A Month of 100-Calorie Snacks: January 2015

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Satisfy 3 p.m. hunger with healthy and delicious low-calorie snacks.

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Baked Mozzarella Bites

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Serve this quick after-school snack to your kids as an alternative to traditional fried cheesesticks.
Baked Mozzarella Bites Recipe

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Blueberry Shortbread Bites

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Dan Becker

These delicately textured shortbreads have a subtle orange flavor. They're wonderful served with a cup of tea or packed in a lunch.
Blueberry Shortbread Bites Recipe

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Mini Cheese Crackers

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams

Made with whole-wheat flour, extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, Mini Cheese Crackers are melt-in-your-mouth delicious! They're the perfect snack for lunches or after school.
Mini Cheese Crackers Recipe

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Strawberry Almond Smoothie

Whip up this sweet, healthy smoothie as a quick snack or as a breakfast that will get you going.

Strawberry Almond Smoothie Recipe

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Heavenly Apricot Cobbler Bars

These apricot cobbler bar cookies can be made several days in advance; store in an airtight container with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Heavenly Apricot Cobbler Bars Recipe

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Soy and Sesame Kale Chips

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

The secret to getting these crisp is to avoid crowding the leaves on the baking sheets. Also, keep an eye on them—they can scorch quickly.
Soy and Sesame Kale Chips Recipe

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Blueberries with Brown Sugar Cream

Photo: Christopher Baker

We love the words from one of our recipe reviewers to describe this quick, 3-ingredient recipe: simple yet elegant, tasty yet healthy, and common yet special.
Blueberries with Brown Sugar Cream Recipe

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Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread

$Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread$

Randy Mayor

Fiber-rich, low-fat pinto beans are the base of this tasty dip, made zesty with lime, cilantro, and jalapeño. Serve with baked tortilla chips. You can also perk up quesadillas or vegetarian tacos with this spread.
Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread Recipe

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Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn

Oxmoor House

Look for air-popped popcorn with no added ingredients or just pop your own. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top for a yummy, family-friendly treat.
Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn Recipe

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Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini takes about 30 minutes to prepare and can be made up to two days in advance. Store the tapenade, covered, in the refrigerator, and garnish with parsley immediately before serving. Store toasted and cooled bread slices in an airtight container.
Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini Recipe

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Oatmeal Raisin Bars

Get the chewy deliciousness of a cookie without all the extra sugar in these irresistibly sweet bars.
Oatmeal Raisin Bars Recipe

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Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole

Randy Mayor

When storing this guacamole, press plastic wrap against its surface to help keep it from oxidizing and turning brown. You can use it to liven up a turkey sandwich or as a condiment in a vegetable wrap. If time is tight, you can serve the guacamole with store-bought baked tortilla chips.
Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole Recipe

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Pimiento Cheese Canapés

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr; Leigh Ann Ross

Reducing the fat in pimiento cheese is as easy as substituting fat-free cream cheese, reduced-fat Cheddar and low-fat mayonnaise for the full-fat products. And you can kick up the flavor with Worcestershire sauce, red pepper and smoked paprika.
Pimiento Cheese Canapés Recipe

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Cumin Chips

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

If you can find blue corn tortillas, they'll add color to the table. Prepare the chips a day or two ahead, and store in an airtight container.
Cumin Chips Recipe

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Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese

Randy Mayor; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Bake these bite-sized frittatas in a miniature muffin pan. They taste great hot or at room temperature, so you can make them in advance.

Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese Recipe

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Salmon and Cucumber Bites

Dramatically cut the calories out of this simple canape by subbing crisp cucumber slices for bread. The freshness of the cucumbers pairs well with the smoked salmon and creamy topping. To contrast the cool and creaminess of this appetizer, serve alongside Cumin-Roasted Cashews for a salty and spicy snack.

