houghchrst
07-27-2008, 02:15 PM
For this thread I would like to try to find some recipes for those who are like me, the consummate snacker, but snacks that are a bit healthier, cheaper and to be made with things that you are more likely to have in your pantry to make other meals or different snacks with.
I mean after all I have a bottle of premium red wine vinegar in my pantry (okay it's really just my cupboard lol) and I bought it for a special dish I wanted to make and for the life of me I can't remember what the dish was. I do seem to recall that it was good but what the heck am I gonna do with that bottle. I will have to google it and see what I can make with it LOL.
So please if you have any ideas for those of us who have picky kids or who like me are addicted to the salty/sweet snack (you know what I mean, bunch of M&Ms followed by some potato chips followed by M&Ms, repeat) then please feel free to put them down here. By the way, feel free to cheat by looking on the internet but try to make sure the ingredients are things we would be most likely to have on hand or if we buy it we will use it for other things.
Actually I may be getting in over my head. This may be hard.
First one:
Graham Crackers
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
6 Tbsp. milk Mix together flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cream shortening, sugar and vanilla until fluffy; add flour mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until combined after each addition. Cover and chill dough till firm, several hours or overnight. Divide dough into thirds. Roll out each portion on a floured surface to slightly larger than 12x5 inches, 1/8 inch thick. Trim edges to make a 12x5-inch rectangle. Use a knife to cut into 5x2-inch rectangles. Score a crosswise-like center into each rectangle. Place on greased baking sheets; pierce each several times with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp. Remove from sheet & cool on wire rack.
We do like to snack on graham crackers and you would think they would be cheap but really they aren't unless you get them at Aldi's or SaveALot or a similar place but if I can make them and save in the long run then hey I will. Granted they are not exactly healthy but they are better than say a Swiss Roll (mmmmm) or something similar. Actually anything you can make at home has got to be healthier than the same thing you can buy at the store.
Now I know here that Wheat flour is not something that you would most likely have in your pantry but it might be something you would want to start using more often as it is healthier for you, that is unless you are on a gluten free diet. Also shortening. I keep that in my pantry but use it sparingly and only if a recipe calls for it specifically.
Sorry this one is so long but it is the first and from here on they should be shorter.
I mean after all I have a bottle of premium red wine vinegar in my pantry (okay it's really just my cupboard lol) and I bought it for a special dish I wanted to make and for the life of me I can't remember what the dish was. I do seem to recall that it was good but what the heck am I gonna do with that bottle. I will have to google it and see what I can make with it LOL.
So please if you have any ideas for those of us who have picky kids or who like me are addicted to the salty/sweet snack (you know what I mean, bunch of M&Ms followed by some potato chips followed by M&Ms, repeat) then please feel free to put them down here. By the way, feel free to cheat by looking on the internet but try to make sure the ingredients are things we would be most likely to have on hand or if we buy it we will use it for other things.
Actually I may be getting in over my head. This may be hard.
First one:
Graham Crackers
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
6 Tbsp. milk Mix together flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cream shortening, sugar and vanilla until fluffy; add flour mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until combined after each addition. Cover and chill dough till firm, several hours or overnight. Divide dough into thirds. Roll out each portion on a floured surface to slightly larger than 12x5 inches, 1/8 inch thick. Trim edges to make a 12x5-inch rectangle. Use a knife to cut into 5x2-inch rectangles. Score a crosswise-like center into each rectangle. Place on greased baking sheets; pierce each several times with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp. Remove from sheet & cool on wire rack.
We do like to snack on graham crackers and you would think they would be cheap but really they aren't unless you get them at Aldi's or SaveALot or a similar place but if I can make them and save in the long run then hey I will. Granted they are not exactly healthy but they are better than say a Swiss Roll (mmmmm) or something similar. Actually anything you can make at home has got to be healthier than the same thing you can buy at the store.
Now I know here that Wheat flour is not something that you would most likely have in your pantry but it might be something you would want to start using more often as it is healthier for you, that is unless you are on a gluten free diet. Also shortening. I keep that in my pantry but use it sparingly and only if a recipe calls for it specifically.
Sorry this one is so long but it is the first and from here on they should be shorter.