I love to snack.  It’s really hard for me to just be sitting around and not have something to chomp on occasionally.  This is one reason I am glad I don’t have a desk job! Obviously when it comes to snacking, I like to have mostly healthy options.  When I went grocery shopping this past weekend, I bought a package of freeze dried raspberries from Trader Joes:

I should have bought more because they go so fast!  One of my favorite ways to eat these is with a few chocolate chips.

When I am at home, I periodically go to the kitchen to get a small handful just like this.

I also recently made Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter which I love!

I have a small break between nanny-ing jobs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in which time I spend driving to the next location then either catching up on Scramble with Friends, Words with Friends, or Draw Something, or doing a little shopping.  However, yesterday I really just wanted to go home so I could have an apple with my almond butter.  So I went home for a mere 20 minutes just to enjoy this treat!  It was worth it!

Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter

1 c almonds
3 tsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp coconut oil (optional)

Spread almonds on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with 1 tsp maple syrup, and sprinkle with the salt.

Roast for 10 minutes at 325, stirring every 3 or 4 minutes (I was super nervous I was going to burn them so I probably checked them every 2 mins)

Let cool for 10-20 minutes.

Transfer to the food processor and process, adding the rest of the maple syrup and the cinnamon.

You will have to process for quite a long time.  First it will be dry, then grainy, then clumpy, and eventually turn creamy.  If yours doesn’t seem to be getting creamy and you’ve been processing for 15 minutes or so, adding the coconut oil will definitely help.  I had to do this as mine just wouldn’t get creamy.

So there you have it!  It also tastes wonderful on toast, but my absolute favorite way to eat it is with an apple.  I’m excited to try new almond butter flavors in the future!  I think my next one will be dark chocolate! Yum…

What is your favorite healthy (or not) snack?