Category Archives: Sweet & Simple

Sweet & Simple: Honey Roasted Nuts

When it comes to flavors, sweet and salty treats provide the ultimate eating experience. They give a little bit of this and a little bit of that so you don’t have to choose when you snack sensors start calling to you. It’s the best of both worlds, a complex blend of sugar and salt to create multiple levels of flavor.

Honey is perhaps the most naturally sweet substance mother nature has bestowed upon us (besides sugar itself). It’s like sweet liquid gold. In contrast, nuts are the Earth’s natural salty snack. Combine the two, and you’ve got the pinnacle of salty-sweet snacks in the most basic form that nature intended.

These Honey Roasted Nuts are a handful of honey-kissed delight. With the perfect balance of salty and sweet, they are wonderfully satisfying to your snack attack cravings. They’ve even got a bit of heat that kicks in when you least expect it, spicing up your snacking experience. These aren’t your ordinary store-bought honey roasted peanuts; they’re fresh from the oven, made with real honey, and packing more flavor in one peanut than a whole jar of the store-bought stuff.

Besides being delicious, these nuts are quick and easy to make. Mix up the ingredients and give it a nice and toasty roast, and you’ve got yourself a snack. They’re the perfect finger food for Super Bowl celebrations, or for late-night self-indulging. To share or not to share? That’s up to you, my little cookies.

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Sweet & Simple: Fluffernutter Nilla Wafer Sandwiches

Sometimes, I stare vacantly into my pantry or fridge for what seems like hours on end. My face is void of expression, and my breathing slows until I enter a trance-like state. During this intense process, my mind is calculating, my eyes frantically scanning the food storage system in front of me as if it could spontaneously generate food from air alone. When at last this process comes to an end, I will snap back into consciousness, exhale with great vigor, and then come to the conclusion:

“THERE’S NOTHING TO EAT.”

Has this ever happened to you? It’s an all too common occurrence in a human’s every day life. We don’t really mean it in a literal sense. Clearly, if I’m staring into a fridge full of food, then there is plenty to eat. I’m just not in the mood for any of it.

On the other hand, there can be plenty of items in your fridge or pantry, but no conceivable way to make a meal out of it. You’ll look at the box of pasta and the fresh garlic and think, “I could make spaghetti,” only to then realize you have no form of tomato. For the duration of time you find yourself gawking into your fridge or freezer like a zombie, you are making these calculations, linking foods together to try and form a conceivable whole.

I found myself in this exact situation earlier this afternoon when my stomach cried out for a snack. I stared into my pantry for a good five minutes before informing my dog, Reese, that there was nothing (I think conversing with animals is a sign of starvation).

There was a cornucopia of foods in the kitchen, and I knew there was a way to bring it all together, I just had to figure out how. So, I stuck my head back into the pantry and assessed my options. I started weaving things together into a delicious web. Peanut butter…a snack pack of pudding I’ll probably never eat…Nilla wafers…Fluff…AHA!

Fluffernutter Nilla Wafer Sandwiches.

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Mr. McChip’s Top 20 Holiday Recipes

Well, my little cookies, the holidays are upon us at last! In case your menu is lacking, Mr. McChip took the honor of lining up his 20 favorite Smart Cookie holiday recipes for you!

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Holiday Sweet & Simple: Christmas Cookie Sammies

It’s no secret that Christmas cookies are a seasonal staple. The month of December is dedicated to (lovingly) slaving away in the kitchen over a plethora of different kinds of cookies while your naive face is covered in flour because no one in your family was kind enough to let you know. Christmas cookie baking may seem daunting, but it’s really quite fun, especially if you get your family involved. It’s a must-do activity when Christmas time rolls around.

Or at least, it is for most people. For avid bakers and cookie lovers like myself, it may be hard to believe that some people don’t bake Christmas cookies.

They buy them.

I know, I know. It’s shocking. But some people just don’t like baking. Or perhaps they like it, but they aren’t particularly skilled at it. Now, if you’re one of those people, here is my appeal to you: bake some cookies this year. I’m not asking you to scratch-make sugar cookie dough, roll it out, cut it into Christmas shapes, then whip up some royal frosting and elaborately decorate each one. Let’s be honest; I’m not even going to do that. What I am asking you to do is take the semi-homemade route. It’s still tastier than store-bought, and you get to spend quality time in the kitchen with your loved ones. Don’t have anyone to bake with? Bake with yourself! Baking can be very relaxing; it’s a great stress-reliever.

My Christmas Cookie Sammies are made for those of you looking for simple yet yummy and festive cookies that you won’t have a meltdown over making. They’re as easy as they are delicious. Cute as can be, these frosting-filled cookie sandwiches are sure to impress all your family and friends.

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Sweet & Simple: 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Contrary to what some people may think, having a food website does not mean you cook and bake elaborate eats every single day. In fact, with life constantly forging ahead at full-speed, I usually wind up eating quick and simple things more than I do the fancy and indulgent. This is especially the case when it comes to dessert. I rarely have time to make a fancy dessert, so I find myself getting creative. If you want a delicious dessert to curb your craving for something sweet at the end of your day but don’t have time to bake, then you’ll have to work with the time you’ve got.

