I don’t know about you, but I love to have parties during the summer, and laying out a snack bar for everyone to help themselves can alleviate quite a bit of stress in finding everyone’s favorite foods. My husband’s go-to snack is always popcorn, and it’s a great snack to use as a base in a mix! However, mine is homemade ice-cream. I love a cold bowl of ice cream on a hot summer day! In the summer, I always mix ice cream with different types of candy like my absolute favorite, Sour Patch Kids! Whether it is making an ice cream bowl mixed with candy or another type of snack mix, there is always one for everyone. Here is a great mix to make below that I just recently made for my family that I’m sure you’ll love!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of air-popped popcorn
• 1 pack Bite Size Cookies
• 1 cup extra small mini pretzel twists
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup mixed jumbo raisins

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Mix well.
• Serve & Enjoy!

This simple recipe only calls for five ingredients and all you have to do is combine them together – that’s it! It’s also the perfect on-the-go snack if you are traveling for vacations or family get togethers. This popcorn mix is an easy snack to make and you can throw it into a baggy.

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com and Food & Drink!

We purchased all the classroom school supplies and I dove headfirst into my favorite part of Back-To-School prep, all the food needed for snacks and lunch. I have stocked the pantry with all of my kids’ favorites- RITZ Crackers, OREO cookies, Honey Maid Grahams, Teddy Grahams, and Chips Ahoy varieties. Now I’m starting to get excited for Back-To-School!

I always love finding a new, creative recipe for breakfast on that first day of school. It’s hard to get the kids up and out the door before the bus comes at 7:00 AM, so something that is quick,and they can eat on-the-go is always a plus. After a little research, I came up with an amazing find, TEDDY GRAHAMS Blueberry Pancake Bites. These little bites of heaven combine my kids’ favorites, Teddy Grahams, and Pancakes.

TEDDY GRAHAMS Blueberry Pancake Bites

Prep Time: 10 min  Total Time: 20 min   Makes 12 servings, 2 pancake bites each.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cup complete (just add water) pancake and waffle mix
• 3/4 cup water
• 1-1/2 cups TEDDY GRAHAMS Honey Graham Snacks
• 1 cup blueberries

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Whisk pancake mix and water just until blended.
• Spoon into 24 mini muffin pan cups sprayed with cooking spray, adding about 1 tbsp. batter to each cup.
• Top with graham snacks and blueberries; press gently into batter with back of spoon to secure.
• Bake 10 min. or until tops are golden brown.

Tips

Substitute

• Prepare recipe using your favorite variety of TEDDY GRAHAMS Graham Snacks, such
  
  as Chocolate Chip or Cinnamon.

Variations

• Substitute 1/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips or 2 tbsp. multi-color sprinkles
  
  for the blueberries.

Nutrition Notes

In addition to these fruit-filled pancake bites being a sweet addition to your morning,
they can also fit into a balanced diet.

Nutrition Information Per Serving:   110 calories, 2g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg
cholesterol, 200mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 6g total sugars includes
5g added sugars, 2g protein, 0%DV Vitamin A, 2%DV Vitamin C, 0%DV Vitamin D,
6%DV calcium, 6%DV iron, 0%DV potassium

Head on down to your local Commissary to grab all the ingredients needed for this recipe and all your Nabisco snacks for Back-To-School today!

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com and Recipes!

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are coming back in full swing! It may be 2021, but The Olympics are here and we are more than pumped in this household. We love watching swimming and gymnastics the most over here. What is your favorite sport to watch? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Do you want to know what my absolute favorite part of The Olympics is this year in particular? The best part is we are finally able to have a real watch party with our neighbors and friends. So you know we are going BIG! I’m talking tons of food, drinks, upgraded TV and sound system, and of course lots of snack options.

Opening ceremonies for The Olympic Games Tokyo air on July 23, 2021 at 7:30 pm EST on NBC and I have begun the search for the perfect menu. The kids have requested snacks galore so I have scoured for all the Red, White & Blue-themed themed recipes I could find. I have hit the jackpot and they even gave me a gold medal for finding the tastiest snacks ever.

