[1] (photo courtesy Keys To The Cucina). [2] Green beans with petite potatoes and basil (photo courtesy Kqed.org). [3] Petite potatoes, grown in Idaho, are the size of a cherry tomato (photo courtesy Potato Goodness).[4] Check farmers markets for specialty green beans, and pull together a rainbow of colors (photo courtesy The Pines | Brooklyn).

For the big weekend, you may be making potato salad, macaroni salad or cole slaw.

We’d like to suggest a substitute: a delicious, crunchy and good-for-you green bean salad.

As a constantly-dieting college student, it was one of the first recipes we perfected (perfection meaning exactly what we like).

Over the years we’ve tried different dressings we enjoy on other salads—herb vinaigrette; balsamic, lemon or lime vinaigrette; yogurt dressing—but we still return to our original Dijon vinaigrette—and anchovies.

Ideally this salad should be made with haricots vets, the thin French green beans; but they tend to be pricey. So use whatever you find.

We like to go to the farmers market for mixed beans in green, purple and yellow (photo #4). We also spring for Idaho petite potatoes (sometimes called marble or pearl), bite-sized cuties that are have even more flavor than standard sizes (photo #3).

If your crowd loves anchovies, top the salad with them. Otherwise, set the anchovies or tuna next to the platter so people can help themselves.

You can make this recipe four hours ahead or overnight, for the flavors to blend.
 
RECIPE: FAVORITE GREEN BEAN SALAD

Ingredients For 8 Side Servings
 
For The Salad

 
For The Dijon Vinaigrette

 
Platter Garnishes

 
Preparation

1. COOK the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until fork-tender but not overly soft (remember that the potatoes will continue to cook a bit from their internal heat). Drain and set aside to cool.

2. COOK the beans in large pot of rapidly boiling salted water to al dente crisp. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, drain and transfer to bowl. If you use larger potatoes, cut them in half after they’re cool.

3. COMBINE all the salad ingredients in a large bowl and make the vinaigrette: Add the garlic to the olive oil, then whisk in the mustard, followed by the vinegar. Season to taste. Taste the salad right before you serve it and adjust seasonings if desired.

5. PLATE. We like to serve this on a platter or large serving plate, rather than in a bowl. Mound the salad in the center of the platter, and rim the perimeter with the sliced eggs and tomatoes. If using anchovies, place them on top of the salad or on a separate small plate.

RECIPE: YOGURT-MINT DRESSING

You can make this up to 3 days in advance, and store tightly covered in the fridge.

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PLACE the yogurt in a medium jar or a bowl with a lid. Add the lemon juice and shake or whisk to combine. Add the garlic and stir or whisk.

2. CHIFFONADE the mint leaves: Stack them, then roll them lengthwise into a tight bundle. Cut the bundle crosswise with a sharp knife. For a dressing, cut the strips in quarters or thirds.

3. SEPARATE the pieces with your fingers (we pick them up and drop them a few times). Then stir the mint into the dressing.

With a yogurt dressing instead (photo courtesy Good Eggs | SF).

5. SHAKE or stir thoroughly before serving.
  

[1] A Spicy Watermelon Margarita? Sure! (photo © STK LA).

[2] A Watermelon Mojito. Here’s a mocktail version from The Merry Thought (photo © The Merry Thought).

[3] Tajin seasoning, a versatile hot spice blend (photo © Tajin; see more about Tajin below.

If you’re buying a watermelon for the holiday weekend, buy a bigger one and make watermelon cocktails.

STK LA, which sent us this recipe, calls it the Secret Affair, made with Don Julio tequila.

Somehow, that name didn’t ring true so we’re calling it as we see it: a Spicy Watermelon Margarita. We have more watermelon cocktail recipes below.
 
 
RECIPE: SPICY WATERMELON MARGARITA

Ingredients Per Drink

 
For The Rim

Thanks to The Merry Thought for this luscious cocktail. Designated drivers, kids, non-drinkers and the regular cocktail crowd will clamor for it.

For extra fun and flavor, make the ice cubes from watermelon juice.
 
Ingredients For 2 Drinks

 
Preparation

1. BLEND the watermelon, lime juice and 1 teaspoon sugar in a blender until smooth. Muddle 2 mint leaves with 1/4 teaspoon sugar in the bottom of each glass. Add the watermelon pur ée, filling the glass about 1/2 full.

2. ADD the ice and a splash of ginger ale and top with club soda. Stir to combine. Garnish as desired and serve.
 
 
MORE WATERMELON COCKTAIL RECIPES

 
________________

*Provide a shot glass and stirrers with the bottle.
 
 

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

How do you enjoy bananas as a better-for-you snack?

From the peel? With PB? On your cereal? With yogurt? As snack chips? On PB sandwich?

Justin’s has created a new way: a better-for-you grab-and-go snack that combines Justin’s artisan peanut butter and organic bananas chips.

 
They’re the world’s first all-in-one, non-perishable fruit and nut butter pairing.

Toss them in briefcases, cars, desk drawers, handbags, gym bags, lockers, lunch bags, pockets and tote bags.

The new Snack Packs are:

 
Calories

 
See the section below on peanut butter healthfuliness†.

 
The snacks with banana chips join Justin’s nut butter and pretzel snacks:

 
LOOK FOR THEM AT TARGET STORES NATIONWIDE.

[1] Toss a Snack Pack anywhere. [2] A jar of Justin’s Peanut Butter, which is scooped into the Snack Packs. Photos courtesy Justin’s.

