After-School Snacks All Grown Up

About author / Amy Powell

World traveler; gourmet 30 minute meals; lover of exotic ingredients; winner on FoodTV's Chefs vs City; graduate French Culinary Institute. Her recipes will tantalize your taste buds.

When we were kids, one of the best parts about getting out of school in the afternoon was the afternoon snack. Before you would even think about turning on the TV for cartoons, the kitchen was a necessary stop to load up on cheese and crackers, chocolate milk, Top Ramen, yogurt, peanut butter and jelly, or just about anything else you could get your hands on.

Now that we are grown ups, we miss out on that whole ritual of the after school snack. Our “after school” is either in the evening right before dinner is served or on the weekends. We do just about the same thing: throw down our bags, grab something from the fridge, and plop down in front of the TV for some mindless entertainment.

But now we have swapped the chocolate milk for a beer in front of the football game or a glass of wine and an episode of CSI. And just as our taste in beverages has changed, our snacking might also be ready for a grown up make-over.

Children are born with a taste for sweet foods, which is probably why most kids prefer Captain Crunch over plain oatmeal. Tastes for sour, bitter, and spicy foods develop over time. So it is understandable that our afternoon snacks as children bordered on the plain and predictable. There is nothing wrong with cheese and crackers or carrots and Ranch, but as adults we have the ability to spice up our snack, adding interesting flavors, eye catching colors, and various textures that make that TV time a little more exciting.

Popcorn

Popcorn is one of those beloved snacks of the young and old that was practically invented for eating while hanging out in front of the TV. It is certainly hard to beat the convenience of the microwavable, buttered kind of popcorn, but the truth is that doing it yourself on the stove top takes about the same amount of time.

Using the directions on the package of popcorn, make a serving in a heavy pot on the stove top. When the popcorn is done, remove the popcorn from the heat and salt immediately with a fine grain sea salt or plain iodized salt. Now for an adult twist: drizzle the popcorn with two tablespoons of truffle oil, ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese and some cracks of black pepper. Toss the popcorn to combine and you have a very quick snack with flavors fit for grown-ups.

Nachos

Nachos were another favorite of mine as a kid and of most the kids I knew then and now. It is hard to go wrong with melted cheese and chips. Now, if you are watching football at a bar and order nachos, what you get is some unappetizing looking pile of bits and pieces ranging from beans and meat to sour cream and guacamole to jalapenos and salsa.

In its very basic form nachos, which are just chips and cheese, are the ultimate grazing snack for after school, after work, or a lazy weekend afternoon. But don’t limit yourself to what you have seen in the restaurants. For starters, take inventory of the pantry because many types of beans, from black to pinto to white, could work as a topper. Leftover chicken, chopped up deli ham, or even crumbled bacon could make a good addition.

I like the idea of making a sort of Southern version of nachos by heating up some white beans with garlic, chopped ham, minced sage and white wine for a few minutes while the oven preheats. I’ll season those beans to taste with Tabasco or another hot sauce then pile them onto tortilla chips and top it all off with some smoked cheddar before putting it in the oven to melt. Five minutes later, a hearty and satisfying TV snack is served.

Pizza

Another idea would be upgrading from the after school pizza bagel to the after work pizza pita. Making pizza more grown-up is all about adding flavor. Try substituting a spread of pesto for the tomato sauce. Top with mozzarella or parmesan then put it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. When it comes out, pile on some arugula and slice of prosciutto then drizzle with a little olive oil for a light snack that is big on color and even bigger on flavors.

There are days when I sigh with nostalgia of afternoons raiding the refrigerator and watching cartoons. Now I may have traded my backpack for a briefcase, but I love my down time just as much, even though it comes later in the day or not until the weekend. And I still crave that snack to graze on while letting my mind unwind to the gentle hum of TV chatter. Adding pesto to pizza, doctoring up nachos, or giving some pizzazz to popcorn allows us grownups to satisfy those kid cravings with some serious adult tastes.

Serves/Makes: 4

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 can white beans, rinsed and drained
• 8 fresh sage leaves
• 1 cup chopped ham
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon Tabasco or other hot sauce (more if desired)
• salt and pepper
• 1 bag (6-8 ounce size) thick tortilla chips
• 4 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, grated