WHAT brings families and friends together over the festive period more than food? Whether you are serving a few pre-braai nibbles or looking for something fun to make for your children during the school holidays, these ideas are sure to impress young and old alike.
- Basic, budget or bougie … hummus
Chip and dip is a solid snack option, but it can get pricey, and it’s not the healthiest way to go. A great alternative is a home-made hummus – it’s packed with fibre and pairs with anything you like. Enjoy hummus as a dip with veggie sticks and crackers, or spread it on wholewheat bread soldiers or hard-boiled eggs.
Here are is a basic hummus recipe with a bougie or budget adaptation. Simply blend the ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
Basic Humus:
1/4 cup Tahini (You can also make your own Tahini by blending a cup of hulled sesame seeds with a table spoon of olive oil.)
1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon cumin
pinch of salt
Bougie Blend:
Add avocado or beetroot to the blend or garnish with caramelised onions or olives.
Budget:
For a cheaper version, you can omit the tahini and opt for sunflower oil instead. If you don’t have a blender, you can make a similar dip with canned butter beans which are easy to mash with a fork.
- Fruity and fabulous ice lollies
Make your own ice lollies and impress your guests and your children alike. The sky is the limit with these. If you don’t have a mould, opt for a paper cup and place a spoon in the centre before popping your creations in the freezer. Once frozen, you can peel off the paper cup and enjoy. Here are a two ideas:
Choc-banana
2 bananas
1 tablespoons cocoa – add another spoonful for an extra-chocolatey flavour
1 cup milk of choice
Optional – sugar to taste
Method: Blend the ingredients in a food processor and add to a mould.
Mellow, jello
Ingredients:
1 packet jelly
1 cup fruit of choice
1 cup fruit juice (optional)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Method: Dissolve jelly powder according to box instructions. For a healthier option, choose sugar-free jelly or plain gelatin. If you are using plain gelatin, combine with fruit juice to taste. Pour the mixture into moulds, and add a few pieces of fruit to each lolly before freezing. Combinations to try: Raspberry jelly with blueberries; strawberry jelly with kiwi slices, or orange jelly with cubed pineapple.
- Fruit Skewers
With plenty of seasonal fruit at your fingertips at this time of year, fruit skewers are simply delicious and usually a crowd pleaser. Simply wash and chop fruit of your choice and build skewers with toothpicks or kebab sticks. Opt for a combination of berries such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries or go for a rainbow effect with green grapes, pineapple, orange segments and so on.
- Dateballs
Naturally sweet, dates are a great way to indulge your sweet tooth without sacrificing on health. While date balls are typically made with melted butter and crushed biscuits, this recipe takes health up another notch and we are ‘nut’ complaining.
Ingredients
1 cup dates
1/2 cup pecan nuts (cashew nuts or walnuts work, too)
a pinch of salt
desiccated coconut
Method: Place dates, nuts and salt in a food processor and lightly pulse until you have a course mixture. Scoop out the mixture and roll into balls. Roll in coconut and chill.
~ENDS~