________________
*Target’s Made To Matter program brings together 20 purpose-driven brands to make natural, organic and sustainable products more accessible to consumers. The products meet at least one of these five criteria: reduced waste and packaging, reduced sugar, dietary and allergen restrictions, clean label products and closed loop systems.

†Editor’s Note: People are healthy; products are healthful.
_______________
 
WHY IS PEANUT BUTTER HEALTHY?

Doesn’t it have saturated fat?

Here’s an abridged response from Walter C. Willett, M.D., Professor of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health

The presence of saturated fat doesn’t automatically kick a food into the “unhealthy” camp. Olive oil, wheat germ, and even tofu [are healthy foods that] have some saturated fat. It’s the whole package of nutrients, not just one or two, that determines how good a particular food is for health.

Let’s take a look at the peanut butter [fat] package. One serving (about 2 tablespoons) has 3.3 grams of saturated fat and 12.3 grams of unsaturated fat, or about 80% unsaturated fat. That puts it up there with olive oil in terms of the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat.

(Justin’s Snack Packs have a bit less than 2 tablespoons of PB. Here’s more on the different types of fats and how good they are for you.)

Peanut butter also gives you some fiber, some vitamins and minerals (including 200 milligrams of potassium), and other nutrients. Salted peanut butter still has about twice as much potassium as sodium. That profile compares quite favorably with bologna, roast beef, and many other sandwich fixings [unsalted PB is even better].

Saturated fat isn’t the deadly toxin it is sometimes made out to be. The body’s response to saturated fat in food is to increase the amounts of both harmful LDL and protective HDL in circulation. In moderation, some saturated fat is okay. Eating a lot of it, though, promotes artery-clogging atherosclerosis, the process that underlies most cardiovascular disease. In contrast, unsaturated fats, which make up the majority of the fat content in peanut butter, help reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.

In other words, as with most things, enjoy it in moderation.
  

National Toasted Marshmallow Day is August 30th—not a day of the year that begs for a steaming cup of cocoa. We need other ways to use toasted marshmallows.

So we put on our thinking toques to see how to best use them on hot summer days, and how to toast them without a campfire or fireplace.

> Below: How to toast marshmallows without a fireplace, outdoor grill, or campfire.

> The history of marshmallows.

> The year’s 90 snack holidays.
 
 
USE TOASTED MARSHMALLOWS FOR…

 
 
PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST!

And remember: There’s marshmallow goodness beyond Campfire and Jet-Puffed. Check out gourmet marshmallows.

Vegan? There are delicious vegan marshmallows from Dandies, all delicious.
 
 
TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS WITHOUT A FIREPLACE

Even if you have a fireplace, you sure don’t want to light it up today.

Who needs a fireplace—or a campfire? There are other ways to toast marshmallows.

 
 
The Fastest Way To Toast A Batch Of Marshmallows:

 
 

[6] The best way to “refresh” leftover pumpkin or sweet potato pie (photo © Plush Puffs).

[2] Serve a toasty marshmallow with a cool shake. Here’s the recipe from Honey and Birch.

[3] Garnish any dessert or sweet snack, like this cupcake from Cake Boss Baking.

[4] Top a pudding parfait—or an ice cream parfait. Here’s the recipe for this five-minute “s’mores parfait” (photo © Self Proclaimed Foodie).

[5] You can make this s’mores pie with a pie crust, chocolate pudding, and a torch. Or follow this recipe (photo © Brown Eyed Baker).

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

JonnyPops in Banana Cinnamon & Cream and Strawberries & Cream. Each bite is a joy. [2] Look for this box. [3] A creative snack or breakfast: added to yogurt. You can also top a pie, or dip the whole bar in chocolate. All photos courtesy JonnyPops.

They tried every fruit bar and ice cream novelty they could find, dividing the pops into two categories: icy and artificial, or decadent and unhealthy. A year later, in his dorm room, Erik decided to make it a reality.

Blend fresh fruit, cream, cane sugar, purified water and a pinch of salt, the team has achieved something special: what they describe as a smoothie-on-a-stick and “frozen goodness.” These are apt descriptions.

Smooth and creamy, redolent of fresh fruit (often with toothsome bits of fruit in each bite), the ingredients may be simple but the way they come together is outstanding.
 
JONNYPOPS FLAVORS

Each flavor as splendid as the next, each bite a joy. We were fortunate to receive samples of each. It’s impossible to choose; but by the same token, there’s no wrong choice. Try them all:

 
The manufacturing facility is completely peanut- and tree nut-free with the exception of the coconut flavor; and are gluten-free.

Try them direct from the wrapper, as well as:

 
PAY IT FORWARD

The company’s mission is to make the world a better place, one pop at a time. Each JonnyPops stick is printed with a good deed to be paid forward. You can suggest good deeds on their Facebook page.

Now for the sad part: Cousin Jonathan, the original co-imaginer, died of a drug overdose before the company came to be.

Here’s the rub:

JonnyPops is a small start-up with concomitant resources to sell in to retailers. The pops are currently distributed in the Midwest, California, New York and Texas, but in not enough locations.

You can help! Print out this product request form and bring it to your grocer, deli or convenience store. (Bring it to all of them!)

We promise, it’s worth the wait!

For more information visit JonnyPops.com.
 
FOOD TRIVIA: HOW DID THE ICE POP GET IT’S NAME?

In 1923 Frank Epperson, a California real estate salesman, made his homemade treats—frozen juice on a stick—for a Fireman’s Ball.

His “Epsicles” were a sensation, and Frank obtained a patent for “a handled, frozen confection or ice lollipop.” His kids called the treat a Popsicle, after their Pop (so if Mom had made them instead of Pop, they could have been Momsicles).

Here’s the bigger story.