Showing posts with label Snacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snacks. Show all posts

Almond Flaxseed Crackers

 These crackers are a wonderful addition to any cheeseboard. The best thing about them
is that almost any spices can be used as flavorings. Use your favorites, and don’t be stingy. For the crackers I made, I used 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon za’atar, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Don’t skip the step of blooming the spices in the hot water. It does make a difference in the depth of flavor you’ll get.

Almond Flaxseed Crackers

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup flaxseed, ground
  • 1/8 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • Spices (of your choice):
  •    1/2 to 1 teaspoon: garlic powder, onion powder, za’atar, rosemary, thyme, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, etc.
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds (white, black, or a mix of both)

 

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium size bowl, mix together the almond flour, flaxseed, and hemp hearts. Set aside.
  3. In a glass measuring cup, add the boiling water, the oil, the salt and pepper, and your choice of spices. Set aside for at least 5 minutes to allow the spices to bloom.
  4. Add the spiced water and oil mixture to the dry ingredients. Add the sesame seeds, and stir to combine all ingredients. Once a dough has formed, allow to rest for 5 minutes. This resting time will allow the dry ingredients to absorb the liquids.
  5. Divide dough in half. Place half the dough on a cook sheet lined with parchment paper (or sil pat mat). Roll the dough into a rectangle 1/16-inch thick. I use this rolling pin; it is excellent and very easy to use.
  6. Score the crackers into 1-inch x 1-inch squares. This pizza cutter does an excellent job of this.
  7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, removing the crackers at the edges as they turn golden brown. Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Yields about 72 crackers.


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Seasoned Pretzels

 I recently fell in love with seasoned pretzels. They’re perfect with a glass of wine or when you’re in need of a flavorful snack. The store-bought seasoned pretzels I tried were tasty, but they seemed a greasy to me and had a high calorie count. Plus, they are mega expensive! Times are hard and families everywhere are trying to spend less. I’ve come up with a recipe that costs less, contains less fat (healthier?), and are cheaper, by far. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. Let me know what you think.

 

Seasoned Pretzels

 

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups pretzel sticks (about 3/4 pound)*
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil 
  • 2 teaspoons water 
  • 3 tablespoons cheddar cheese powder*
  • 2 tablespoon dry ranch dressing powder*
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (A lipped baking sheet works best.)
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cheddar cheese powder, ranch powder, and cayenne pepper until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg white, oil, and water until fully emulsified. Don’t worry about any air bubbles or froth that forms.
  4. Add pretzel sticks to the large bowl and gently toss until completely coated with the egg white mixture. Using 2 silicone spoonulas for this step in a scooping, turning motion, will assure that no liquid remains in the bottom of the bowl and are gentle on pretzels.
  5. Sprinkle the dry seasoning mixture over pretzels and continue scooping and turning to evenly coat the pretzel sticks.
  6. Spread pretzels evenly on the baking sheet.
  7. Bake 20–25 minutes, turning halfway through, until dry to the touch and seasonings are set.
  8. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

*Notes:

Aldi has great pretzel sticks that are inexpensive.

The Cheddar Cheese Powder I’ve linked to ($16.99 at the time I posed this) is the lowest unit price I could find. The 2-pound bag is enough to make the above recipe over 20 times. This powder is great for making mac & cheese. It’s good sprinkled on popcorn, too.

The Ranch Dressing Powder I’ve linked to ($4.14 at the time I posted this) contains enough to make 3 batches.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a few pennies if you access the Amazon store through the links I've posted above.