Afternoon snacks!
for after school, after work, or just because you're hungry and need something to hold you over before dinner...
One of my best friends sent our group text a photo of her daughter going off to her first day of school today which was so sweet to see and also had me thinking about after school snacks because that’s who I am (lol). So I made us all a chart to kick off some snack ideas!
Like just about everything we eat, I think what makes a snack hit the spot is a mix of crunchy and soft, plus something salty and something sweet.
In no particular order, here are five ideas:
Some notes…
In case it’s not clear, the first two ideas — ants on a log and ‘a hot date’ (sorry I couldn’t help myself with that one) — are things all stuffed together.
For ants on a log, you fill the cavity of celery with peanut butter, top with raisins and/or chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of flaky salt. Classic!
For the hot dates, fill halved/pitted dates with goat cheese and top with crunchy chopped almonds (or any nut!), a pinch of flaky salt (which you can leave off if you’re using salted nuts) and a liberal amount of hot sauce. You could also do hot honey instead of hot sauce. Halved dates are also delicious filled with peanut butter (or any nut butter).
The next two ideas are for snack plates (I will never use the term “girl dinner”) which is one of my favorite categories of food in the world since a snack plate can be ANYTHING. In deciding what to put on one, keep the crunchy/soft/salty/sweet mix in mind and you can’t go wrong.
For ‘WOTD’ (Waffle of the Day) — let this be a reminder that a toaster waffle in an excellent vehicle for just about anything. Peanut butter and chocolate chips. Butter, sliced banana + honey. Cream cheese + raspberries. Whatever!
Paid subscribers, let us know your favorite afternoon snacks in the comments! Anything your kids love? Anything you loved when you were a kid + have returned to? I want to know!!!!!!!! I bet others do, too. <3
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10th: Make-Ahead Rosh Hashanah [2p EST / 90 MINS]
Sweet + Sour Brisket
Chicory Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
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Greek Salad Bowls with Homemade Pita Chips and Easy Cucumber Sauce
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Spinach + Feta Frittata
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I’ll be away the next two weeks so I’m going to take a tiny newsletter break. See you in a bit! xoxoxoox Julia
Hummus with crudites or toast or Wasa crackers with a little giardiniera on top. Or cottage cheese sprinkled with hot sauce also with crudites or toast or some sort of cracker. Or (and this is very specific) a little bowl of Costco dried cherries, Costco marcona almonds, and Guittard milk chocolate chips.
Ants on a log - upgraded - is to replace the raisins with goji berries for red ants on a log! Ha ha. My mom used to put cream cheese in the celery cavity, it’s more savory but very delicious. To this day, I eat a snack mix nearly every afternoon with some dry cereal, nuts, dried fruit and dark chocolate chips. It’s a hodge-podge and never the same combo twice. Travels well, too.