Plain and Not So Plain – Page 957 – Free Homeschool Books & Resources for Every Family

large family food idea snacks homemade hummus and pita chips

This is a favorite large family food idea in our household. We make this at the minimum of once per week.

I used to buy hummus at the store and spend an arm and a leg on it. After having so many children I realized that this was not going to be a frugal purchase for me, so I had to do without. Until one day, I came across a recipe to make your own hummus………hello?? Why didn’t I think of that??

This is super easy to make and my children gobble it up. It is sooooooo good for them, another snack that I don’t mind feeding to them, along with those energy bites.

Homemade hummus

2 cans garbanzo beans
4 teaspoons of minced cloves of garlic, less if you don’t want it so garlicky
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 T olive oil
4 T peanut butter
1 teaspoon cumin

In a food processor or blender add 2 cans of garbanzo beans, drain one can and leave the other can full of liquid

add your garlic

add your peanut butter

add your lemon juice and olive oil

add your cumin

puree your ingredients all together

that is it!!! super easy and tastes delicious! You can leave this out on the counter and let your flavors mix together a bit. We love it, the children dip their vegetables, pretzels, or pita chips into it. We also spread it on pita bread, add some shredded carrot, green onion, and shredded cheese for a healthy sandwich.

To make homemade pita chips, we wipe on some olive oil onto pita, add some spices, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Bake in 400 oven until crisp. To serve we cut apart with scissors.

large family food ideas snacks popcorn balls

amy / 10/19/2013

This is a great, inexpensive large family food ideas for snacks…..a yearly tradition around our home.

Popcorn balls

We usually plan a fall harvest party for our household every year. We plan games and activities– just some good fun for the little ones. My oldest daughters and I usually make some cute fall snacks. Popcorn balls are always one of the things that we make. They are super easy and taste great.

We usually double this recipe when having a large gathering. This recipe makes about 16 balls.

1/4 cup margarine
1 pkg. (10-1/2 oz.) Marshmallows
1 pkg. (3 oz.) gelatin, any flavor–we really enjoy strawberry
3 qt. (12 cups) popped popcorn–make sure to not get any seeds into your bowl.

I usually scoop through the corn after having it popped, to ensure that we don’t have any unwanted seeds. It is very bad to be biting down into a hard popcorn seed when you eat these.

So pop your popcorn, don’t worry about making over, we usually do and have a little less, sugar for our balls:)

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt your butter

Place your marshmallows in the pot

Let melt, continuously stir this so that it does not burn

When completely melted, add your package of gelatin

Stir until dissolved. Then remove from heat and pour over your popped popcorn.

Gather up your ball makers….and let them get to work. I haven’t met a child yet that doesn’t like making these, especially when they get to lick their fingers clean!

We found that having your hands slightly dampened, helps in preventing your hands from sticking to the popcorn

You can wrap these up in plastic and twist them closed, or we just sat them on a plate and covered with plastic wrap. They will last for a little while, if you need to make them before hand for a group something.

yummy!!!!