Friday, May 27, 2011

A Healthy Snack that’s full of flavor and fun to make with kids of all ages – Tomato Poppers


Are you looking for a healthy snack? Perhaps an alternative to boring carrot and celery sticks? Look no further. Here’s a great little idea that was passed along to me by a good friend. I like it because it’s full of flavor and a great way to add some vegetables into your life. I call them tomato poppers.

Take a pint of grape tomatoes (red and yellow if you can find them), rinse with some water, and leave them wet. Toss the tomatoes in a small brown paper bag, then add a teaspoon of sea salt (French fleur de sel is the best), a teaspoon of your favorite chopped fresh herb (my friend recommended dill, but chives would also be nice), a teaspoon of dried herbs (dill, herbs de Provence, whatever you like) and shake the bag. Pour the tomatoes out and “pop” them in your mouth for a healthy snack.

Kids of all ages will have fun shaking the bag and then popping the tomatoes in their mouth. The next time you are invited to a “bring a dish” party, take this as an appetizer. I guarantee the presentation of the tomatoes flowing out of the paper bag will wow your friends and family.

As Food Network star and cookbook author Ina Garten would say, “How easy is that?”

52 comments:

  1. I have a tendency while cooking, to pop more cherry tomatoes in my mouth then actually gets used in the recipe! So, allowing myself to do that with these is perfect!

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  2. I am so impressed; I usually have a bowl of these tomaatoes on teh counter that I love to pop in my mouth, but these sound terrific.
    Rita

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  3. This is such a cute and fun presentation and also so dang colorful! They look irresistible. I hope you both have a great holiday weekend.

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  4. Just wonderful! Everytime I open the fridge I pop a cherry tomato in my mouth. ;-P

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. That looks like a great way to use all the grape tomatoes the grandchildren plant each summer. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  6. I think this is going to be my favorite summer snack. There is nothing like a good tomato in the summertime. Great presentation too!

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  7. Sam,
    I love this idea!!! Great diet trick too. Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

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  8. What a great idea!! Can't wait to give this a try.

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  9. How easy is that! Indeed, mon amie... I have the fleur de sel, les herbs, and I am off to get some tomatoes for the holiday weekend... What a great, easy, healthy option for snacking and hors d'oeuvres.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  10. Nice! My husband would absolutely adore these! He's a little addicted to cherry tomatoes :) Thanks for sharing

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  11. Super cute! I love this and promise I will be doing it! Our Trader Joe's has the cutest multi colored grape tomatoes and I have tons of fresh herbs growing outside! Thanks Sam!

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  12. Great idea, Sam. Sometimes I need a little snack and head straight for crackers and cheese. This would be so much healthier for me and I do love those tasty little tomatoes.

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  13. What a neat idea, Sam! Definitely trying this over the weekend! Love chives, so you can be sure I'm using those. This is another non-salad salad for my list! :)
    Have a lovely weekend, my dear friend!

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  14. These look wonderful. I like this idea...it sure makes tomatoes look irresistable! :D

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  15. Great idea Sam. I used to grow grape tomatoes every year because they are always the most flavorful and I thought the grandkids would enjoy picking them off the vine and popping in their mouth. But I ended up with these very productive plants that required too much harvesting time and no grandkids to pick them - so I moved up to cherry tomatoes.

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  16. What a creative and fun idea. Gorgeous too with all of the brilliant colors.

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  17. What a yummy idea! I am making them for my Sunday BBQ as an appetizer, so glad I saw this!

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  18. genius so simple and healthy come on over i will make lasagna for you

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  19. Have just set out a medley of cherry tomato plants and shall look forward to trying this!

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  20. Yum - I adore those little yellow tomatoes so much. I've never tried seasoning them though.

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  21. I'm a kid at heart. I love to eat handfuls of tomatoes fresh from the garden so nothing could be better in my eyes.

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  22. This goes to my tomato-loving heart and will be done for our rained-out picnic tomorrow!

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  23. What a nice idea. They are easy and delicious. I hope you and Meakin have a wonderful holiday weekend. Blessings...Mary

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  24. Not sure about kids, here is one pensioner who wil also enjoy these snacks :-) Diane

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  25. What an easy and delicious idea! I'm going to make this for my grandson on my next visit.

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  26. That sounds delicious! Even better when done with my own tomatoes this summer ;)

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  27. I've never thought of this and that is so weird because I'll eat more cherry tomatoes out of the little basket! When they are fresh in the garden, I try to pick them faster than my two golden retrievers eat them for THEIR sweet snack! Great snack idea for summer's fresh cherry tomatoes!

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  28. I just want to thank you for your comment on my bake sale post. I really appreciate it, especially coming from someone who is experienced in the culinary world. It makes me happy knowing that someone thinks I have a bright future in baking. Thanks again! Oh, and I love your blog! Everything looks so amazingly good.

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  29. I keep these on standby in my fridge - they are so good! Love your photo too - hope you're having a fabulous Memorial Day weekend:)

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  30. Thank you for this quick easy recipe treat - just in time for a Memorial Day picnic on the beach.

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  31. Sam these tomatoes look absolutely delicious and irresistible! xgloria

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  32. Sam, I am so happy you discovered my blog...because now I've discovered YOU! Amazing lady, you are. And, a totally amazing blog which I am now following. Cannot wait to read more about you and see all your lovely images. Awesome, this blogging, isn't it?
    xx's Marsha

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  33. Sam, this is a wonderful idea. I am going to remember it. I don't know if I can get my kids to eat it, but I certainly will enjoy it.

    Velva

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  34. Sam,
    I went to the farmer's market Saturday on a mission & came home with 3 different types of cherry tomatoes. I made your healthy snack last night to have with my lunch all week. They are wonderful! Thank you for an easy, yummy, & healthy treat.

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  35. Beautiful! This sounds similar to what my mom serves at cocktail parties in the summer when her tomato plants are exploding. She puts out cherry tomatoes, a small bowl of good olive oil and another of cumin salt. You dip the tomato in the oil, then in the salt.

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  36. Sam, what a wonderful and light option for a snack. On warmer days like these... little veggie poppers like this fill that stomach hunger without the heaviness your already feeling from the heat.
    thanks for sharing.
    ahealthyjalapeno.com
    Laura

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  37. Sam, this is such a great simple, delicious summer snack! Thank you for sharing!

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  38. what an easy and absolutely wonderful idea! Just found your site. Loving it! Now following!

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  39. Very cool idea, 5 star foodie junior would love it!

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  40. My Golden cherry tomatoes are just starting to ripen. I can see yanking them off the vine, tossing these into a bag and popping them into my mouth, with a white wine chaser! Great idea!

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  41. Those small sweet tomatoes are my favorite snack, but I never indulged in seasoning them. Wonderful idea, thank you! :-)

    Alas, right now, everyone around here is cooking their vegetables, scared of eating them raw. No problems so far in Austria, but precautions seem the way to go.

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  42. I love these cherry tomatoes. We used to call them tommy toes when I was growing up. This posting of the fruits looks so delicious. I always enjoy visiting your blog, Sam.

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  43. These little grape tomatoes are so good, we eat them for breakfast. My grandsons love them fortunately and a container will disappear in no time.

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  44. What a great idea, and with tomato season right around the corner this is great!!! Thanks :)

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  45. Awesome suggestion! Those colors alone are enough to entice me. Can't wait to plop down with a bowl of them while I'm watching Game of Thrones. We're six episodes behind!!

    Thanks! Have a great weekend!

    Gary

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  46. hi Sam... I am stealing recipes again...

    http://yearonthegrill.blogspot.com/2011/06/foodbuzz-24x24-tomato-poppers-snack.html

    These are now a guaranteed "must make" again!

    And BTW, eRecipeCards.com is now running as I want, meaning there is a very easy to use photo editor/resizer on the site when you submit. I always love your recipes, and hope you would consider making that a daily habit so I can add you to my recipebox. Last personal appeal I promise

    Dave

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