Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Health Snack Wednesdays: Snacks that Pop!

This week is full of snacking opportunities – snow days, Healthy Snack Wednesday, and the Superbowl! Part of the reason we started this series is that snacking can get boring. So this week’s post is dedicated to snacks that pop!

First, congratulations to the winner of two vouchers for Veggie Patch Products! The winner, as selected by Random.org is Jordi, who said” my favorite veggie is cucumbers or celery. i like to eat them raw with some italian dressing (on the cucumbers)”. I’ll be in touch to get your mailing address and the vouchers will be sent your way!

To celebrate this week’s popped up recipes, popchips™ has generously donated two one-month supplies of popchips! Two readers will each win one box full of popchips to snack (see if they last the month!). If you haven’t heard of popchips, they are popped potato snacks. Think potato chip crunchy without the greasiness of a regular chip or the cardboard taste of baked potato chips. They are made for snacking – and one bag of original flavor will set you back just 120 calories and 4 grams of fat (more nutrition info here). If you are a potato chip lover, than popchips are a healthier option to satisfy your craving. They even have a Snacker’s Credo!

Quick disclosure: popchips sent over a sampler pack of chips to use in this week’s healthy snack recipes and two boxes of chips for the giveaway. I was not obligated to use or review the products and I was not compensated financially. All opinions belong to me. Now on the fun!



This week I have two popping recipes for you to try out. I am admittedly not a potato chip lover – I usually go for tortilla chips if I have a chip choice. I wanted to come up with a creative way to use popchips in a healthy snack good for weekdays or maybe a Superbowl party. We’ve already made dips a few times and that really isn’t incorporating the popchips. I thought about potato chip cookies (saw them on a few blogs), but every recipe involved a lot of butter or shortening. After thinking about it for a few days, I decided on making mini-quiches with popchip crusts. It is similar to last week’s snack, but this is more party ready! You can pick your own combination of flavors for the crust, but I chose to mix original, salt and pepper, and cheddar for flavor that popped. I didn’t use any cookbooks or recipes for this, so while it could use some tweaking I had blast putting it together!



This is a fairly quick dish to put together. It can be served hot or cold and you could make them the day before and keep them in the refrigerator until party time. Just reheat  before serving. To have a crispier crust, make sure to coat the entire mini-muffin tin with the popchip mixture and only fill to the top of the crust (I got a little excited and overfilled mine). Only a few came out with crispy crusts due to the extra filling, but they tasted like little egg & hashbrown bites. I didn’t add any extra seasoning, because of the flavors in the popchips.



Poppin’ Mini-Quiches
Makes 24 mini-quiches

Crust
3 bags of popchips (I used 1 original, 1 salt & pepper, 1 cheddar)
3-4 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 1 teaspoon)


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Lightly spray a mini-muffin tin with cooking spray
Add popchips to a food processor and pulse until they are the texture of panko breadcrumbs
Pour into a mixing bowl and mix the crumbs with butter, add a little oil if it is not moist enough
Spoon a little of the crust mixture into each muffin cup (you might have extra mixture)
Using a tart shaper, or your hand, press the crust mixture down firmly into the bottom and sides of the cups
Bake for 5-7 minutes, until slightly golden brown
Remove from oven to fill



Filling
4-5 large eggs
1 tablespoon milk
About 15 spinach leaves (I forgot to measure!)

Combine ingredients in a food processor or blender
Mix until frothy
Pour on top of prebaked crusts in muffin tin




Place tin back into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until puffed up and golden brown
Remove from the oven and serve immediately, or cool on rack and refrigerate
Serve with a dash of hot sauce, if desired!

Popping Snack #2
For my second snack, I popped up one of my favorite treats, popcorn! During the last snow day I played popcorn roulette, mixing up three different flavors and then spinning the bowls around. One bite could be lavender, the next za’atar, and the last green chili. I have an Cusinart Crazy popper and can control the amount of oil I use when I pop – and be sure that my popcorn isn’t loaded with oil, butter, and other funny chemicals. I wanted to make a sweet popcorn for this week. The hubby loves kettle corn and caramel corn, but the store bought versions are loaded with fat and sugar. I popped up a batch of red popcorn kernels from the farmers market and made a quick glaze to add on top. After the popcorn glaze dried, I packaged it into sandwich bags in appropriate serving sizes. It’s great to throw in your bag for the car, an afternoon snack, or a something to tide you over until dinner.



