Category: Snacks (Page 5 of 8)

Baked Parmesan Crisps with Chives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

January 23, 2015 / Dragonfly Home Recipes / 33 Comments

We all need easy, quick, recipes we can turn to when time is tight, but we still want something fun and festive. For me, this Parmesan crisp recipe is one of those I look to when I need a quick, yet delicious appetizer or snack. These crisps are so easy to make, and they taste so good! The savory Parmesan cheese, the rich flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes, and the lively chives and black pepper all come together to form an appetizer bursting with flavor. And if you are staying away from carbohydrates or gluten, this is a snack you can munch on without worries. My daughter originally found the basic recipe for these crisps on the back of a Parmesan cheese package, and being major cheese-lovers, we tried it. We have since created our own variations, with the sun-dried tomatoes and chives version being my favorite. However, my son is not crazy about the sun-dried tomatoes or the chives, so I like to make a few of the crisps with just the Parmesan cheese and a hint of black pepper for those who prefer a more basic approach. I am taking this appetizer over to Angie’s blog The Novice Gardener, where there is a big celebration going on. Though I am relatively new to the Fiesta Friday link parties, she has been successfully coordinating these events for a full year. I have come across some wonderful food blogs, and have met really interesting and kind bloggers from all over this country and world through this process. The one-year celebration is graciously hosted by Hilda from Along the Grapevine and Julianna from Foodie on Board. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend filled with fresh air, good food and good company!

Baked Parmesan Crisps with Chives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Servings: 32 crisps
Time: about 20 minutes
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Ingredients:

2 cups of shredded Parmesan cheese
6 teaspoons of chives, finely chopped
4 tablespoons of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash, pat dry, and finely chop the chives. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes. Shred the Parmesan cheese to make 2 cups, or if using pre-shredded cheese, measure 2 cups into a bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, spoon the Parmesan cheese onto the baking sheet a tablespoon at a time, creating about 8 mounds of Parmesan cheese per baking sheet (place the mounds evenly on the baking sheet, allowing the cheese room to spread as it bakes). Place small pieces of sun-dried tomatoes on each cheese mound, and then sprinkle with chives and a bit of black pepper. Bake in your preheated oven for 6 to eight minutes. Allow the crisps to cool for a couple of minutes, then gently move them to a serving plate. Continue until all the cheese is used. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Busy Times Call for Energy Bites

September 18, 2014 / Dragonfly Home Recipes / 4 Comments

Good recipes never exist in isolation. They are passed from one person to another, with changes and substitutions made along the way, so they never stay exactly the same. The recipe for Energy Bites that I have posted below is one of those recipes. A good friend gave me this recipe, and she got it from a friend of hers. She and I have both made modifications along the way, and it has become a living, ever-evolving recipe. My friend made these energy bites for my family when we were going through a difficult time and she knew we would not have a lot of time to sit down and eat. They were perfect, because they were portable, easy to eat, and gave us sustained energy rather than the short-lived energy of straight carbohydrates. I am grateful to her for giving the recipe to me, and I am sharing this recipe now because I see a need for quick, nutritious snacks among friends of mine who have children in sports and other activities. We are often lamenting about how it is difficult to give our kids snacks that will sustain them through their sports activities, yet will not be full of empty calories or sit like rocks in their stomachs. So busy parents, this one’s for you! And this is really for anyone of any age who is going from one thing to the next, and needs something nutritious to get through until the next meal. These energy bites are packed with protein, fiber, vitamin E (with anti-inflammatory effects), and the “good” monounsaturated fat from the peanut butter. The ground flax seeds have lots of omega-3 fatty acids (also good fat) and antioxidants. The sunflower seeds have lots of vitamin E and magnesium. The chocolate chips and honey give them the sweetness, so they don’t taste too “healthy”. Also, they are really easy to make–another bonus in busy times.