Summertime means getting in the pool, and pool time makes most people hungry. With that in mind, folks need to be prepared with plenty of grub on hand. These easy poolside snacks from Taste of Home could be exactly what everybody needs to satisfy their appetites after a quick dip.
Easy Cheese Straws
- Half a cup of softened butter
- Two cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- One and one-fourth cups of all-purpose flour
- Half teaspoon of salt
- One-fourth teaspoon of cayenne pepper
In a large bowl, the butter should be beaten until it is light and fluffy, then the cheese needs to be beaten in until it is blended. Next, it is time to combine the flour, salt and cayenne, which is stirred into the cheese mixture until a dough forms. After rolling the mixture into a 15×6-in. rectangle and cutting it into 30 six-inch strips, the strips are placed one inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. They are baked for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. After cooling they can be stored in an airtight container.
Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas
- One-fourth cup of peanut butter
- One-eighth teaspoon of ground allspice
- One-eighth teaspoon of cinnamon
- One-eighth teaspoon of nutmeg
- Two whole wheat pita pocket halves
- Half a medium apple, thinly sliced
- Half a medium firm banana, sliced
This easy recipe starts by blending the peanut butter, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Then, the mixture is placed inside pita bread halves with apple and banana slices added to complete the snack.
Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas
- Two cans (15 ounces each) of chickpeas or garbanzo beans, rinsed, drained and patted dry
- Two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- One tablespoon of chili powder
- Two teaspoons of ground cumin
- One teaspoon of grated lime zest
- One tablespoon of lime juice
- Three-fourth teaspoon of sea salt
Chickpeas with no loose skins should be spread in a single layer over foil on a baking sheet, removing any loose skins. They are baked until they are very crunchy, which will take about 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. As this happens, all of the other ingredients should be whisked together. After the chickpeas have cooled for five minutes, they should be drizzled with the oil mixed. When they have cooled completely they can be stored in an airtight container.
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Cheesy Snack Mix
- Three cups of Corn Chex
- Three cups of Rice Chex
- Three cups of miniature cheddar pretzels
- One-fourth cup of melted butter
- One envelope of cheesy taco seasoning
- Two cups of white cheddar popcorn
To begin, the cereal and pretzels are combined in a microwave safe bowl. After mixing melted butter and taco seasoning, and drizzling that over cereal mixture and tossed to coat, everything should be microwaved on high for three or three and a half minutes, stirring it all once every minute. Once the popcorn has been added, everything should be moved to a baking sheet so it can cool. From there, the snack can be stored in an airtight container.
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