Maple-Sesame Popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 tablespoon canola oil
Pop popcorn in a popcorn popper (say that three times fast!)
Makes about 6 cups of popped popcorn

Maple-Sesame Glaze
1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used Grade A Dark Amber)
1/2 tablespoon water
1/2 tablespoon butter

Add all ingredients, except sesame seeds, into a small sauce pan
Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for about 10 minutes, until slightly thickened
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees
Drizzle half the glaze over the popped corn in a large bowl
Add sesame seeds and mix
Add remaining glaze and toss to coat

Pour onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes until popcorn has dried
Try not to eat it all while putting into bags.



Now, on to the giveaway!

There will be two winners for the giveaway. Each winner will receive a box containing a one-month supply of popchips! I didn't count the bags, but you will be snacking for a while! There are a few ways to enter this week, please leave a separate comment on the blog for each action. You can do any or all of them for a chance to win!
  • Like popchips on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall saying "@GoodCookDoris sent me! Thanks for the giveaway!". Come back and leave a comment below telling me you did so.
  • Leave a comment below letting me know your all-time favorite snack food, no healthy answers needed.

Popchips provided me with the boxes to give to the winner. If you are local in the Boston area we can meet up, or if you are somewhere else in the country I can ship them. (U.S. addresses only, sorry!)


Entries accepted through Tuesday, February 8. Winner to be announced on Wednesday, February 9. For an extra entry, head over to Renee's blog at Eat.Live.Blog. and be sure to check out her snacks that pop!

Happy Snacking!

95 comments:

  1. ok my current favorite snack food is gummy strawberries, no idea why but I am obsessed!

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  2. I already like @popchipsboston on twitter!

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  3. and i already twitter follow you. Rock.

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  4. And i am headed to FB now to like you both, bc wel it's agood idea anyway :P

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  5. My all time favorite snack food is trail mix, with chocolate. I think I like the salty and sweet combo!

    As for the Popchips, my husband is totally addicted. I have to hide them from him and portion it out, or he will eat the whole bag in one sitting!

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  6. I follow you on Twitter. My Twitter handle is @purplelarkspur

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  7. I love snacking on nuts! I like all kinds.

    boswife @ gmail . com

    also did all the other entries. good luck everyone!

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  8. What a creative way to use Popchips! I liked them on Facebook and left them a comment!

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  9. My all-time favorite snack food is kettle corn popcorn!

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  10. Already follow you on Twitter@@ (@tbren15)

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  11. I'm following @popchipsBoston on Twitter and just tweeted about the giveaway! (@tbren15)

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  12. I don't think I have an all-time favorite snack food, but I REALLY love crunchy things, like PopChips, and regular chips too!

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  13. favorite snack food... gold fish crackers. addiction

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  14. I liked them on FB and left a wall post

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  15. My favorite snack food is Taste of Heaven chocolate drizzled caramel corn-it's teh best!

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  16. I follow @popchips on twitter @vivalameaganx3

    --Meagan

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  17. That maple-sesame popcorn looks very tasty!! I just saw Popchips at the grocery store for the first time today!

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  18. popchips cheddar when being good. But to be bad, I love cheddar cheese & onion hot dip with ritz crackers!

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  19. I can't wait to try to the pop chop recipe.

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  20. popcorn is a favorite snack
    clbjcb50@cox.net

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  21. I am a fan on facebook
    clbjcb50@cox.net

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  22. I am a fan of popchips and left a message
    clbjcb50@cox.net

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  23. Oh fun! My all time favorite snack food is pretzels. I know, so lame but they the simple salty crunch is so satisfying...

    PS, love the recipe you created...I bet it was awesome!

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  24. I follow Popchips and tweeted them :)

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  25. I follow you on twitter too! :)

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  26. My favorite snack food is buffalo chicken dip with the scooper chips (go big or go home)

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  27. I absolutely love Fritoes and Heluvagood French onion dip!

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  28. i liked popchips on facebook and left a comment saying you sent me!

    eternity_loves_you[at]hotmail.com

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  29. i follow popchips and popchips boston on twitter!
    and i tweeted! @fru1t55

    eternity_loves_you[at]hotmail.com

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  30. i follow you on twitter and facebook!

    eternity_loves_you[at]hotmail.com

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  31. my all time favorite snack is raw veggies or fresh fruit or cream cheese and saltines. Let's just say i like snack time! :)

    eternity_loves_you[at]hotmail.com

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  32. I love this quiche idea! I follow you!

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  33. My favorite snack constantly changes. I like making random things, like toasting a marshmallow on a waffle, and I love eating sweet and salty at the same time like popcorn and chocolate! And gummy candy for the movies...

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  34. My favorite snack is either wasabi almonds or dark chocolate!

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  35. Hello! I "liked" popchips on FB and left the message. :)

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  36. I also liked your FB page and said hello.

