Ten Bite-Size Snacks

Rounding out the Five Days of Bite-Size Snacks series with ten amazing snacks to fill your recipe book with. 
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1. Fruit Platter Squares via a traveling Wife
Enjoy tart freeze dried fruit with sweet marshmallows and crispy toasted rice cereal.

2. Blackberry and Brie Crostini via a traveling Wife
Brie and fruit go hand-in-hand on crusty bread. Drizzle on some honey and you have a winning appetizer. 

3. Baked Green Bean Fries via a traveling Wife
Crispy, crunchy baked green bean fries are a perfect appetizer or snack. Dunk them in your favorite dipping sauce or eat them on their own.

4. Deconstructed Caramel Apple Cheesecake via a traveling Wife
Made with no added sugar, a simple three-ingredient caramel sauce, and can be made in advance. They are fresh, sweet, salty, and savory. 

Click to tweet: Ten delicious bite-size snacks!

5. Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls via The Simple Life
Sweet and nutty energy balls that are reminiscent of a tropical getaway. 

6. S'more Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwich via a traveling Wife
bite size and a delicious twist from a traditional campfire s'more. These little cookies are gluten free and filled with good, clean ingredients.

7. Cranberry Cherry Paleo Granola Bars via What I Gather
A versatile granola bar that can be made just the way you like it.

8. Grape Poppers via a traveling Wife
Peanuts, grapes, and chocolate bark make an extremely delicious combination and you definitely cannot eat one. 

9. Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Energy Balls via Fitful Focus
You won't want to leave your house without these filling energy balls. 

10. Puppy Chow via a traveling Wife
A gluten-free twist on the traditional puppy chow - chocolate and peanut butter.

Click to tweet: You'll find a snack you love from this list.

Which recipe is your favorite? 

Baked Green Bean Fries

Crispy, crunchy baked green bean fries are a perfect appetizer or snack. Dunk them in your favorite dipping sauce or eat them on their own. 
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Today's recipe doesn't need much introduction and I'm not going to make you read a list of adjectives that explain all the goodness that is within. Instead, let's talk about idioms.

Click to tweet: Crispy, crunchy baked green bean fries are a perfect appetizer or snack. 

I've never been one to completely understand idioms. Not that I don't like a good joke or enjoy sarcastic people, they just don't always make sense to me. This isn't the case for every idiom. Some idioms I misstate and create a whole new meaning.

What is an idiom? It is a word or phrase that doesn't have a literal meaning. So what are some popular idioms?

A bitter pill.

A dime a dozen.

I'm all ears.

Let's call it a day.

Bull in a china shop. 

The last one I never understood for years. In fact, I used to think it was actually said as "a BOWL in a china shop". Well that only makes sense if we are literally talking about a BOWL in a china shop.

Now we can see the difference if I use those two phrases separately.

The dog is like a bowl in a china shop.

The dog is like a bull in a china shop.

Clearly those two have completely different meanings. And all those years that I used the phrase "a bowl in a china shop", I really meant the opposite of what I was trying to say. Thanks to A for pointing out my error a few months ago. Without him, I would be lost!

Moving on to today's recipe - baked green bean fries.

I love fries, all types of fries - french fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini fries, and green bean fries. Regardless, anything crispy that can be dunked in some dipping sauce has my name written all over it.

Baked Green Bean Fries

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Prep time: 15-20 minutes

Cook time: 20-30 minutes
Yield: 2-4 servings

Ingredients

• handful Fresh Green Beans (about 30-40)
• 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour (*gluten-free flour)
• 1/2 cup Italian Bread Crumbs (*1 cup almond meal)
• 1/2 cup Panko Bread Crumbs (*omit)
• 1 large Egg, beaten lightly (*almond milk)
• salt and pepper to taste
• *Substitutions for vegan & gluten-free option

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and prepare a baking pan with foil and non-stick cooking spray.
2. Rinse green beans and cut ends off.
3. Mix italian and panko bread crumbs together in a shallow bowl then season with salt and pepper.
4. Line up two more shallow bowls, one with the AP flour and the other with the beaten egg.
5. Dip green beans in the flour, egg, then bread crumb mixture. Place onto baking pan.
6. Once all green beans have been battered, place in oven on bottom shelf for 20-30 minutes, rotating half way through.
7. Allow green beans to cool for 5-10 minutes.
8. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!

