It’s National Pretzel Month. What can you do to celebrate?

We’d celebrate National Pretzel Month forever
with the incredible pretzel-covered salted
caramel bonbons from BespokeChocolates.com.

Like potato chips? You’ll love Original Saratoga Chips and the story behind them. Saratoga Chips were the original potato chip—created by an ornery cook in a fit of pique when a diner at the Saratoga Springs, New York resort where he worked sent back his fried potatoes as “too thick.” The cook, George Crum, did an “I’ll give him thin potatoes, all right!” and sliced the potatoes paper-thin, frying them in oil until they were crunchy. But surprise: The customer loved them and as history knows, so did everybody else.

The chips were then marketed as Saratoga Chips and were sold through the 1920s, when brands like Lay’s and Wise and strong regional brands gained ascendancy and Saratoga Chips faded into obscurity. Until now. Two entrepreneurs have revived the brand and carefully researched the recipe and technique. And they’re delicious! Beautiully boxed, they make great gifts as well. There’s even a petite 1.5-ounce size for stocking stuffers or party favors.

The original potato chip has been reborn, and
it’s delicious. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky |
THE NIBBLE.

Like things spicy? Try the Deviled Chex Mix.
Photo courtesy of Chex.

Earlier this year, Chex asked America to create the most Chex-ilicious party mixes, and the five finalists are awaiting America’s vote at ChexRecipeContest.com. Go get the five recipes, have a tasting party and cast your vote for:

Each recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare. We’ve been making Chex Mix since high school and while the original is still a favorite, these winners are fun. We’ll certainly be making one of them for the holidays. (That’s the hint to our favorite recipe, although everyone at THE NIBBLE voted for a different recipe.)

They may look like other granola bars, but
Olympic Granola Bars taste like dense nut
tortes. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky |
THE NIBBLE.

Whether or not you’ve ever eaten a granola bar, Olympic Granola Bars are a bar of different color…and flavor…and thrill. Although they call themselves “gourmet granola bars,” we’d go a few steps further. Put a scoop of ice cream atop these 2-1/2-inch squares and the experience is tantamount to eating a dense nut torte.

On the other hand, you can pop one of these individually-wrapped wonders into your pocket, gym bag or desk drawer and have a more-than-pleasing snack. One of the flavors approximates a very nutty chocolate brownie; there are lemon, mint and flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth. Add a cup of coffee or tea for a very filling snack: chewy, all-natural and healthy.

And surprise: This is raw food, very nutritious and good for you, with 10g of protein per bar. We love that something this delicious is also healthy sustenance with nothing refined and good fats and sweeteners. It’s everything your nutritionist would encourage you to eat and that you feel good about giving to your kids, with enough flavors to keep them interested (the line is also (wheat- and dairy-free). The only problem is, we can’t stop eating them.

What else can we say: We’re in love. In full disclosure, we’re also publishing an extensive review of every artisan granola bar in America that the writer was able to uncover. But they’re just granola bars. Olympic Granola Bars belong in a different category entirely. We suggest “happiness bars,” for what could be happier than finding something so delectable yet good for you.

Granola and nuts = crunchy sweetness.
Photo by Emily Chang | THE NIBBLE.

Nature Valley has ported granola into a very crunchy line of Granola Nut Clusters: bite size, 100% snacks that are an alternative to candy and other sweet treats. While they are made of nutritious nuts and honey, whole grain oats, canola oil and other better-for-you ingredients, there’s also a lot of sugar—catering to the American palate that’s been trained to want more sweetness than other flavors. The sweet, crunchy nuggets certainly more than please.

The strongest nut flavor (and least sugariness) came from Nut Lovers, a combination of cashews, peanuts and pecans. Roasted Almond and Roasted Peanut tied for second, with Roasted Cashew trailing in third, the mild cashew flavor overwhelmed by the sugar.

Granola Nut Clusters can also be used to garnish a dish of ice cream.

As satisfying as a candy bar, and so much
better for you! Photo by Emily Chang |
THE NIBBLE.

