One of the easiest snacks my mom would make me for snack time was ants on a log, a delicious combo of peanut butter, a crisp stick of celery and raisins. If you have a peanut allergy substitute cream cheese for the peanut butter. Though I wasn’t a huge fan of the ingredients on their own, the sweet, salty and fresh snack was fun to make and delicious to eat. It quickly became a staple in my lunchbox as it was kid friendly and healthier than the average packaged snack.
I’ve had ants on a log for as long as I’ve had snack time. Early mornings before school, I would step onto the kitchen stool to help my mom pack my food. After rinsing the long stalks of celery, she would cut them into 2–3-inch bite size pieces, perfect for my little 2nd grade hands to grab and fill with a heaping of extra creamy peanut butter. I would nestle 3-4 raisins into the peanut butter, making sure the ants were in a straight line all the way through. My favorite part was gazing proudly upon my creation packed in neat, tight rows in my favorite pink Tupperware as I licked the leftover peanut butter off my hands and marveled at my artistic talent.
Feeling nostalgic and have 10 minutes to spare? Try this recipe for yourself with ingredients you probably already have on hand! You can also spice it up with blueberry or honey for sweet tooths.
Though it’s been a while since I’ve had a formal snack time, I find myself picking up these same ingredients every time I go to the grocery store. Being able to recreate these recipes in my dorm transports me to my childhood, back when I found great joy in the simple things. Sometimes when I feel burnt out in the kitchen, the nostalgia embedded in these ingredients are all I need to reignite my passion. The pride I felt making my own food returns and suddenly, I’m back to being that kid with her sticky peanut butter fingers and inextinguishable love for cooking.
Ants on a Log
Makes 6 logs
Ingredients:
- 3 celery sticks
- Cream cheese or peanut butter
- 30 raisins or blueberries
Directions:
- Wash the celery sticks and cut each stick in half.
- Fill each stick with cream cheese or peanut butter.
- Place raisins or blueberries on top of the filling on each stick to represent ants.
This recipe is from Hamish the Hedgehog, Cooking Classes.