Snacks and Appetizers Archives

August 12, 2015

Fava Bean Puree with Lemon and Garlic

Although fresh fava beans are generally considered a spring vegetable, they are available well into the summer months at farmers markets here in Michigan. It’s true that they can be a bit tedious to shell and peel, but having kids around during the summer helps with that. (Oh, you’ve got nothing to do? No problem, I can fix that. Here’s a big pile of favas to shell, if you’d please.) In all seriousness though, I love when the kids join me in the kitchen. It’s quality time spent together and my hope is that it will deepen their appreciation for our meals together.

July 21, 2015

Blackberry Thyme Crostini with Creamy Blue Cheese

This post is in partnership with Castello for their Summer of Blue campaign. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Here we are already in the middle of summer and I have no idea how we ended up here so quickly. Summers seem to get better and better as the kids get older. Of course we’ve had our fair share of squabbles and arguments and there are some days when it seems that all we do is try to get along. It’s felt so good to slow down though, to linger at the breakfast table a little longer, to savor juicy peach crumbles, to watch birds from the window bench, to spontaneously go on family ice cream outings, and to take peaceful walks around the neighborhood. To my daughter’s delight, we recently discovered wild blackberry bushes on the trail behind our house. Wild blackberries are smaller than the more common blackberries found in stores, but they are especially sweet. If we ever need a quiet break from our activity or a reset to the day, a little nature walk on the trail to pick blackberries usually does the trick.

July 8, 2015

Chocolate Millet Crunch

One of the things I enjoy most about having the kids home with me in the summer is working together with them in the kitchen. Often times I try to find ways for them to help me with dinner preparation- grating cheese, stirring pasta, shelling peas, shucking corn, etc. Once in a while I’ll try to think up a sweet and healthy treat that’s a little more exciting than just dinner and that I know would be especially fun for them. This chocolate millet crunch was our most recent little project. It’s simple enough for the kids to make almost on their own, but tasty enough that it’s hard to just eat a few pieces. These are little mounds of chocolate coated puffed millet, chopped hazelnuts, and goji berries with just a touch of shredded coconut sprinkled on top. Puffed millet can be found in the cereal aisle of a natural foods store and although I find it rather bland on its own, it complements the chocolate nicely and it adds a certain crisp lightness that I love. These must be served chilled to get a crunch, which makes them perfect for those hot days when you just need a little bit of chocolate. [Read more…] about Chocolate Millet Crunch