Salmon and Cucumber Bites Recipe

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Edamame Dip

Randy Mayor

You won't need encouragement to eat your veggies when you serve this hearty, nutty dip with a variety of crisp vegetables such as jicama, bell pepper strips, steamed sugar snap peas, and carrot sticks.
Edamame Dip Recipe

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Mean Green Smoothie

This power smoothie is a delicious blend of fruits and veggies with a kick of sweetness you’ll love.
Mean Green Smoothie Recipe

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Chili-Spiced Almonds

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr, Mary Lyn Hill Jenkins

These flavorful nuts make a convenient, portable snack. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.

Chili-Spiced Almonds Recipe

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Ask for paper-thin slices of meat at the deli counter. To ease prep, look for a package of presliced mango in the produce section. We do not recommend jarred mango slices—they're too soft.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites Recipe

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Kale Chips

These chips are crispy, salty, and so easy to make. Opt for them instead of potato chips next time you're craving a salty snack. For a different flavor, try sprinkling the kale with grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, or sweet paprika before baking.

Kale Chips Recipe

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Jack Cheese Breadsticks

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Melanie J. Clarke

Refrigerated breadstick dough keeps preparation time to a minimum.
Jack Cheese Breadsticks Recipe

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Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Dip

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

This recipe received our Test Kitchens' highest rating. Use a mandoline to cut the potato for the best results; hand-cutting is less likely to produce sufficiently thin and uniform slices. If you have any leftover chips, store them in an airtight container for up to a week. You'll need to bake them for two minutes at 450° to recrisp before eating.
Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Dip Recipe

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Lemony Fruit Dip

Karry Hosford

"I lightened this fruit dip recipe, and it received rave reviews. It looks lovely and tastes great." Serve with fresh fruit such as strawberries, pineapple, or apple. -CL Reader

Lemony Fruit Dip Recipe

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Mocha Java Smoothie

A jolt of espresso meets the richness of cocoa in this sweet and creamy smoothie.
Mocha Java Smoothie Recipe

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Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho

The mangoes, melons, and nectarines, along with the cucumber, give the gazpacho a sweet spin. Don't seed the jalapeño if you like a soup with more zip.
Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho Recipe

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Chevre and Mango Steak Bites

Annabelle Breakey

Cut chilled grilled steak when ready to assemble appetizers and slice it very thinly (less than 1/4 inch, if possible). The finished appetizers can be covered and chilled for up to 6 hours.
Chevre and Mango Steak Bites Recipe

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Red Onion and Gorgonzola Flatbread

Leo Gong

Because it's easy to work with, this semolina-flour dough is a great way to try your hand at yeasted dough. The rich rounds beg to be served at cocktail hour. We especially like them with a slightly off-dry Riesling. Prep and Cook Time: 2 hours. Notes: Semolina flour is available at groceries with large bulk-foods sections and at Italian specialty stores.
Red Onion and Gorgonzola Flatbread Recipe

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Pumpkin Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House

Canned pumpkin makes it easy to whip up this sweet treat. Make sure to purchase 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.

Pumpkin Dip Recipe

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Light Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Celery

This pimiento cheese recipe is not only super easy, but it's a little easier on the waistline, thanks to light mayonnaise and reduced-fat Cheddar cheese.

Light Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Celery Recipe

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Avocado-Yogurt Dip with Cumin

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Scoop this creamy dip with pita chips and carrot, celery, red bell pepper, and jicama sticks. Prepare up to eight hours in advance, and refrigerate in an airtight container. To further simplify your evening, use precut vegetables from the produce section.
Avocado-Yogurt Dip with Cumin Recipe

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A Month of 100-Calorie Snacks and Treats

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Baked Mozzarella Bites

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Blueberry Shortbread Bites

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Mini Cheese Crackers

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Strawberry Almond Smoothie

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Heavenly Apricot Cobbler Bars

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Soy and Sesame Kale Chips

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Blueberries with Brown Sugar Cream

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Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread

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Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn

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Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini

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Oatmeal Raisin Bars

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Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole

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Pimiento Cheese Canapés

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Cumin Chips

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Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese

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Salmon and Cucumber Bites

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Edamame Dip

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Mean Green Smoothie

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Chili-Spiced Almonds

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

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Kale Chips

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Jack Cheese Breadsticks

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Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Dip

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Lemony Fruit Dip

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Mocha Java Smoothie

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Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho

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