© 2006 Leslie Sausage

Simple snack ideas that are easy and quick to make!

1. Ants on a Log: Cut celery sticks into 3 or 4-inch lengths.
Spread peanut butter down the center, and then add raisins on top of the peanut butter.
A Kid Favorite!

2. Boiled or Deviled Eggs: Boil a dozen at a time.

Perfect Deviled Eggs

12 large eggs
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 T finely chopped onion
1 tsp snipped fresh chives
1 tsp snipped fresh parsley
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp each salt, pepper and garlic powder

For perfect eggs with no green center (caused by overcooking), place 12 eggs in a large pan and cover with 3" water (any amount of eggs, same directions). Do not use hot water. Place on burner over medium-high heat and immediately start timing for exactly 20 minutes. When water comes to a rolling boil, turn heat to low. Cracking eggs while still hot makes the shells easily slip off. Slice in half and scrape out yolks into a mixing bowl. Blend remaining ingredients well and fill egg halves. Sprinkle with additional paprika, chill well.

3. Crackers and Cheese: Cut cheese into small squares. Serve cheese with a handful of saltines or other crackers. Kids love to make little sandwiches out of them. Add cut up squares or triangles of lunchmeat if you like.

4. Crackers and Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese: If your family has no peanut butter allergies, saltines with peanut butter are delicious! Top with raisins, banana slices, or substitute cream cheese for the peanut butter. Jam or jelly is also a great standby with peanut butter or cream cheese.

5. Fruit!: Fresh fruit such as apples, bananas, oranges, and any other in season fruit make super snacks. Dried fruits are also good: apricots, banana chips or raisins. Canned fruit, especially peach or pear halves, and pineapple slices all have great kid appeal.

Fast Fruit Dip

2 parts marshmallow cream
1 part cream cheese; at room temperature

Blend the two and refrigerate until serving time. Fruit Dip may be thinned with fruit juice or milk, if desired. Mix all ingredients in mixer until fluffy. Cover and chill. Serve with fresh fruit for dipping.

Kool-Aid Yogurt Dip

2 T Kool-Aid sugar-sweetened soft drink mix, any flavor
1 C vanilla yogurt or sour cream

Stir soft drink mix into yogurt in medium bowl. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Stir.

6. Kid Kabobs: These are fun! You need toothpicks, cheese cubes, pineapple or banana chunks, and cooked meat chunks (cubed spam, ham chunks, or hot dog slices). Use your imagination! The kids love to thread their own kabobs.

7. Popcorn: Popcorn, popped on the stove, or in popcorn popper-such a great invention! For a special treat, add some melted butter.

8. Quickie Quesadillas: Using a toaster oven, put one or two saucer-size soft flour tortilla on the toasting rack. Add shredded cheese of your choice. Toast until cheese melts. Fold over. Serve with salsa. This is one our favorites!

9. Sandwiches: Cut them into small triangles or squares for a great addition to the snack tray. Even the "plain Jane", PB&J gets added significance when served on a special tray.

10. Snow on the Chimney: Similar to Ants on a Log--except you use cream cheese instead of peanut butter. Cut clean celery sticks into 3 or 4-inch lengths. Spread cream cheese down the center, and then add raisins on top of the peanut butter. Grown-ups like this too!

11. Tortilla Chips and Cheese: Add a large pile of tortilla chips to a dinner plate. Sprinkle the chips generously with your favorite shredded cheese. Microwave or toast until the cheese melts. This can be made in the oven using a pizza pan. Serve with salsa, bean dip or guacamole dip. To make an easy bean dip, combine several tablespoons of salsa with refried beans.

12. Vegetable Sticks: Carrot and celery sticks are the usual--but broccoli, radishes, turnip slices, green pepper and summer squash show up regularly. Serve with your favorite dip.

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This article may be freely distributed with the following information:

Leslie Sausage lives with her husband in rural Texas. She is the mom of four grown children, a freelance writer, and has a degree in business administration. You are invited to visit her online for more creative, practical and fun ideas -- http://heart4home.net.

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