These little morsels are perfect for topping salads, adding to stir-frys or just eating straight. Considering that they are full of protein and fiber, these salty soybeans make a healthy, filling and satisfying snack. Much better than those potato chips out of the vending machine! Make a batch, but I would double the recipe, 1 cup just wasn’t enough!

Roasted Edamame

• 1 cup frozen Organic edamame (not in shell)
• 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• garlic salt & red pepper flakes

Pre-heat oven to 400° F. Roast for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Increase time if you want them crunchier.

If you have any of these left after a party, I’m sure they would make a great addition to a salad with some greens, apple and blue cheese. The likely hood of actually having any left? Not very good. These addicting morsels are perfectly sweet and salty, with the mysterious flavor of curry that will keep people guessing.

I’m not sure where the original recipe came from, but my Mom has been making them for years and often gives packages away as gifts. They are always a hit and will be making the party round with me this year!

Curried Pecans

• 1 lb. pecans
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 2 Tbsp curry powder

Pre-heat oven to 250°. Spray pan with cooking spray and roast pecans for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, beat egg white until foamy and mix dry ingredients together. Toss pecans with egg whites and when evenly coated, toss with dry ingredients until all pecans are coated with curry and sugar mixture.

Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Around 3:00, every afternoon, I get a hankering for something crunchy and salty. I’m sure there is some “recommended snack” to get rid of that craving, but for me, nothing gets rid of a craving like actually eating what you are craving. I used to fall prey to these snack suggestions – eat celery if you are craving potato chips. So I would eat celery. And then I would eat an apple. And then I would eat some crackers. And then finally, since I was still craving chips, I would eat some potato chips. Now, I’m not saying that eating celery and apples are a bad thing – those are great choices and obviously can’t hurt, but if you are eating an entire meal of snacks before actually calming your craving, you may as well just eat the damn potato chips in the first place.

With this, I think it is important to say that this works for me because I can eat a serving (ok, ok sometimes I have 2) of potato chips and then be done with them. Which I know does not come as easy for others.

Back to my salty, crunchy cravings – popcorn is a stand-by for me but every so often I like to make something a little special…enter in Ranchish Snack Mix.

Ranch Snack Mix

• 1 bag Bearitos Lite Organic Popcorn
• 1 bag Newman’s Own Protein Pretzels
• 1/2 box Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies
• 1 cup sesame sticks (bulk)
• 2 cups Asian rice crackers (bulk)
• 1 packet Organic Ranch seasoning
• Sprinkles of paprika, cayanne and garlic salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Mix olive oil and seasonings together. Toss with remaining ingredients in large roasting pan. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes. Stir and bake another 5-10 minutes until golden brown.

When I think about family hikes as a child, one thing comes to mind:

Picture us, much like the Von Trapp family happily singing through the mountains of Austria. Except that it was probably just my mother and I singing “The Hills are Alive” and we were hiking in The Smoky Mountains…

We had gorp (peanuts, raisins and m&m’s) for every hike, which was definitely the highlight for my brother and I. More specifically the m&m’s were the highlight, and we took full advantage of this by needing to stop about every 20 minutes to “refuel” as I’m sure we called it.

Apparently my tastes haven’t changed too much in the last 20 years because my latest trail mix obsession contains a delightful mix of almonds, peanuts, chocolate chips and dried raspberries. It is the perfect ratio of nuts to sweets. Every two nuts has either a raspberry or chocolate to accompany it. Just the way it should be, right?

What is your perfect trail-mix blend?

Move over Greece, you have a new contender in the yogurt department. Siggi’s is an Icelandic style skyr (strained fat free yogurt) that has the protein (16 g) and thickness of Greek yogurt that I love. While this isn’t Organic -and I prefer my dairy Organic, unless it is in the form of aged gouda in which case, I really don’t care as long as I have it  - the milk comes from cows that are grass-fed on family farms in New York and given no horomones.

I tried the Pomegranate & Passion Fruit which is sweetened with agave instead of sugar. I never get flavored yogurts because the amount of sugar usually drives me a little crazy. (I like to eat my sugar in this form) It was perfectly tart and had a hint of sweetness without being over the top. I will definitley be trying the other varieties. Naturally topped with Dylan’s Chia and more chia.

I don’t know about you, but I work in an office and even though I generally pack snacks…sometimes I eat them by 1:30 So when 3:30 rolls around, I’m starving and I have 2 options – vending machine or heading to the store. FYI: I never choose to just not eat a snack…doesn’t happen in my world.

After a less than stellar lunch (ate part and then tossed), string cheese for a replacement that was bad and a drawer of 3 Lara Bars and tea I knew I needed some new office snacks. I set out to the store immediately because a) I was starving and b)I needed a break from work after a stressful morning. I went up and down every aisle (of just your regular old grocery store – I do what I can in the burbs) in search of  a snack that fits the following criteria: natural, decent source of protein and fiber, low in sugar and satisfying enough to keep me out of the vending machine.

- Instant Oatmeal – while I hate the added sugar, convenience is key here and I had been wanting to try the Simple Harvest line (I thought it was rather average, probably wouldn’t buy again)

- Annie’s Mac – this was total impulse, not sure what prompted this but it definitely brought back memories of Saturday nights as a kid, home alone with my Brother watching Walker Texas Ranger and being scared out of my mind

- Luna & Cliff Bars – love Lara but sometimes I need chocolate something that tastes a little more like dessert

- Tuna – while this will be made at home it is a great addition to a soup and salad lunch

- Hummus – I heart it. That is all I have to say.

What snacks do you bring to work or have on a regular basis?

Sweet with honey and crunchy with chia.

I love that this granola is sweetened only with honey and includes a superfood like chia.  What is so great about this little seed?

It is definitely a super-food in my opinion – it is full of antioxidants, omega-3′s, fiber, protein, iron, etc. It is as versitle as can be, showing up in granola, bread, easily added in baked goods and as a gelling factor for pudding. You can even just put it in water and slam

I’ve had mine in some Organic Greek and Almond milk. Both were perfect afternoon snacks.

I’ve always loved the Greek Yogurt (well ever since I took a trip to Greece) and can find use after use for it. I put it in dips, eat it plain, top it with granola or fruit and the list goes on and on..

But my absolute favorite? Tzatziki!!! I put this on everything: wraps, veggies, pita and can pretty much eat it straight.

Tzatziki:
1 container Greek yogurt
3/4 cup chopped cucumber
Garlic, dill, vinegar, salt & pepper
Mix and put on everything!!!

Thanks Kristina and Stonyfield for the coupons, they are much appreciated as is your work in the Organic Industry!

– Post From My iPhone

I came across two recipes on the EatingWell website and previous to this I never knew that you could make potato chips in the microwave?!?! Well apparently you can and I did.

Find the recipe here – but it is as simple as can be – slice, toss with olive oil and salt and microwave. (I love knowing that there are only 3 ingredients involved) My slices took a little longer than the recipe said but they might have been a little thick, but they ended up crispy and crunchy! I can’t wait to make my sweet potato chips in the microwave when I’m short on time.

I also made some French Onion Dip – recipe found here and loosely followed the recipe, it turned out delicious and I think would be a big hit at a BBQ or picnic.  It was reminiscent of the old favorite, but much tastier and sans weird ingredients and preservatives.