Category Archives: Finger Foods
Banana Spring Rolls
So a friend of mine wanted to get lunch yesterday and it had been a while since we’d been anywhere for Thai. As an appetizer, we got these great vegetable spring rolls with a peanut sauce for dipping. It was pretty fantastic. After we were finished eating, I wanted something sweet. I browsed the dessert menu and all they had was a selection of ice creams and mochi. That really wasn’t going to do it for me… so I decided to head home and try my hand at making an Asian inspired dessert. 
That’s when I remembered that my favorite Vietnamese restaurant serves banana spring rolls. They’re the perfect kind of sweet, and frying the rice paper in butter gives it a completely different flavor from a traditional oil-fried spring roll. Say WHAT. They’re so delicious.
Homemade Oreos… And They’re Better Than the Real Thing!!
Someone pinch me. Hard. Harder… I must be dreaming. Not only did these little cookies-from-above exceed my every expectation, but they did so even in the “slightly healthier, but not really” category. I came across the original recipe for these on Foodnetwork.com, so I can’t take credit for inventing this amazingness. However, I did add my usual tweaks and modifications to make them my own. Everybody loved them. Loved. I mean it. So try a batch. Maybe take them to a party. And then brace yourself for the ensuing barrage of super awesome popularity.
Rice Crispies Pops
Oh, Rice Crispies Treats… I love them so much. My childhood wouldn’t be the same without them and, let’s be real for a second here, neither would my adult life. I actually haven’t made them in at least a good 10 years, though. So I thought I should break out that old favorite recipe of mine and make these as a special treat for Sunday brunch with friends. Only problem is I couldn’t find that old favorite recipe… Good thing they have it inside the cereal box!
Meg’s Special Fit-in-40 Apple Baklava
Nerd alert! I went all crazy up-in-your-face-health-conscious-baker on this one! This is a very special dessert. A close friend of mine operates a blog about the fun and frenzy that her day-to-day brings (visit her here: www.ratnamresidence.com). Between work and home, with taking care of her baby, her house, and her husband it’s been easy to let her healthy eating habits take a “back seat” to everyday life. Let’s face it, we all wish we could be a little healthier. My goal with making this dessert was to create something easy, delicious, and healthier than your typical dessert without feeling like you’re settling for flavorless and boring, and without all those nasty chemicals! I was also concerned with being sure to include whole foods that are both healthy and filling. The result is what I’m calling Apple Baklava, but I’m sure you’ll just call it delicious.
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
One of my favorite things is a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie that’s crispy and buttery on the edges and soft and sweet in the center. Add a cold glass of milk or a steamy hot chocolate and you’ve got the perfect base for a great rainy afternoon watching movies… and once you try these cookies, you’ll be wishing it would rain a whole lot more often!
“Bar Snacks” Mini-Cakes
What could be better than a nice, cold beer after a long day at work? I can’t think of much… other than maybe a nice, cold beer with a sweet and salty sidekick! I made these simple mini chocolate cakes a lot more exciting by adding dark chocolate chips, crushed Ruffles brand potato chips (both inside and out), and my own Coca-Cola frosting. Yum!