I found a super simple recipe that all of my kids enjoyed helping me make. It’s just a box of RITZ Crackers and some melted chocolate/wafers. The best part is they can make any kind of design to represent Team USA.

Star-Spangled RITZ Crackers

Prep Time: 45 min Total Time: 1 hr Makes 16 servings, 3 topped crackers each.

Ingredients

• 48 RITZ Crackers
• 4 oz. white baking chocolate, melted
• 1 oz. blue candy coating wafers, melted
• 2 Tbsp. white nonpareils
• 1 oz. red candy coating wafers, melted

Directions

• Spread tops of crackers with white chocolate.
• Spread blue candy coating onto 1/4 of each topped cracker as shown in the photo. Top with nonpareils.
• Spoon red candy coating into a resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag; use to pipe stripes onto crackers as shown in the photo.
• Let stand 15 min. or until candy coatings are firm.

Tips

Snack Mindfully

Stay in the moment and focus on what you’re eating for a satisfying experience with a portion of your snack.

Variation

Substitute 1/4 cup red decorating icing and 3 Tbsp. blue decorating icing for the melted candy coating wafers, and substitute 1/2 cup white chocolate chips for the white baking chocolate.

How to Store

Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature up to 2 weeks before serving.

My friends and family love when I put boards together for our gatherings. I thought putting together something for The Olympics would be perfect for this occasion. I came across this amazing recipe that is great for everyone to pick on throughout our watch party. The combination of fruits and Nabisco cookies are a great addition to our menu. I found this recipe when my 6-year-old asked if I could find something she could make without using the stove. Low and behold I found the recipe that was made for her request.

Summer Sweet Party Platter

Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 15 min Makes 16 servings.

Ingredients

• OREO Cookies
• CHIPS AHOY! Cookies
• Fresh blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries
• Thawed frozen whipped topping

Directions

• Place raspberries and strawberries in alternating rows with cookies on board or platter for stripes on the United States flag.
• Spoon whipped topping onto the corner of board; top with blueberries for the flag’s stars. Serve with additional berries and whipped topping for dipping.
• Cookie and fruit boards can be prepared for any number of servings, depending on the size of the gathering. Use a guideline of 1 oz. cookies and 2 Tbsp. whipped topping per person. For the 16 servings shown here, you will need 24 EACH OREO and CHIPS AHOY! Cookies and 2 cups whipped topping. Have plenty of additional fresh berries for the guests to enjoy.

Tips

Substitute

Prepare using CHIPS AHOY! Team USA Limited Edition Cookies.

Special Extra

Spoon whipped topping into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and use it to pipe whipped topping onto the corner of the board for the flag’s stars. Or, pipe the whipped topping into a small bowl to place on the board.

Seasonal Fruit

In addition to the berries, add other fruits that are in season, such as blackberries and/or clusters of red grapes.

I let my daughter put this whole thing together herself as a run-through before the big event and she was thrilled. She let her creativity go wild with the presentation and we know that everyone will love it when we prepare it again for The Olympics. You can do the same and arrange your favorite fruits and a variety of OREO and CHIPS AHOY! Cookies.

So make sure you run, vault, or swim on down to your local commissary and grab all the ingredients for these incredible recipes as you prepare for your watch party for The Olympics today!

Nabisco is a Proud Sponsor of Team USA.

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. – Cicero

Lately, I have become a bit envious of past holidays. All the memories of times spent with extended family and all of our friends always brings a smile to my face. Now as the holidays are approaching, I have decided not to envy the past, but be thankful for what is to come this holiday season.

We just welcomed a new baby girl into our family this fall, and have decided that a small celebration in our home is in order during these uncertain times. I am so excited to start some new traditions with my family as well as bringing in our old traditions. Thanksgiving was always one of the biggest celebrations that we would hold at my parent’s house and I wanted to bring the same experience on a smaller scale in our home this year.

