Snack

No apologies here. These are dense and decadent. You’ll want to use a strong dark chocolate—something that stands up to the richness of great butter, fresh eggs, and a lot of sugar.

A slice of this chocolate-ribboned cake served on a tray with a cup of hot cocoa, a glass of chilled juice, and a boiled egg, accompanied by a newspaper and a little flower in a vase, will please the soul of any chocolate lover lying in bed. Not so sure? Add a chocolate glaze (see Glaze of the Gods, page 118) and you’ll be guaranteed entry into the boudoir of chocolate heaven.

Handmade caramel is sophisticated and soothingly sweet, especially when combined with the bold flavors of artisan chocolate. You can also dip these bonbons in tempered chocolate before you dust them to create chocolate caramel truffles.

Top oven fries with the works—tender beef, broccoli, brown gravy, and a bit of blue cheese. You can use leftover roast beef, such as part of the extra Tuscan Braised Beef (page 172), or buy the lowest-fat, lowest-sodium cooked beef you can find.

A seasoned cornmeal crust makes the zucchini so crisp that you could easily mistake it for deep-fried. Try the zucchini and dip for a party appetizer as well as for a side dish.

Baked with pumpkin for added flavor, moisture, and body, these gingerbread muffins are perfect for brown-bagging or after-school snacks.

This trail mix, updated with crystallized ginger, is ready in a flash. It’s great to have on hand when you need a grab-and-go snack.

With their slightly caramelized flavor, roasted vegetables make a wonderful spread. Serve with pieces of toasted whole-grain pita rounds or baked tortilla chips.

Your guests will be amazed at the flavor packed into these phyllo shells. You’ll love how easy they are to make.

When the colorful allure of the many bell pepper varieties draws you in at the supermarket’s produce section, try this recipe for an unusual vegetable tray. The cream cheese mixture is also wonderful on celery, on cucumber rounds, or in hollowed-out cherry tomato halves.

You can enjoy this protein- and fiber-packed, easy-to-prepare dip on baked tortilla chips or in Vegetarian Taco Salad (page 94).

Don’t let the small size of these cheese balls fool you. They’re loaded with flavor and crunch!

The subtle, fresh taste of dill is at its best when teamed with cucumbers. Cut some into spears, rounds, or wedges and try them with this super-simple dip.

I love to have egg whites on hand at all times. A whole large egg white has only 17 calories and no fat, so they’re great right out the refrigerator any time of day, whether as part of a meal or for the munchies. I just sprinkle them with a bit of sea salt and fresh cracked pepper or one of my favorite rubs, and they’re good to go.

If you’re tempted every time you walk by the pretzel stand at the mall, this recipe is for you. I used a pretty small amount of cinnamon in this recipe because I didn’t want it to overpower the flavor of the butter and the sugar. If you’re a big fan of cinnamon, feel free to use a little more. Since it’s virtually calorie-free, it’s consequence-free.

Years ago, I used to make these gramwiches all the time. Every time, my ex-boyfriend, Kyle, would watch the marshmallow as it gooed out of the cracker when I took a bite. He would say, “You’re such a child,” with a smile on his face. He didn’t like marshmallows, but I know he wished he did because this quick treat always put a smile on my face.

These adorable little bears are exceptionally great for kids instead of less nutritious sandwich cookies. You can make plenty ahead of time and store them in an airtight plastic container for whenever they (or you) need a snack in seconds.

When you go to the grocery store looking for fat-free hot fudge, be sure to flip the jar and look at the nutrition label even if the front doesn’t say it’s fat-free. Several common brands don’t brag about being fat-free, but they are. The store brand at my local grocery store is one of them, so you might want to check at yours. Feel free to microwave these for a few seconds after you spread each side but before assembling. You’ll end up with an even gooier treat!

Ideally, this recipe should be prepared with firm bananas: The softer ones are best reserved for banana breads and muffins. I buy a couple of bananas pretty much every time I go to the grocery store (way more frequently than most, I’m sure), so I’m always set no matter what I want to do with them.

Be sure to buy eggroll wrappers—the ones that are bigger than wonton skins—to make these triangles. These are an awesome treat at the end of an Asian-inspired meal . . . or any time. Use different colors of decorative sugar to make them extra fun and festive. I love making them with Wilton Sprinkles Pink & White Sparkling Sugar when girlfriends are coming over or when working with the young girls I mentor. If you want to make these triangles for a group, don’t worry. The recipe is really easy to multiply. I was tempted to write the recipe in a larger quantity. But I find them so addicting, I think it’s slightly “dangerous” to have them sitting around.