Great snack recipes for movie night, a backyard picnic or a fancy night in
Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you have loads of free time. You may be planning kids’ schedules in between working hours, researching papers for class or rushing to make three meals a day to keep everyone fed.
So when you do find a day — or even just a few hours — for fun, it’s important to have snacks ready. Here are a few snackable menus designed to complement some of our favorite stay-at-home activities.
Backyard picnic
If you have access to a backyard (or front yard!) it’s time to go outside. Seriously. When the good weather strikes, get these simple snacks ready for a picnic.
Pork and Green Bean Empanadas. This handheld and hearty baked empanada is just right for enjoying a sunny day.
Corn, Radish, Tomato and Tortilla Chip Salad. Build on the promise of a summer picnic with a simple and refreshing salad — with some crunch factor.
Chocolate Pudding Pops. One good thing about being tethered to home is that you don’t have to worry about the cooler. When it’s time for dessert, run back inside to grab these light and tasty pudding pops.
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Movie night
It’s time to get all caught up on the movies in your queue and cozy down with your favorite flicks. You’re going to need some snacks to keep you fueled for your movie marathon.
Desi Jacks. Popcorn is a movie theater classic, but why not spice it up? Literally. Add cumin and chili powder, toss in some nuts and more, and you’ve upgraded your movie night. Maybe this will inspire you to give Bollywood a try. If you’re new to it, watch “Kal Ho Naa Ho.”
Dill and Mint Yogurt Dip. Scene getting tense? A cool yogurt dip will help you stay calm.
Fudgy Flourless Brownies. For all the sweet rom-coms, family favorites and funnies, classic fudgy brownies are a natural match. No flour means you don’t have to worry about looking for it at the store.
Self-care can mean a lot of things. It can be making sure your home is clean and your dishes are done, or it can mean giving yourself some space and time to treat yourself to one of these colorful, flavorful dishes.
Shrimp Salad With Lime and Mint Dressing. If your nails are still wet and you’re hungry, this simple shrimp salad (that you can prep ahead of time) is a light snackish start to your evening.
Harissa-Roasted Carrot and Bean Dip. A five-course dinner can make you feel special, but who’s going to do the dishes? Keep it simple with a spiced bean dip so you can focus on you, and maybe feel a little like one of those health-Instagram-influencers.
Proper British Shortbread. We know you’re self-soothing with “The Great British Bake Off.” We are, too. These shortbread cookies are a Mary Berry original.
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The Big Game is canceled (except in Belarus, where soccer is still on), which means it’s time for you to play some smaller games! Bust out the board games, fish out that deck of cards, order a puzzle and get to snacking.
Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip. Is Monopoly getting spicy? Is the Boggle battle getting heated? Match the intensity with Buffalo dip. This gets an extra zing from chopped pickled jalapeños.
Greek Pita Pizzas. Making a full pizza from scratch is not the move for game day. These simplified, handheld mini pita pizzas are the answer.
Boiled Peanut Butter Cookies. These peanut butter-chocolate cookies take mere minutes to prepare. That means you can race back to the game board in time to make sure no one is cheating.
Fancy evening
Putting together a fancy dinner takes some effort in normal times. Right now, it can feel like too tall a task. So cut down on that effort and go with these fancy snacks instead.
Roasted Feta With Grapes and Olives. Take the complexity of a cheese board and condense it into one simple baked appetizer. Grapes caramelize and pop, olives release their salty punch, fennel adds its anise touch and crushed red pepper flakes bring the heat. If you crave cheese but need it vegan, try Herb Marinated Tofu Feta.
Roasted Radishes With Green Goddess Butter. The herby butter for these radishes comes together with just a few minutes in the food processor. Jewel-like radishes with their crispy tops make this a showstopper snack one that you’ll keep on your entertaining roster.
Chocolate-Dipped Orange Crisps. Fancy desserts can take a lot of effort, but here you can get all the glam with just three ingredients and minimal hands-on work. Leave these in the oven while you gussy up just for yourself, and refrigerate ’til the chocolate sets and the rest of your meal is complete.
More from Voraciously:
This salad uses lentils and canned salmon for a quick and tasty weeknight meal
The grocery store has become our anxiety-filled hellscape
A guide to baking substitutions for flour, sugar, yeast and more
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