Click to tweet: YUM - can't wait to try these baked green bean fries!

Have you ever had green bean fries?

What are some of your favorite idioms?

Love this recipe? Pin for later. 

Arnold Palmer Blackberry Ginger Ale Spritzer

Celebrate spring with friends, a refreshing Arnold Palmer Blackberry Ginger Ale Spritzer, and blackberry and brie crostinis. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BlackberryAffair #CollectiveBias.

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Spring is finally here and my screened deck is screaming to be used. Let's just forget completely that the temps are in the 40's and that they are predicting snow flurries over the weekend. Regardless, the deck is my happy place when the weather starts to warm.

There is an extremely short list as to why we bought this house when we moved to Maryland - it has beautiful built-ins, it's in a good school district, and has a large screened deck. Those three things sold us on this house. And last spring through fall we had several gatherings on that deck. It's a great extension of our house as we have a large doorwall (apparently this term is only a southeast Michigander term) that we can keep open.

Opening up the house to the outdoors really makes it easy to entertain. Now we haven't held any large parties at our house like we did in Indiana, our door is always open to friends and family. There are often times when a last minute call from a friend will come through saying they are in the neighborhood. This is when I just whip up an easy snack and tasty drinks.

Here's a list of items that I always keep on hand which make it extremely easy to entertain visitors:

- frozen fruit

- rustic bread

- cheese (brie, cheddar, etc)

- Canada Dry™(right now I have the seasonal Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale)

- lemonade

- tea

- vodka

Every week while I am grocery shopping, I check to see if I am running low on any of the items and make sure I grab a fresh baguette. Living so close to Giant Food makes it easy to grab everything I need, plus Giant Food is carrying the seasonal Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale, which is oh so refreshing.

Arnold Palmers remind me of warm weather. They are light and refreshing, but you can customize the drink by turning it into a spritzer. The seasonal Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale, made with real ginger, is the perfect addition to a plain Arnold Palmer. All you need are equal parts lemonade, tea, and Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale, with of course the addition of vodka if needed. Top the beverage off with some frozen blackberries and maybe basil if you have it on hand and you will impress your friends and family.

Arnold Palmer Blackberry Ginger Ale Spritzer

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Prep time: 2 minutes

Ingredients

• one part Lemonade
• one part Tea
• one part Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale
• optional Vodka
• garnish with blackberries and basil

Directions

1. Pour all ingredients into an ice filled cup.
2. Garnish with blackberries and fresh basil.
3. *Optional: Add a shot or two of vodka.
   
   

Whenever I am spending time with family and friends, a drink isn't enough. If food isn't being passed around, then I'm not interested. Only kidding! But really, I like food!

So I like to make crostinis and my blackberry and brie crostinis go hand-in-hand with the Arnold Palmer Blackberry Ginger Ale Spritzers.

Blackberry and Brie Crostini

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Rustic Bread baguette
• 1/2 wheel Brie cheese, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup Blackberries, fresh or frozen
• drizzle of Honey
• 3-5 Basil leaves

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Cut baguette into 1/2 inch rounds and place on cookie sheet.
3. Place cut baguette in oven and toast for 3-5 minutes.
4. Once baguette is toasted and crunchy, top with brie slices, a few blackberries, drizzle with honey.
5. Garnish with sliced fresh basil leaves.
6. Enjoy!
   
   

Now go enjoy your spring gathering with the Arnold Palmer Blackberry Ginger Ale Spritzer and the blackberry and brie crostinis. Cheers!

Are you a fan of the traditional Arnold Palmer beverage?

What's your favorite fruit to pair with brie?

What is your favorite way to celebrate spring?

Pin for later:

Fruit Platter Squares

Enjoy tart freeze dried fruit with sweet marshmallows and crispy toasted rice cereal - a fruit platter square (aka freeze dried fruit krispies treats). 

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How was your weekend? Mine was very productive and exhausting.

I picked up A from the airport on Saturday around 6am. He was in California all week and I was more than ready for him to be back home. Because his body was still functioning on PST, we went home and took a nap with the pup. Then we went on with our day like normal and took the pup to the beach for some exercise.

