwich, homemade mayo, toasted whole grain bread with a side of grapefruit)

When it comes to sweet potatoes, the kids aren’t fans. I’ve tried roasted. These fritters. Baked with brown sugar and butter.

They’re just not there yet.

And I get it. I don’t think I really started liking sweet potatoes until I was a grown up.

But these fries?

They had a couple.

#minorvictory

They could not be simpler to make. Crispy strands of pure fun for your taste buds. Play around with the seasoning to make a version that appeals to you.

Go sweet.

Go spicy.

GO CRAZY.

And eat fries without feeling guilty.

Hungry for more inspiralized recipes?
This recipe for Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Cream Sauce is super light and perfect for a hot summer night.
I was just raving about this dish to a co-worker this morning. It is lick-the-plate good.

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Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

June 1, 2015 · Narrative

When you need to satisfy a sweet craving, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls might just be your new BFF.

I honestly don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I’m more of a salty snack girl.

And queso.

All kinds of cheese.

Always and forever, amen.

Which is why I’m able to bake as much as I do, because most of the time it doesn’t tempt me.

But every once in awhile, I’ll get a craving for something sweet, and as much as I try to eat healthy 85% of the time, when the craving is fierce, I’m sorry, but a handful of grapes, much as I love them, just isn’t going to cut it.

This is when you need to start thinking outside of the box a bit and get creative.

Slightly adapted from a post I saw on Instagram last week, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls are the ticket to satisfying that intense I NEED CHOCOLATE NOW moment.

Five minutes to make, four ingredients, super healthy.

But the best part? You’d think you were eating a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup if you didn’t know better.

TRUST ME.

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Recipe: Pizza Waffles

May 28, 2015 · Narrative

Your waffle maker is ready to make so much more than just waffles. How about we try Pizza Waffles?

It took me nearly forty-five years to buy a waffle maker, but never let it be said that I bought it to make waffles.

At some point, I’m sure I will be all traditional with it and make a batch or three of waffles, mostly for Madeline because I don’t eat them and Nick rarely does.

But in the meantime?

How about we continue some out-of-the-box thinking and make Pizza Waffles instead?

This inspiration came on a recent Friday night when I found myself with a house full of unexpected kid visitors.

Who were hungry.

Normally my go-to in situations like that would be a big platter of spaghetti, because it’s an easy crowd-pleaser, and I always have the ingredients on hand. But I had a little bit of extra time, so I decided to get a little creative instead.

And Pizza Waffles were born.

Because next to spaghetti, pizza is equally popular amongst the kid-set.

No official recipe, but that just means this “guideline” is ultra-forgiving and dummy-proof.

Which is pretty much my favorite kind of recipe.

In less than five minutes, I had seven kids served and coming back for seconds.

The waffle maker makes them deliciously crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Clean up is a breeze, you use mostly ingredients that you have on hand, and you can customize these tasty little bites to cater to your crew’s varying taste buds.

What more could you want?

Hungry for more waffle ideas?
These Bacon, Egg, and Spinach Waffles are another delicious alternative.

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