A delicious new quartet of 70% organic Luna Bars arrived on our desk, just in time for breakfast (when you’re in the food review business, breakfast can be anything from olive oil to brownies). We think of these “whole nutrition bar[s] for women” as a better-for-you candy bar (they’re low glycemic as well as nutritious). They have a wonderful soy rice crisp crunch and just enough of a chocolaty, peanut butter or lemon coating on the bottom of the bar to pass as a candy fix.

We like them all, with a preference for Lemon Zest and White Chocolate Macadamia for their superior intensity of flavor. The line is certified kosher (dairy) by KOF-K.

The bars weigh in at 180-190 calories. If Luna Bars were sold at candy counters, there would be no decision required—these are a better choice. LUNA is a sponsor of the Breast Cancer Fund.

The doctor is in… with some new flavors! We’ve been curing what ailed our snacking taste buds since 2005, when we first discovered Dr. Kracker’s organic crackers and flatbreads. The company has recently launched Culinary Crisps: crunchy squares of Apple Crisps, Cherry Semolina Crisps, Fire Roasted Crisps and Hummus Maximus Crisps. Diagnosis? Delicious!

Dr. Kracker starts with organic whole wheat or spelt; then adds organic flax, sunflower, sesame and/or pumpkin seeds. But because it was asked for more “foodie” flavors, the company added additional ingredients to create the new Culinary Crisps line. Each serving of bite-size crisps delivers the delectable flavors of toasted seeds, plus 21g or more whole grains per serving (of your daily 48g requirement).

Snack idea: Hummus Maximus Crisps with red pepper hummus. Photo by Emily Chang | THE NIBBLE.

Though the crackers add a zing to any soups, dips, or cheeses they’re paired with, they’re just as satisfying when eaten by themselves. Keep a box at work for a healthy snack. But even with all the good prognoses, there’s still a major downside to these cartons of square treasures: Something like this would never last in our desk for very long!

Read our full review of Dr. Kracker, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.

Some people would turn somersaults to find a crunchy new snack. But you need only open a bag of Somersaults, an interesting new, all natural snack cooked up in Berkeley, California by the Somersault Snack Co. Focusing on protein, fiber and balanced nutrition—“mindful munching”—these crunchy nuggets, the size of a nickel, are made from sunflower seeds, whole wheat flour, sesame seeds and a well-chosen spice blend. Each serving has 6-7 grams of protein.

The crisp little bites are great for snacking and also make terrific gourmet croutons. We loved the S.S. Sea Salt and Salty Pepper varieties, which go well with a hearty bowl of soup as well as with salads. Chez Cocoa, which adds cocoa powder, is in a curious space of being cocoa flavored and lightly sugared, yet not quite sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. It would be a good crunchy counterpoint to a sweetened beverage like hot chocolate, or a sweet pudding like tiramisu.

Better-for-you snacks may make you somersault.

Somersaults are certified kosher OU(D). You can get a free sample at SomersaultSnackCo.com. By the way, the world “somersault” first appeared in English around 1520–1530, from the French sombresaut (sobre=over, saut=a leap).

Savory or sweet, stuffed pretzels are a comforting snack.

There are certain categories in which “twisted” means good. Pretzels is one. Kim & Scott’s is twisted to the max: jumbo, soft, whole grain pretzels, stuffed with savory and sweet ingredients (we prefer the savory). The pretzels are sold frozen, ready to be baked or microwaved into rewarding treats—just like the original “pretiola.” The pretzels are handmade, all natural, vegetarian and made in a nut-free facility. Kim & Scott’s also makes non-stuffed pretzels and related products.

From Cheddar Jalapeño and Spinach Feta to Apple Cinnamon and Chocolate Crumb, see what we thought of all the savory and sweet varieties of Kim & Scott’s Stuffed Pretzels in the full review.

• See more hors d’oeuvres ideas.
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• For something different in the pasta category, take a look at these dessert pasta recipes.