Sunday was our say to get shiz done! I woke up before A and made some coffee then sat down to squeeze in some work. I was also able to make our weekly menu and grocery list. When A rolled out of bed, we got to work - cut countertops for a kitchen facelift we are working on, cleaned up the basement from painting cabinet faces for said kitchen facelift, donated some items to Habitat for Humanity Restore, and went grocery shopping. We also picked up some vibrant flowers to fill our front porch planters. Spring has officially sprung and I am ready for all. the. color.

After the day was complete, it was time to start meal prepping. I made a huge batch of pasta salad to go along with protein wraps for lunch. While the pasta was boiling, I thought I'd make some rice krispies treats. But because I am in the spring mood, I threw in a bunch of freeze dried fruit in hopes of creating a fruit platter bar.

Click to tweet: Tart freeze dried fruit w/ sweet marshmallows & crispy toasted rice cereal.

IT WAS A SUCCESS! The bars are delicious and tart and sweet and light and everything you want in a spring dessert. I had several bags of freeze dried fruit in my pantry and I used every single one - grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, and peach. If that variety of fruit doesn't make a killer fruit platter, I don't know what does. 

Fruit Platter Bars (aka freeze dried fruit krispies treats)

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 15 squares

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Butter
• 40 large Marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Freeze Dried Fruit (variety of your favorites), save a handful to top bars
• 6 cups Toasted Rice Cereal

Cooking Directions

1. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter on high for 20 seconds at a time.
2. Once butter is melted, add marshmallows and microwave high for 1 minute 30 seconds.
3. Remove from microwave and mix in vanilla. Microwave for another 30 seconds.
4. Remove mixture from microwave and mix in freeze dried fruit and toasted rice cereal.
5. Once completely mixed, press into a 13x9 platter or jelly pan.
6. Top with a handful of freeze dried fruit.
7. Allow to set for at least 1 hour. Cut into squares. Enjoy!

My first bite of these fruit platter bars was pure heaven. The freeze dried fruit rehydrated a bit with the melted marshmallows. The tartness of the fruit is a good pair with the sweet marshmallow and the toasted rice cereal remains crispy. And if you are not sure where to find a good variety of freeze dried fruit, I got all of mine from Target. 

Click to tweet: YES! Freeze dried fruit rice krispies treats!

Stay tuned this week for a week full of bite-size, finger food snacks. It's going to be a FUN week!

What did you do this weekend?

Have you ever had freeze dried fruit? What's your favorite?

Are you a fan of rice krispies treats?

Ten Refreshing Smoothies

Rounding out the Five Days of Smoothies series with ten refreshing smoothies. You'll definitely find at least one you will love. 
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1. Blueberry Muffin Smoothie via a traveling Wife
Try this Blueberry Muffin Smoothie when you are craving blueberry muffins but can't be bothered with cooking them.

2. Orange Creamsicle Smoothie via a traveling Wife
Creamy and refreshing, this Orange Creamsicle Smoothie will make you want to head to the beach. 

3. Peanut Butter Date Smoothie via a traveling Wife
Mark your calendars for a date with this dreamy Peanut Butter Date Smoothie. 

4. Apple Pineapple Smoothie via a traveling Wife
Apple and Pineapple blended together with just a touch of cinnamon is like drinking applesauce. 

Click to tweet: Ten refreshing smoothies - one for you and one for me! 

5. Prana Smoothie via Simple Medicine
Yoga feeds the soul and smoothies feed the body.

6. Very Berry Cherry Protein Smoothie via FitLiving
Tart cherries are a known superfood and high in antioxidants. Start incorporating more tart cherry juice daily with this Very Berry Cherry Protein Smoothie.

7. Blueberry Muffin Smoothie via Emma's Little Kitchen
It's a blueberry muffin, as a smoothie. 

8. Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie Bowl via rachLmansfield
You won't feel guilty after eating this jam packed smoothie bowl - filled with healthy fats, fiber, protein, and greens

9. Banana Mango Avocado Green Smoothie via Emilie Eats
Creamy, dreamy avocado smoothie. 

10. Sunshine Orange Creamsicle Smoothie via NOURISHED
Banana, orange, and ice-ice baby. This smoothie is sunshine in a cup.

