When I was a kid, the ultimate snack I craved was a soft pretzel. It didn’t matter where we were, if there was a soft pretzel available, I wanted it. Imagine my excitement when they started packaging and selling soft pretzels in the grocery store!!! Holy crust!!! Could life get any better? Well sure it could and did, because I learned just how easy it is to make homemade soft pretzels from scratch. And they taste 100% more delicious than any store bought pretzel!
Do you ever get tired of the same old snack mix that gets set out at parties? I know I do. Give me something with a balance of salty and sweet, please. Is That kind of snack is hard to come by. Or is it? This Holiday Snack Mix might save your next party!
It’s a fun word. Say it. Seriously, say it out loud. Super fun, right?
Fun and popular, cacao sure is sitting pretty these days. It’s trendy and it’s hip…even though it’s really nothing new.
Nope, cacao has been around for awhile. Never heard of it? Sure you have, it’s also known as cocoa, the more modern-ish term we typically use here in America. Cacao (and cocoa) refers to the dried beans from the cocoa tree. Generally, cacao is synonymous with the unroasted or raw version of the cocao bean, with cocoa being the roasted and sometimes more processed cacao bean. Cacao can be turned into everything from “nibs”( essentially broken pieces of cacao beans) to powder.
If cacao isn’t new, then why this surge in popularity? Well my guess it’s because people are looking for all kinds of ways to add a nutritious boost to their smoothie bowls, oatmeal, shakes and everything in between. Cacao is a good choice then as it’s got a pretty nice nutrition profile, containing several antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and iron. But like anything, enjoy in moderation.
Looking to try cacao beans? Then try my recipe below for Cacao Pretzel Snacks. They are super easy to make and provide a nice introduction to cacao.
And a big thank you to the Recipe Redux! This recipe was inspired by this month’s theme of building a recipe using an ingredient I’ve never used before.
A simple snack made with whole grain pretzels, Greek yogurt and cacao nibs.
