Munch Madness

Maple-glazed walnuts and pecans.

Here are some suggestions for healthy munchies while watching tonight's basketball championship game.

Maple Glazed Walnuts/Pecans
2 cups walnut or pecan halves or mixture of both
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions:  Place 1/8 teaspoon salt in a dry skillet and heat over medium-high heat.  Add the walnuts and syrup.  Cook, stirring often, until the syrup is absorbed and caramelized and nuts are toasted.  3 to 5 minutes.  (Recipe modified from one by Ellie Krieger of the Food Network)  These are good as munchies, but are also good in salads.

Another really healthy snack is cheese stuffed apricots.  Use the large dried apricots and be sure they are soft and supple and not hardened.  You can make a half moon slit entering the knife in the opening where the pit was removed.  Place about 1/2 teaspoon of cheese into the pocket and top with an almond.

Cheese stuffed apricots:
Dried apricots (large ones--the ones from Trader Joe's are very good) And as someone said if you don't have a Trader Joe's, then you need to move.
Softened cheese (Brie, Blue Cheese, or Mascarpone) I used Brie for these.
Almonds (I used Marcona almonds from Trader Joe's)

This is a healthy snack. Almonds are high in protein and fiber and rich in vitamin E.
Dried apricots are rich in carotenes and a number of minerals as well as vitamin C.

Dried apricots stuffed with Brie and topped with Marcona almonds.

We'll be snacking on these tonight as we watch the game.  Go Kentucky!