Try these snack ideas

By Staff
Michelle Blaylock, Mom's Corner
I had a mom stop me last week while I was shopping and asked if I had any ideas for afterschool snacks. Let me share some of my kids favorite snacks. Of course, there is always the homemade cookies. One of the kids favorite treats is Chocolate No-bake cookies. I shared this recipe several weeks ago. It is one of my favorite during the summer since I don't have to heat up the oven to make them.
During the fall, the kids love to have apples and carmel dip. I usually make my own carmel dip using melted carmel candy mixed with sour cream. The sour cream will keep it from harding after it cools.
During the summer, it's not unusual for us to have veggies and dip for snack. I make a veggie dip using 1 cup Hellman's Mayo; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup cottage cheese and one envelope of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. It's quick and I usually make a double batch because we use it so quickly.
Another favorite snack is cake without icing. I find it's sweet enough to satisfy their sweet tooth but not so sweet that it's just terribly unhealthy. I try to keep a variety of snacks around the house that are good for them such as fruit, veggies, cheeses, and peanut butter. I will occasionally make fruit smoothies for snack, but I have yet to find one that all or even most of the kids like.
When I want to really treat them I will make something like homemade funnel cakes. They are easy to make, although they are time consuming. Funnel Cake: 1 egg, 2/3 cup milk, 1 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 tsp flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 2 Tbsp sugar. Beat the egg and milk together in a small bowl. Combine all the other ingredients in a medium size bowl and blend well. Add milk and egg mixture and stir until well blended. Fry in a hot skillet with about one inch of oil. Cover spout of funnel with finger and fill with batter. Swirl batter in a pinwheel design in skillet. Fry until bubbles appear on top and then gently turn (watch out that oil is hot) to finish frying. Add your favorite toppings.
When I make these I have to make a double batch and have two skillets going at once otherwise it just takes too long to make six or more of these. This is a fairly old recipe and calls for frying the funnel cakes in "deep fat" but in an effort to make them as healthy as possible I use canola oil to fry them. I also fry them in skillets with the minimum amour of oil that I can. Although my kids prefer topping them with powdered sugar, they can also be topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or jellies. I make mine rather small with a diameter of about six to eight inches. I feel that is big enough for a serving size. If the kids are still hungry after they finish, they have the option of picking a healthy snack.
My kids also enjoy bread and butter or bread and cheese for a snack. They especially enjoy deli french bread. I have also fixed Monkey Bread. I use biscuits and tear them into thirds or quarters and roll them in a sugar and cinnamon. I place them in a greased pan and add melted butter and brown sugar over the top. I bake at 375¡ until done. For my crew it takes four rolls of biscuits. Again a little time consuming, but nice for a treat occasionally.
This is a few of our after school snacks if you have one you would like to share please e-mail it to: moms-corner@juno.com.