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, my oldest daughter and I have already started prepping our menu. She really wanted to have a “fancy hors d’oeuvres” (she is obsessed with Fancy Nancy and using French words). So we scoured the world wide web for some new “fancy” ideas and found Ritz Smoked Gouda Toppers. If these aren’t “fancy” enough for a 5-year-old, I don’t know what is. After we put them all together, Anabelle gave them her signature 2 thumbs up.

Ritz Smoked Gouda Toppers

What You Need

• 2 tsp. butter
• 1 cup slivered onions
• 1-1/2 tsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 24 RITZ Crackers
• 4 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, cut into 24 thin slices
• 1/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

Make It

• Heat the oven to 350°F.
• Melt butter in a skillet on medium heat.  Add onions; cook 10 min. or until tender and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
• Add sugar; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until completely dissolved.  Remove skillet from heat.  Stir in thyme.  Set aside.
• Place crackers in a single layer on a baking sheet; top with cheese.
• Bake 3 to 5 min. or until the cheese is melted.
• Top with onions and cranberry sauce.

Tips

Special Extra

• Sprinkle with additional chopped fresh thyme before serving.

So head down to your local commissary and grab all the ingredients for these tasty “fancy hors d’oeuvres” today. Happy Thanksgiving!

I love sitting down to a nice spread as we watch our favorite teams go head to head. Our weekends usually start off with a Bloody Mary and I have found the perfect snack to accompany our go-to beverage of choice. With the tang of the horseradish and saltiness from the Triscuits, I give this delectable snack two foam fingers up!

“Bloody Mary” Roasted Tomato Topper

Ingredients

• 12 EACH small red and yellow cherry tomatoes
  
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce, divided
• 4 oz. Neufchatel cheese, softened
• 1/2 tsp. celery seed
• 1/2 tsp. prepared horseradish
• 24 TRISCUIT Crackers

Instructions

1. HEAT  oven to 400°F.
2. TOSS  tomatoes with Worcestershire sauce and 1 Tbsp. hot pepper sauce in a shallow baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
3. BAKE  20 min., stirring after 10 min. Cool.
4. MIX  Neufchatel, celery seed, horseradish, and remaining hot pepper sauce until blended; spread onto crackers.
5. TOP  with tomatoes.

Some of you may not know, but I am originally from the Philadelphia area and am somewhat of a cheesesteak connoisseur of sorts. Whether we are watching Temple take on their weekly foe or chanting “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!”, we always have a cheesesteak on our plate. Moving from state to state, it has been harder and harder to find a good cheesesteak, so I have taken it upon myself to try new recipes and make them at home. My husband loves these bite-sized cheesesteak snacks on game day. The best part is, you can customize them to your own taste! Follow the recipe below or have them “wit” or “witout”. 

Cheese Steak RITZwich

Ingredients

• 36 RITZ Crackers, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 1/4 cup chopped green peppers
• 3 slices frozen thinly sliced beef steak, torn into small pieces
• 2 Tbsp. NABISCO EASY CHEESE Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack

Instructions

1. PLACE  18 crackers, top sides down, on large tray or platter.
2. COOK  and stir onions and peppers in a large nonstick skillet on medium heat 1 to 2 min. or until crisp-tender.
3. ADD  meat; cook 2 to 3 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently.
4. PLACE  crackers in a single layer on a tray; top with meat mixture and cheese snack. Cover with remaining crackers, top sides up, to make 18 sandwiches.

Personally, I loved them without the peppers and add some American Cheese, but everyone has their own tastes. So try them out for yourself!

Whether you are watching the game from home or having a proper socially distant tailgate gathering with a few close friends, good food is always a must. Just be sure to head down to your local commissary before game day and grab all your ingredients for these delicious treats. Find savings on these products and more at www.NabiscoMilitary.com. 

Now, RITZ has upped their game this summer and brought to our table something delightfully crispy and cheesy…the new RITZ Cheese Crispers! 

Now my kids will eat these with their lunches or even as a mid-day snack and my husband has these computer side as he is gaming the night away on weekends. I even have a box of my own stashed away for when I binge watch my favorite shows after the kids have gone to bed!

