Summertime heat shouldn’t stop you from snacking! Make one of these treats while keeping your kitchen cool.

This summer, maybe more than other summers, I need a long list of snacks that are refreshing on a hot summer day. The reason for this is two-fold. First, I’m spending my summer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which puts the “heat” of New Hampshire summers to shame. Second, due to COVID, I’m eating at home almost all the time. Since I’m not going to our local hangout on a Friday night, I am definitely making a menu of fun appetizers.

So, here are some great options for your summer snacking:

Balsamic Roasted Pineapple– Cheese and crackers can be a fine part of a snack menu, whether served as a pre-meal offering or part of dinner. Make that cheese and cracker offering more interesting with these chunks of pineapple infused with balsamic vinegar.

Cranberry Goat Cheese Spread– Goat cheese is one of my favorite cheeses to serve in a charcuterie tray. With this recipe, rather than offering toppings on the side, they are blended into the cheese, making a simple, spread-it-on-your cracker topping.

Cherry Thyme Bruschetta– Let’s add a degree of difficulty to your snack planning. Make some crostini. That isn’t a hard ask; it’s harder than opening a box of crackers but really only ten extra minutes in the kitchen. It’s worth the effort, as you’ll have a bigger delivery vehicle for this amazing bruschetta.

Healthy Spinach Dip– How healthy you want to keep this dip is up to you. Serve it with healthy crackers or veggies, and it’s a good for you snack. Serve it with tortilla chips, and it becomes semi-healthy. Either way it’s quite delicious.

Alright, heat of summer, I’m ready for you. I have a list of snacks that will the kitchen cool and will please my palate.