Our Favorite Back To School Snack Mix Made With Goldfish® Crackers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MixMatchMunch #CollectiveBias

My family and I moved a few weeks ago away from Seattle, and to Henderson, Nevada. Like with any move, there's good and bad, and a lot of goodbyes to close friends and family members.

I'm very happy to say that everyone is loving our new home and community, and my grandchildren have completely fallen in love with our neighborhood, which is filled with parks, pools, and walking trails. And though I know they'll miss their friends, it's just such a relief to see them settling in so well already.

Since back to school is only a few days away, it's time to start thinking about breakfasts, lunches, and that all important after school snack. A great snack that kids like can prevent the irritability or meltdown that is bound to happen after school in those first days of being back in the classroom.

Since my three grandchildren adore Goldfish® crackers, I decided to use them to make a yummy snack mix. The kids eat them all the time, and I thought that the cute, familiar little crackers would be especially welcomed as after school snacks when they start their new schools.

Goldfish crackers seem like they have always been in my house, my own five children loved them, and now so do my grandchildren. It's funny how things change, but some things stay the same, and they always bring out smiles from everyone in my family.

It's amazing how many varieties and sizes that Goldfish snacks are available in. I like buying the 30 ounce boxes because of savings and knowing we should have some on hand for a little while, I hope.

Walmart is offering the rollback price of $5.98 on bulk Goldfish crackers, so it's a great time to stock up for back to school.

My grandson Liam is six, and he'll be starting first grade. Of course he had to sample the snack mix I made, and it met with his approval.

I made it in a big bowl that has a lid, so I can keep it in the pantry. Having it already mixed together is a big time saver, and we can give the kids a snack as soon as they get home from school. I know from experience that hungry kids don't like waiting, and I don't blame them.

When I was shopping at Walmart, I picked up some of our favorite fruits, strawberries and blueberries. I'm grateful my grandchildren are not picky eaters, so eating lots of fruits and veggies are a normal part of their diets.

Pairing my Goldfish crackers snack mix with the fruit is really delicious, and I love it too!



You can make a snack mix with lots of different things, but this is my favorite recipe for a delicious sweet and salty combination. I used two varieties of crackers, Colors, and the Baked With Whole Grain Cheddar.

Here's the ingredients you need:

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

2 cups mini pretzels

1 1/2 cups chocolate candy pieces

1 1/2 cups salted peanuts

2 cups Baked With Whole Grain Cheddar Goldfish crackers

2 cups Colors Goldfish crackers

Make sure you use a bowl large enough so that when you mix all the ingredients together, they won't spill out. Just add all the ingredients into the bowl.

I think that the white chocolate chips go really great in this, and my four year granddaughter has agreed. I love them too.

Next, just take a big spoon and stir everything together. It's really the easiest thing in the world to make a great tasting snack mix.

Goldfish crackers are a great snack all alone, but using them to make a yummy kid-friendly snack mix like this one, is sure to put a smile on any kid's face. With new classes, teachers, and friends, going back to school can be a big adjustment for our kids. So it's nice to offer them a snack that lets them know you care.

Be sure and look for this in-store offer that may be available at your local Walmart: Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Bolthouse Farms® 10 oz. Baby Carrots or Bolthouse Farms(® 11 oz. juice when you buy any ONE (1) Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® crackers 30 oz. or larger.

You can find Goldfish® crackers in a variety of flavors and sizes at your local Walmart. And don't forget to take advantage of the rollback price of $5.98 on bulk size crackers.

Have you ever made a snack mix with Goldfish crackers, and if you have, what are your favorite ingredients? Leave me a comment, I'd love to know!

-Post by Patricia

Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

It's almost back to school time here in the Seattle area for my grandchildren. It's been a really good summer for them, their mom has kept them busy with fun activities that they have loved, but it's time to get ready for the school year ahead.

For some reason, peanut butter cookies always make me think of elementary school. It must be because my own mother packed them in my lunch on occasion, and I can still recall how wonderful they smelled, and how delicious they tasted. Good memories for sure.

This recipe for Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies is from Martha Stewart, and it's very quick and easy. They always turn out just crispy enough, but just soft enough to melt in your mouth. Pair them with a glass of milk, and they are pretty near perfect.

I know I'll be making a lot of  these cookies to tuck in lunch bags, and have on hand for afterschool snacks for my grandchildren. And if you have any leftover, they keep well in an air tight container for up to a week.

Recipe for Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened unsalted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat peanut butter, sugar, and butter until smooth. Beat in egg. Gradually add flour mixture, beating to combine.
3. Pinch off dough by the tablespoon; roll into balls. Place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Using a fork, press balls in a crisscross pattern, flattening to a 1/2-inch thickness.
4. Bake cookies, rotating halfway through, until lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Find Great Budget-Friendly Meal and Snack Ideas From Kraft

 

I am a member of the Collective Bias® and Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and it's advertiser.   



As the mom of five grown-up children, you can bet I've made my share of dinners, breakfasts, and afterschool snacks.

Things haven't changed all that much now that I have four grandchildren. I'm still looking for balanced, delicious meals that they will eat, and will be friendly to the budget.

I was recently babysitting the grandkids while their parents when out for the evening for dinner and a movie.

I was going to be cooking the kids dinner, and I know how much they love Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. So I went to Walmart to pick some up, and a few other things I knew they would like.

The other night on the news, I heard about how the cost of groceries is skyrocketing. It's tough to make the budget stretch all the time, and so I'm happy that Kraft offers lots of $1 or less food items that my family and I enjoy eating.

These are items that we have had in our pantries for as long as I can remember. My own mom used to make my beloved Jell-O chocolate pudding for me for dessert. So I really love making it for my grandchildren too, and it's still as budget friendly as it was all those many years ago.

I added some sliced sausage to the macaroni, which the kids love. They are actually pretty good about eating raw veggies like broccoli and baby carrots with a Ranch dip.

They usually have milk with their dinner, but I thought it would be fun to have Tropical Punch flavored Kool-Aid Bursts.

It's very often a challenge for families to stay on their food budgets, but with Kraft dollar or under a dollar food items, it can be easier. Our dinner was under $10, and the kids and I loved it.

 

Ashley adores macaroni and cheese as you can see, and would eat it for dinner everyday if we let her.

I said the same thing to my grandchildren that I said to my own kids, that if you want dessert, eat your dinner!!

It might take Ashley awhile to eat, but she's a pretty good eater. And when you know chocolate pudding is for dessert, you eat up!

Jell-O pudding is one of the tastiest, and least expensive desserts around. It's made with milk, which I always encourage the kids to drink for healthy bones and teeth.

It didn't take long for us to eat up all our pudding, and then settle on the couch for some story reading and a couple episodes of their favorite cartoon, before bed.

You can find Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Kool-Aid Bursts, and Jello-O pudding all at your local Walmart.

You can also find many other great tasting, and budget friendly items made by Kraft, that will help you to stretch your food dollars.

It's not always easy to create tasty, family friendly meals on a budget. But with careful shopping, and buying Kraft #1DollarDeals items, it can certainly be made easier.

And who doesn't love chocolate pudding??

#CollectiveBias