That, my little cookies, is where this 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Rice Pudding comes in. You need only 2 things to whip it up: pumpkin butter & a rice pudding snack pack. Stir it up and eat up! And, if you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can add a dollop of whipped cream.

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Sweet & Simple: Nutter Butter & Jelly Wafer Sandwiches

The dynamic duo of peanut butter & jelly is perhaps one of the most iconic in America. It is a childhood staple, and almost impossible not to like. It’s a taste we learn to love at a young age and an adoration we never really lose. In theory, it may not make sense. Grapes & peanuts? Nonsense! But when put together in reality, a perfect salty-sweet symphony results. No other combo compares.

I find that people are always looking for new ways to fuse together PB&J without stuffing them inside the same old sandwich. My quick & easy snack, Nutter Butter & Jelly Wafers, is a tasty new twist on that classic combo. Simply sandwich jelly in between two crisp & airy, PB-stuffed Nutter Butter Wafers, and you’ve got a sweet & simple snack that’s full of awesome PB&J flavor. It’s an easy and delicious snack, perfect for serving to your kids when they get home from school or to yourself when you’re yearning for a sweet & salty fix!

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Sweet & Simple: Roasted Garlic Broccoli & Shallots

Let’s play a trick on everyone.

You can fool your family.

You can deceive your dinner guests.

You can pull one over on your significant other.

How are we going to do this?

We’re going to make them think we spent a ton of time on a complex and impressive dish. It will be delicious and bursting with flavor, boasting a beautiful and colorful presentation as well.

But we are only going to spend 30 minutes tops making it. And they will never know…

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Sweet & Simple: Caramel Macchiato Pudding

For me, the day has got to end with dessert. I need that something sweet to finish off a long day of hard work. As much as I love indulgent, decadent desserts like PB & J Tiramisu or Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes, sometimes I just don’t have time or the ingredients to whip some up. Furthermore, one shouldn’t eat that indulgently every day. Luckily, I’ve got a few quick, easy, and guilt-free go-to desserts that are just as delicious as they are simple. They satisfy my sweet tooth with minimal effort & minimal guilt.

This yummy Caramel Macchiato Pudding is one of those desserts. It sounds a lot fancier than it actually is. In fact, it’s so simple it’s ridiculous. You start with Jello sugar-free pudding. This is one of my secret weapons. I always have a flavor or two in the fridge. It’s awesome for several reasons, the most obvious being that it’s 60 CALORIES. What’s also great is how you can dress it up. I spread it on CocoPop, top it with Cool Whip, or mix in some fruit.

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Sweet & Simple: Easy Pumpkin Oreos

Are you in need of an easy and sweet spooky treat? Then these grinning jack-o-lantern Oreos are for you! The classic sandwich cookie gets all dressed up in a pumpkin costume for Halloween! They’re perfect for Halloween parties & handing out to trick-or-treaters for several reasons:

  1. They look so cute and festive, but they’re cake to make.
  2. They’re made from a delicious cookie that everyone loves, made better with a white chocolate coating!
  3. Finger foods = perfect party munching!

You can whip the white chocolate glaze up in minutes, so these Oreos are as easy as they are tasty! It’s a fancy and festive snack without all of the fuss.

So, saddle up with your Halloween spirit and whip up these cute & delicious, white chocolate-drenched Oreos. You’ll be feeling spooky in no time!

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Roasted Chickpeas with a Kick

Crunchy munchy eats are the ultimate snacks. Refer to nuts, chips, popcorn, granola, etc. I’m always looking for new ones, especially ones that pose healthy benefits as well. I love a good handful of nuts for an afternoon boost of protein. For a long time, I’ve been wanting to try roasted chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans). Lucky for me, my monthly Food Network Magazine came in today and what easy recipe did it offer?

Roasted Chickpeas of course!

I had all of the ingredients on hand so, naturally, I roasted these babies up in no time. Man, is this one tasty & addictive snack! You pop one in, and you pop in ten more! They’re just so yummy with a crispy, crunchy exterior and tender, creamy interior. It’s a textural rainbow. Plus, these little chickies are bursting with flavor from the zesty seasonings. Snacking never tasted so good!

But wait! There’s more! These tasty toasted treats aren’t just for snacking. Sprinkle ‘em over a salad for the perfect crunchy kick to your leafy greens. Plus, it bulks up the salad with protein.

Best of all, these are easy as pie to whip up. Toss the chickpeas in the seasonings and some olive oil then roast and toast! It’s that simple.

With such an easy, crunchy, tender snack that’s packed with 12 grams of protein per cup, why would you not make these?

A Few Tips Before You Get Cooking:

  1. Dry the chickpeas very well. The drier they are, the crispier they’ll get!
  2. Play with the seasonings to create a mix you like. Although, this one is pretty darn good!

Zesty Roasted Chickpeas
Recipe adapted from The Food Network Magazine

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and thoroughly dried
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. chile powder or chipotle chile powder for an extra kick
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Toss the chickpeas with the olive oil and seasonings until thoroughly and evenly coated.
  3. Spread coated chickpeas out on baking sheet in an even layer. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden.