Certain foods have the uncanny ability to transport us straight back to childhood. Of course, we all have signature family recipes that remind us of home, but there's also a distinct group of foods with a universal nostalgia factor. And when you think about it, most of those foods are beige. Beige and bread-y, beige and cheesy, beige and salty... you get the picture. And even though those foods still taste amazingly like being a kid, our palates have developed (at least somewhat) and we can appreciate more balanced snacks.
However, that doesn't mean we need to leave these childhood snacks in the past — and we've teamed up with Smucker’s ® Fruit & Honey to bring you 11 recipes that will have you craving your old-school favorites in a whole new way. Don't say I didn't warn you.
1. Smoked Cheddar And Cherry Jam Pastry Pop Tarts
These are far and above your standard toaster pastry. Not only are they easily home-baked, but serve up a totally irresistible sweet/tart/salty combo of cherry jam and smoked cheddar. Trust me.
2. Mini Cheesy Pretzel Dogs
I don’t think I’ve eaten a hot dog since I was eight, but these cheesy little bite-sized guys wrapped in homemade pretzel dough have me rethinking my stance.
3. Homemade Potato Chips With Sriracha BBQ And Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese
These chips would never be found in a bag at lunchtime, and we like it that way. These homemade potato chips have barbecue Sriracha sauce AND creamy Greek yogurt blue cheese all over them.
4. Pineapple Jalapeño Green Popsicles
You’ve never seen an ice cream truck with these babies. Spicy green juice, pineapple, and mango make these the ultimate treat.
5. Everything Bagel Cheez-Its
Homemade is always better than store-bought. And these little baked everything bagel cheesy crackers prove it.
6. Five-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Roll-ups are a mom favorite. But these spicy, satisfying buffalo shredded chicken pinwheels put those lunchmeat rolls of yesteryear to shame.
7. Tandoori Butter Sweet Potato Fries With Baked Harissa Feta
These super-flavorful sweet potato fries are anything but standard. And their creamy dip includes Greek yogurt, feta, brie, and harissa. Um, WHAT?
8. Kale And Blistered Pepper Quesadila
Say goodbye to jack cheese melted into a flour tortilla. Kale, black beans, corn, and blistered Anaheim peppers give this grown-up quesadilla a garden-packed kick that will fulfill all of your snacking needs.
9. Tater Tot Chicken Pot Hotdish
Granted, this is probably something that kids would actually enjoy (after some coaxing), but who knew tater tots had such potential?!
10. Lobster Mac & Cheese
This decadent mac and cheese is the perfect marriage of classic and luxe. Just don’t try to feed it to the kids you’re babysitting.
11. Mustardy Grilled Cheese
Truly a classic, no matter your age. However, this spicy rendition with grainy mustard, aged cheddar, and greens is decidedly more sophisticated than the American-on-white-bread variety.
This post is sponsored by Smucker’s ® Fruit & Honey. Smucker's Fruit & Honey is bringing you easy ways to simplify your week by pairing delicious ingredients with super-easy recipes.
Images & Recipes: How Sweet It Is (2); The Crepes Of Wrath (2); The Little Epicurean; My Name Is Yeh (2); Cooking For Keeps; Half Baked Harvest; A Cozy Kitchen; Foodie Crush