Click to tweet: Feed your mind, body & soul with these 10 smoothies.

Which smoothie will you be trying first?
And because I had so much fun with smoothie week, stay tuned next week for more smoothies! Follow me on Instagram - I share when new posts are live on the blog. 

Apple Pineapple Smoothie

Apple and Pineapple blended together with just a touch of cinnamon is like drinking applesauce. 

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I have been a big fan of applesauce since I was little. I remember getting a container of applesauce in my packed lunch at school almost every day. 

I don't eat applesauce nearly as much as I used too. I'm not entirely sure why. It's not like it's bad for you or anything, especially if you get it without any added sugar. 

Click to tweet: Blended breakfast applesauce?! Sign me up!

Today's smoothie for the Five Days of Smoothies series will remind you of applesauce. So if you are a fan like me, then you will love this smoothie. With frozen pineapple and plain greek yogurt, this smoothie is substantial enough to enjoy for breakfast. 

Apple Pineapple Smoothie

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple
• 1/2 Medium Apple, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• dash of Cinnamon

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

Are you a fan of applesauce?

What's been your favorite smoothie this week during the Five Days of Smoothies recipes?

Peanut Butter Date Smoothie

Mark your calendars for a date with this dreamy Peanut Butter Date Smoothie. 
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There are certain things that were just meant to go together - peanut butter and jelly, chocolate and mint, caramel and salt, vodka and ice, bananas and peanut butter. But sometimes it's good to stray from the path and try something new.


Like I mentioned on Monday, smoothies usually call for bananas and/or avocados and I am breaking that rule this week by subbing those ingredients with something else. Today's Peanut Butter Date Smoothie was originally made with bananas. If you remove the bananas without replacing them with another ingredient, you might as well eat the peanut butter straight from the jar with a spoon. I wouldn't judge you if you wanted to do that anyway.

Click to tweet: Creamy, dreamy peanut butter date smoothie.

Instead, I added plain greek yogurt to help give some body to the smoothie and added honey for additional sweetness. It's perfection in a glass.

Peanut Butter Date Smoothie

Recipe adapted from Pumpkin & Peanut Butter

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Milk
• 4 Medjool Dates, pitted
• 3 tablespoons Peanut Butter
• 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 tablespoon Honey
• handful of Ice
• shaved Dark Chocolate (optional)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

Click to tweet: A smoothie that is perfection in a glass!

What are some other items that are just meant to be together - perfect pairs?

Have you ever put dates in your smoothie?

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Five Days of Smoothies recipes. 

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Creamy and refreshing, this Orange Creamsicle Smoothie will make you want to head to the beach. 

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Welcome back to the second day of Smoothie Week (aka Five Days of Smoothies). Who's excited for a sweet smoothie that calls for a festive paper umbrella and will beg you to go lay on the beach? 

If you missed yesterday's Blueberry Muffin Smoothie post, you should give it a read, because it will explain the reasoning behind swapping certain ingredients from smoothies and replacing with latex-free ingredients (you might also want to read my post on Latex-Fruit Syndrome).

Click to tweet: A smoothie that will beg you to go lay on the beach.

Today's Orange Creamsicle Smoothie was created by Nourished and includes bananas. The bananas in this recipe help stabilize the ingredients and add the perfect amount of sweetness. Simply by removing the banana element from this smoothie, you are basically left with orange juice - not what we are looking for here. So I played around with a few alternatives and found a surprising swap - almond flour. 

You read that right! Almond flour helps build body in the smoothie and adds an extra creamy flavor to the creamsicle.

If you are unable to eat bananas or just don't like the taste, I recommend swapping some smoothies with almond flour instead. And if you do like bananas, why not try adding in some almond flour anyways?!

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Recipe adapted from Nourished

Ingredients

• 1 large Navel Orange, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 tablespoon Almond Flour
• Handful of Ice

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

Click to tweet: Orange Creamsicle Smoothie and #FiveDaysofSmoothies.

Have you ever added almond flour to a smoothie?

Don't want to miss out on this week's smoothie recipes? You can always follow me on Bloglovin'.