RITZ Cheese Crispers are made with real, rich cheese that you can see and taste in every delectable bite. They are available now at your local commissary in two flavors, Cheddar and Four Cheese & Herb.

So take my advice and up your snacking game this summer with the new RITZ Cheese Crispers. Head down to your local commissary and grab a box or two (or four) for your family today. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

And if you don’t believe me, check out what Kate has to say about these delicious little snacks!

Apple Bacon Cheddar Tarts
24 TRISCUIT Crackers
2 oz. light cheddar cheese, cut into 24 thin slices
6 slices cooked low-sodium turkey bacon, each cut into 4 pieces
1 small Granny Smith apple, cut into 24 slices
2 Tbsp. honey
Vist https://www.snackworks.com/recipe/apple-bacon-cheddar-tarts-320310.aspx for the full recipe!

OREO Cookies Football Cupcakes
30 OREO Cookies, divided
1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
1/2 cup sour cream
1 container (16 oz.) ready-to-spread white frosting, at room temperature
1-1/2 cups thawed frozen whipped topping
1/2 cup sprinkles
Visit https://www.snackworks.com/recipe/oreo-cookie-football-cupcakes-320321.aspx for the full recipe!

Ritz Chorizo Cheese Snacker
24 RITZ Crackers
2-1/2 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, cut into 24 thin slices
2 cooked Mexican chorizo links, each cut into 12 slices
2 Tbsp. barbecue sauce
1/3 cup black bean and corn salsa
24 fresh cilantro leaves
Visit https://www.snackworks.com/recipe/ritz-chorizo-cheese-snackers-320313.aspx for the full recipe!

Chips Ahoy Touchdown Ice Cream Sandwiches
24 CHIPS AHOY! Cookies, divided
2 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
1/4 cup white decorating icing
1-1/2 cups EACH vanilla and chocolate ice cream, slightly softened
3 Tbsp. sprinkles
Visit https://www.snackworks.com/recipe/chips-ahoy-touchdown-ice-cream-320306.aspx for the full recipe!

For a chance to score a $250 Commissary gift card and a $250 Exchange gift card or a $50 Commissary gift card and $50 Exchange gift card text Touchdown to 89884 to be entered into the Big Game Sweepstakes. Hopefully you win something to help you get ready for the Big Game! You can also visit http://www.NabiscoBigGame.com for more information and official rules.

You can find more savings and recipes at Nabiscomilitary.com

RITZ Loaded Mashed Potato Topper

Ingredients:

• 24 RITZ Crackers
• 1/2 cup hot mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded Mexican Cheese blend
• 6 slices cooked center-cut bacon, each cut into 4 pieces
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 green onions sliced

Instructions:

1. HEAT oven to 350º Faranheit
2. PLACE crackers in a single layer on a foil-covered baking sheet.
3. TOP with potatoes, cheese, and bacon.
4. BAKE 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.
5. TOP with remaining ingredients

*This recipe only takes 20 minutes of prep time! So simple!

*It can be optional to add the green onion, if your family does not like them. My daughters are not fans of green onions, therefore we don’t use them. This recipe is just as amazing with or without them!!

For even more delicious recipes and Commissary savings be sure to visit NabiscoMilitary.com

One of my goals for this new school year is to have delicious and fun snacks my kids will love after a long day of school.  Something for them to look forward to after a long day.

Last year I failed miserably when it came to after school snacks and was definitely not the “cool snack mom.” This year I want to redeem myself and work my way up to “cool snack mom” status!

Thankfully, NABISCO Graham Crackers and RITZ Crackers have my back and make my goal possible by giving me endless cool and fun snacks to work with, such as these Open-Face Cracker Sandwiches

All you need are the following ingredients in the pic below:

I like to set everything out and let the kids go wild! My kids love coming home and being able to help make their own snack, which makes for a win-win!

Start this back-to-school season right with awesome snacks your kids will love from NABISCO! And for even more delicious recipes and deals, be sure to check out www.NabiscoMilitary.com