Recipe: Popcorn Crunch Mix

Looking for a simple recipe to jazz up your snacks for entertaining?

Give this one a try!

It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, and has just enough spice to make it crave-worthy.

Makes about 6 servings.

Ingredients:

• 10 cups (80 g) air-popped popcorn

• Olive oil cooking spray

• 1 Tbsp taco seasoning mix

• 1 cup (120 g) pecans

• 1 cup (160 g) golden raisins

• ½ cup (60 g) toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions:

1. Place the popped corn in a very large bowl and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the popcorn and stir lightly to coat. Stir in the remaining ingredients.

2. Serve!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Mo Abrahim from Pexels 

Recipe: Baked Banana Chips

These chips are a project – they take a long time to crisp in the oven, so make them when you know you’ll be home for several hours.

The trick to making good baked chips is to check them frequently. Because the chips aren’t uniform – not only in size, but in natural moisture/sugar content – they cook at different speeds. Also, not all ovens are perfectly calibrated to a baking temperature, so the time might vary.

Keeping an eye on them makes all the difference!

Ingredients:

• 4 large ripe bananas

• 4 tablespoons of orange or lemon juice

• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (optional)

• Small amount of sea salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cut the peeled bananas into ¼-inch slices and dip into the orange/lemon juice before placing on the baking sheets. Sprinkle with optional spices/salt and put the chips in the oven.

3. After about 90 minutes, remove from the oven and gently peel the chips up from the parchment paper to flip them over. (Note: if they don’t easily flip and still feel really sticky, bake a little longer before you flip them all.)

4. Cook for another hour or so (they make take up to four hours total!) and start checking on them for doneness – you’ll know they are done when they turn light brown and are starting to become dry and crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool.

5. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by HandmadePictures from Getty Images

Recipe: Trail Mix Granola

Is this trail mix or is this granola? Either way, it’s DELICIOUS.

Your home is going to smell AMAZING while this is in the oven. Warning: it’s addicting. Be sure to exercise portion control with this healthy snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw mixed nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts)

• 1 cup raw slivered almonds

• ½ cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds

• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted

• ¼ cup maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla

• ½ cup unsweetened flaked coconut

• 1 cup dried cherries, blueberries or cranberries

• ¼ tsp sea salt

• (optional: 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and line 1 or 2 baking sheets (depending on their size) with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix the nuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Set aside.

3. In a small bowl, combine the coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Pour over the nuts and mix well. Add the optional pumpkin pie spice and mix again, till everything is evenly coated.

4. Spread the nuts on the baking sheet(s) and sprinkle salt over the top of the mixture. Bake for 15 minutes.

5. Remove from the oven and stir the nuts to make sure they toast evenly. Bake for another 15 minutes and remove from the oven. Stir again, adding the coconut flakes. Bake for another 10 minutes to toast the coconut.

6. Remove from the oven for a final time, and let cool. Mix in the berries and store in an airtight container.

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by bhofack2 from Getty Images Pro