healthy snacks

Simple Roasted Edamame

Back in 2009, I was introduced to edamame at an Army conference I had gone to. I was with a group of other Army spouses and we were hanging out after working all day and having dinner. The hotel had a couple options for dinner and the one was sushi. The one spouse explained how she hated sushi but her husband loved it but she discovered edamame and that is what she eats when her husband needs a sushi fix and she proceeded to order some. As someone who is anti-sushi myself and generally avoids it I was intrigued by these bean looking things but soon fell in love with them. I immediately knew I needed to buy some and make them for my family when I got home.

Simple Roasted Edamame | My Hot Southern Mess

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Peanut Butter Monster Rice Cakes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpreadTheMagic #CollectiveBias

I have to tell you something about my family, they are peanut butter monsters. Each and every one of them. It is insane the amount of peanut butter my family goes through in a month. I sometimes wonder if my family has peanut butter running through their veins they eat so much of it. With eating the quantities that we do there are always debates. Like the basic Creamy, Crunchy or both? Regular peanut butter or honey peanut butter? Which peanut butter is the best peanut butter? My husband and I have seriously stood in the aisle comparing labels for a good twenty minutes trying to figure that last one out. Then I discovered a new peanut butter, Peter Pan Simply Ground Honey Roast at Walmart.

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

I fell in love with it. I shared some with Lil Miss and Mr Great when we made Peanut Butter Monster Rice Cakes but I want to keep the rest to myself. Would it be that bad if I hid it for myself?

So what makes this peanut butter so special? Peter Pan Simply Ground Honey Roast is “creamy with a BIT OF CRUNCH.” It’s not smooth but at the same time it is not a traditional crunchy peanut butter. It is similar to the texture of freshly ground peanut butter. I really like the texture. It is perfect just spread on a rice cake, my go to pre- long run breakfast to just dipping some Honeycrisp apple slices in.

Thinking about my favorite things to eat with peanut butter with I came up with a great snack idea for my kids, Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters. When my boy’s were younger I was always trying to come up with cute snack ideas for school. By the time it is my daughters turn most of these ideas are old news and she wants something different. Halloween is coming up so I knew I had to get to work for her class halloween party so I started brainstorming and came up with an idea that combines some of my favorite things and lets her play with her food. To top it off it is a healthy snack. Can you say win-win?

Peanut Butter Monster Rice Cakes | Country Girl Gourmet

 These monsters are somee of the easiest things to make. All you need is Peter Pan Simply Ground Original Honey Roast, Rice Cakes and your favorite food. Raisins, chocolate chips, nuts and pretzels could be used also if desired. Get creative with it!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

Step one, prepare your fruit. If you will not be eating your monsters right away and will be using apples remember to add some lemon juice to help prevent the apples from browning.

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

Next open up your peanut butter, doesn’t that peanut butter look delicious!Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

Spread 2 (or more) tablespoons of peanut butter on a rice cake. If you add more I won’t judge. Peter Pan Simply Ground Honey Roast is good stuff!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

Once your peanut butter is evenly spread across your rice cake it is time to play with your food and create your monster.

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

My daughter loved this part!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet

I thought my monster was pretty cute!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl Gourmet
Ok so both of our monsters were pretty cute!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl GourmetAll that is left now is to eat. My daughter loved her snack!

Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters | Country Girl GourmetShe keeps asking me when she can make another one! I have to say this was a definite win! I am looking forward to sharing these Peanut Butter Rice Cake Monsters with her friends for Halloween!

What is your favorite Peanut Butter combination?

Peanut Butter Monster Rice Cakes
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 Rice Cake
  • 2 TablespoonsPeter Pan Simply Ground Original Honey Roast (or more depending on your taste)
  • your favorite sliced fruit, berries, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Prepare fruit for topping rice cake. If using apples, toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  2. Evenly spread 2 Tablespoons (or more) of peanut butter on a rice cake.
  3. Create monster faces with your favorite fruit, berries, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips.
  4. Enjoy and devour your monster!

Faux Cookie Dough Dip

I have a few vegan friends so my Facebook feed is often filled with things made with or from chickpeas. Seriously chickpeas can be turned into anything! They aren’t just for hummus anymore. I have seen recipes for everything from chickpea burgers to chickpea buttercream and other sweet treats. I’ve really been wondering how in the world in the world the chickpea does it. Yet alone how do all these chickpea creations taste. So I jumped right on into the deep end of chick pea recipes, Faux Cookie Dough Dip.

Faux Cookie Dough Dip | Country Girl Gourmet

I think most people have memories of making cookies and eating bites of the cookie dough but never too much because of the raw eggs. It’s the best part of making cookies; it’s classic comfort food. With faux cookie dough dip I have found the perfect solution to having cookie dough and being able to eat it without much worry of salmonella or the calories. There is no egg, no butter and no flour and the recipe can easily be made completely vegan if desired. Healthy cookie dough yes please! I am all about healthy substitutions and this dip was a winner!

Faux Cookie Dough Dip | Country Girl Gourmet

I know what you are thinking though, how in the world do you transform a can of beans into something sweet and delicious? I thought the same thing as I was opening my chickpeas but it works. I can’t tell you how other than chickpea magic. I threw my ingredients into my food processor and out came cookie dough deliciousness! My entire family loved the cookie dough dip and had no clue how healthy it really was, let alone it was made from chickpeas. The faux cookie dough dip pairs beautifully with apples. I loved it with a honey crisp apple while my daughter enjoyed her’s with a granny smith. Then again you could skip the apples and just dig into it with a spoon. I wouldn’t judge you if you did, i’d probably ask where is my spoon? Can I have some too?

Do you cook with chickpeas? What is your favorite chickpea recipe?

Faux Cookie Dough Dip | Country Girl Gourmet

Faux Cookie Dough Dip
 
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Ingredients
  • 1½ cups cooked chickpeas
  • 6 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ¼ cup nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter,etc.)
  • 3 tablespoons oats
  • 1 tablespoon milk (dairy,almond, etc.)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips (carob chips may be substituted)
Instructions
  1. Blend chickpeas, brown sugar, peanut butter, oats, milk, vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda together in a food processor until smooth; fold in chocolate chips

Recipe from Allrecipes.com