A Month of 100-Calorie Snacks: December 2015

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

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Zesty Green Goddess Dip

Photo: John Autry

Because fresh herbs are increasingly available, you can make this tangy, peppery dip year-round.
Zesty Green Goddess Dip Recipe

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Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr; Leigh Ann Ross

These no-bake treats taste like bite-sized candy bars and are terrific with a cup of coffee. Prepare them up to two days in advance, and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps Recipe

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Pumpkin Dip

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Bring out the best of fall's flavors with this super-easy pumpkin dip, perfect for enjoying with fresh apple slices.
Pumpkin Dip Recipe

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Green Beans and Potatoes in Chunky Tomato Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Green beans, potatoes and tomatoes come together for the ultimate side dish. To peel tomatoes, score the skin by making a small X on the bottom side with a sharp knife. Place tomato in boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove tomato using a slotted spoon; immediately submerge in a bowl of ice water. Let stand for one minute. Skin should pull off easily with a sharp knife.
Green Beans and Potatoes in Chunky Tomato Sauce Recipe

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Spicy Chickpeas

Hot and a bit crisp, these quick little snacks are good with almost any drink. Serve them right away; time is not their friend, and they are best when still warm from the oil.
Spicy Chickpeas Recipe

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Lima Bean Dip (Salsa di Fagioli)

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Fava beans are traditional in this hummuslike dip. Use them, if you find them, in place of the lima beans. Serve with raw vegetables for dipping.
Lima Bean Dip (Salsa di Fagioli) Recipe

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Mini Peppermint and Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

To cut this recipe in half, just omit the egg whites from the filling.

Mini Peppermint and Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes Recipe

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Fresh Squash Chips

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

We "ruffled" these chips using a crinkle cutter, available for about $8 at kitchen or homes stores or online. For smooth slices, use a chef's knife.
Fresh Squash Chips 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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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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Stuffed Baby Potatoes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos

Stuffed Baby Potatoes pack plenty of favor in bite-size portions—for under 50¢ a serving! These savory appetizers also present a touch of elegance to your party table. If you don't have chives on hand, minced scallions will do the trick.

Stuffed Baby Potatoes Recipe

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Cocoa Fudge Cookies

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

You can mix these incredibly easy, fudge cookies right in the saucepan. When freshly baked, these thin cookies have crisp edges and chewy centers. You can make them with either Dutch process or natural unsweetened cocoa powder; we opted for the latter.
Cocoa Fudge Cookies Recipe

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Melted Manchego Tortas with Romesco and Chorizo

Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross

Spanish flatbreads, or tortas, are a tapas staple. Make these with thin sandwich round halves and a 1 1/4-inch circular cutter. You'll only use 1/4 cup of the romesco, but the remainder makes a great sauce for meats, vegetables, or fish.
Melted Manchego Tortas with Romesco and Chorizo Recipe

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Mini Smoked Salmon Pizzas

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Gyoza skins are the Japanese equivalent of wonton wrappers; you'll likely find both in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. If you can't find gyoza skins, substitute round wonton wrappers.
Mini Smoked Salmon Pizzas Recipe

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Hot Crab Dip

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Crab dip is a delightful addition to any appetizer spread. Serve warm with melba toast or pita chips.
Hot Crab Dip Recipe

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Cran-Berry Green-Tea Smoothie

Iain Bagwell; Dan Becker

The best smoothies combine great nutrition with even better flavor. Cranberries and green tea pack this drink full of healthy antioxidants, while berries and banana add essential vitamins and nutrients.
Cran-Berry Green-Tea Smoothie Recipe

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Brownie Bourbon Balls

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

In this quick-and-easy rendition, we used packaged brownie mix, a little bourbon, and chopped toasted walnuts for a spunky after-dinner treat.
Brownie Bourbon Balls Recipe

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Creamy Artichoke Dip

Rob D. Brodman

Get into the spirit of artichoke season by revisiting artichoke dip, that gooey, melty, mayonnaisey 1960s classic. We've opted for a simple no-cook dip that starts with cream cheese and puréed artichoke hearts, then adds parmesan, parsley, lemon, and garlic for flavor. Serve with crackers, crostini, or crudités; you can even use it as a sauce for grilled fish or chicken.
Creamy Artichoke Dip Recipe

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Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups

Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross

Friends will love the ingenuity of Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups. Little meatballs are cradled in Brussels sprout cups for a clever seasonal appetizer.
Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups Recipe

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Perfect Poached Shrimp

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Perfect Poached Shrimp yield a moist, tender-crisp shellfish with loads of flavor. If you like this easy, gluten-free appetizer, try pairing the poached shrimp with this Summer Tomato Cocktail Sauce.

Perfect Poached Shrimp Recipe

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Green Beans with Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette

HOWARD L. PUCKETT

Bits of crispy bacon, almonds, and balsamic vinegar can dress up steamed green beans and make them appealing even to the veggie-averse. Or try the same method with any of your favorite veggies from cabbage to peas to corn.
Green Beans with Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

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Roasted Red Pepper and Cannellini Bean Dip

Randy Mayor

This Mediterranean-inspired appetizer offers a little extra protein, heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, and fiber. Serve with cut-up vegetables or toasted pita wedges.
Roasted Red Pepper and Cannellini Bean Dip Recipe

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Rosemary Popcorn

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Rosemary Popcorn Recipe

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Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues

Dress up these almond-flavored meringue cookies by dipping half of each cookie in a glaze of melted chocolate.
Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues Recipe

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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Turn "jacket potatoes" into irresistible potato salad bites. Capers offer a twist on traditional relish; they're actually pickled flower buds and add bright, briny flavor to this appetizer.

Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites Recipe

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Glazed Julienne Carrots

HOWARD L. PUCKETT

Serve these glazed julienne carrots for an easy weeknight side dish that's ready in less than 15 minutes.
Glazed Julienne Carrots 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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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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Sausage Mushroom Caps

Photo: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Dan Becker

These sausage-stuffed mushrooms are the perfect 1-bite party food and are always a crowd pleaser. Use spicy sausage for more kick.

Sausage Mushroom Caps Recipe

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Harvest Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Tarts

Pierce each sweet potato a few times with a fork, place in a pie plate with two tablespoons water, cover loosely with wax paper, and microwave at high five minutes or until tender.
Harvest Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Tarts Recipe

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A Month of 100-Calorie Snacks and Treats

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Zesty Green Goddess Dip

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Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps

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Pumpkin Dip

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Green Beans and Potatoes in Chunky Tomato Sauce

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Spicy Chickpeas

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Lima Bean Dip (Salsa di Fagioli)

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Mini Peppermint and Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

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Fresh Squash Chips

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Avocado-Yogurt Dip with Cumin

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Mocha Java Smoothie

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Stuffed Baby Potatoes

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Cocoa Fudge Cookies

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Melted Manchego Tortas with Romesco and Chorizo

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Mini Smoked Salmon Pizzas

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Hot Crab Dip

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Cran-Berry Green-Tea Smoothie

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Brownie Bourbon Balls

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Creamy Artichoke Dip

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Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups

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Perfect Poached Shrimp

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Green Beans with Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Roasted Red Pepper and Cannellini Bean Dip

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Rosemary Popcorn

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Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues

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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

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Glazed Julienne Carrots

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