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  37. And, my favorite snack food is... popchips! I love them. Can't get any better than fat-free, guilt-free snacking. The salt & pepper flavor is so good.

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  38. Did the second one - followed @popchips and tweeted about it. Can't wait to win :)

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  39. I posted on facebook to win the popchips!! YUMMY!!
    rc.gardner@comcast.net

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  40. I already like you on FB, and I can't quite bring myself to like something I've never tried, but these pop chips intrigue me, and I LOVE me a mini quiche! So here I go.

    Really my favorite snack is just about anything on a cracker - and just about any cracker. Though my top favs are cheese, tuna fish, or open faced PB&Js on a cracker. Yum! ;-)

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  41. Love your sight and i love popchips!! I like popchips on fb!
    My favorite snack is chips and dip...nowadays it's reduced fat chips and fat free dip!

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  42. My favorite snack is chips and dip...nowadays it's reduced fat chips and fat free dip!

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  43. i liked you on facebook. Looks like a sight i will like to follow!

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  44. My favorite snack food would have to be CARROTS! I am so lame. However, I did down an entire bag of popchips w/ my boyfriend while watching the superbowl on Sunday...they are SO addicting!

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  45. Just left a message on your FB page ... thanks!

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  46. And ... a message on the Popchips FB page ... thanks for the contest! :-)

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  47. FAvorite snack food...popcorn and m&ms combined. Preferably in the movie theater!!

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  48. My all-time favorite snack is hummus and pita. Soul food!

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  49. I can't wait to try the quiches!

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  50. wrote on Popchips' wall:
    http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150137274156495&id=100000826352246

    m8usi@yahoo.com

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  51. following @popchips AND @popchipsBoston and tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/cappytweet/status/35161881391923200

    m8usi@yahoo.com

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  52. posted on their FB wall (jd drenchek-scavo)


    mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

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  53. left a FB message

    sadiebeery at hotmail dot com

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  54. http://twitter.com/#!/mellanhead/status/35162191397257216


    mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

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  55. my all time FAV snack is chocolate chip cookies!! :)

    m8usi@yahoo.com

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  56. I follow @popchips on Twitter and tweeted!

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  57. following @GoodCookDoris as @cappytweet

    m8usi@yahoo.com

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  58. http:/ /twitter.com/OhioCatfish/status/35162370456158208

    Follow popchips

    sadiebeery at hotmail dot com

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  59. I love to snack on popchips (BBQ)

    sadiebeery at hotmail dot com

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  60. My all time fav snack is popcorn
    mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

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  61. Like you on fb (jd drenchek-scavo)

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  62. I like popchips on Facebook and left a comment!

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  63. My favorite snack food is anything with a crunch!

    alicia.demartini@gmail.com

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  64. My favorite snacking food is nuts especially Cashews.

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  65. follow @popchips
    CTSweeper
    and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/CTSweeper/status/35167649096798208

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  66. Even if I don't win anything, I'm so glad I found your blog. Amazing recipes and GO SOX!!

    Nancye B

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  67. My all-time favorite snack food is pistachios. I always have to cut myself off lol.
    ceegeebeegee at yahoo dot com

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  68. LOVE LOVE LOVE popchips!

    ReplyDelete
  69. follow @popchips
    CTSweeper
    and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/CTSweeper/status/35167649096798208

    ReplyDelete
  70. FAvorite snack food...popcorn and m&ms combined. Preferably in the movie theater!!

    ReplyDelete
  71. i liked you on facebook. Looks like a sight i will like to follow!

    ReplyDelete
  72. I posted on facebook to win the popchips!! YUMMY!!
    rc.gardner@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  73. And, my favorite snack food is... popchips! I love them. Can't get any better than fat-free, guilt-free snacking. The salt & pepper flavor is so good.

    ReplyDelete
  74. My favorite snack is either wasabi almonds or dark chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  75. I absolutely love Fritoes and Heluvagood French onion dip!

    ReplyDelete
  76. Oh fun! My all time favorite snack food is pretzels. I know, so lame but they the simple salty crunch is so satisfying...

    PS, love the recipe you created...I bet it was awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  77. I am a fan of popchips and left a message
    clbjcb50@cox.net

    ReplyDelete
  78. I can't wait to try to the pop chop recipe.

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  79. My favorite snack food is Taste of Heaven chocolate drizzled caramel corn-it's teh best!

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  80. I don't think I have an all-time favorite snack food, but I REALLY love crunchy things, like PopChips, and regular chips too!

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  81. I liked them on FB and left a wall post

    ReplyDelete

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