Delectable Snacks
Whackin' Cracker Spread
Rachel writes: "This recipe comes by way of my sister from her mother-in-law. It took me awhile to work up my nerve to try it because I’m a firm believer in segregating my vegetables from my fruits. It knocked my socks off." Peace Hill Press adds: Sara Buffington made this spread for a big neighborhood get-together. She, too, was skeptical about the ingredient combination, but her guests practically licked the bowl clean. It’s delicious—be gutsy and try it!
Note: A Zyliss or Pampered Chef chopper is perfect for this recipe (though not necessary). That’s where the title comes from—you "whack" all the ingredients!
Submitted by Rachel Rainey
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:

2-8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened

1-8 oz. can of crushed pineapple, well-drained

2 Tbsp. finely chopped green onion

½ cup minced green pepper

1 cup minced pecans

1 tsp. seasoning salt

Optional Add-Ins:

1/3 lb. chopped honey roasted deli turkey

1 small can mandarin oranges (add in when you toss with dressing)

Dressing Ingredients:

2 seasoning packets from the ramen noodles

A generous ½ c. or 5 oz. oil (peanut is preferred but canola is okay)

½ c. rice wine vinegar (white vinegar may be substituted)

1/3 c. sugar

Directions:
  1. In a medium bowl, mush together the ingredients with clean hands (don’t even bother trying to use a spoon).
  2. Serve with crackers, bagel chips, celery, etc…
Protein Balls
LuAnn writes: "This recipe comes from my mother who oftentimes went on “health kicks” when I was a kid. This recipe is so delicious, you would never know it’s healthy. And even better, it’s easy for kids to make with minimal supervision from Mom or Dad. My children are ages 7, 5, 3, and 1. I’ve been making this recipe since my oldest was 3. I will double or triple the recipe and keep some in the freezer. We pop a couple throughout the day when I can tell concentration and motivation are low in my kids or me! A great pick-me-up." Peace Hill Press adds: You can substitute 1 c. dry milk for the protein powder to save money. The protein balls just aren’t AS protein-packed.
Submitted by LuAnn Simmons
Prep Time: 30 minutes (15 minutes to mix, 15 minutes to roll into balls)
Basic Ingredients:

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. honey

1 c. protein powder (any kind—but cocoa protein powder makes the balls especially yummy. Available at health food stores like Shaklee or GNC.)

Add-In Ingredients (4 cups total, create your own combination!):

Sunflower seeds

Peanuts

Chocolate chips

Granola

Oatmeal

Raisins

Dried cranberries

Oat bran

Wheat germ

Flax seed (ground or whole)

Directions:
  1. Mix together the basic ingredients in a large bowl: peanut butter, honey, and protein powder.
  2. Add 4 cups total of the add-in ingredients. (Peanuts, oatmeal, and chocolate chips are a delicious classic.)
  3. The more dry ingredients you add, the stiffer the mixture gets. You want the protein balls to stick together when you roll them, but you don’t want them to be so sticky that they won’t hold shape. Add more oatmeal, wheat germ, or oat bran if your mixture is too goopy. Add more honey if your mixture is too dry.
  4. Roll the mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter. This is the tedious part—so get the kids involved!
  5. Refrigerate the balls (or freeze any extra). You can stack them in Tupperware and separate the layers with waxed paper.