Tips and Recipes

En Español

Cranapple Crisp

cranberries

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce
  • 4 apples, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons margarine, melted
  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray an 8- by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cranberry sauce and apples. Pour into baking dish.
  3. Combine melted margarine with oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well-blended. Sprinkle over apple/cranberry mixture.
  4. Cover with lid or foil and bake for 15 minutes.
  5. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes or until topping is crisp and brown.
  6. Serve warm or cold.

Recipe from: Choose MyPlate


Corn, Sweet Onion, and Tomato Salad

tomatoes on vine

Makes 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cans corn, whole-kernel (11-ounce cans)
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 1 large sweet onion, cut into thin strips
  • 1 bunch cilantro, minced
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, sweet onion, and cilantro.
  2. Squeeze lime juice over mixture and mix in.
  3. Stir in rice vinegar to taste; the amount you use will depend on the sweetness of the corn and acidity of the lime.
  4. Season with salt.
  5. Cover and let chill for 45 minutes.
  6. Stir before serving.

Breakfast Bars

almonds

Makes 12 servings

Serving Size: 1 bar

Ingredients

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk (optional)
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 3 large shredded wheat biscuits or 1-2 cups of other cereal (low-fat granola, whole-grain cornflakes, shredded wheat squares)
  • Vegetable cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup raisins or nuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

  1. Wash hands and surfaces.
  2. Crush the shredded wheat biscuits or cereal.
  3. Mix all of the ingredients together.
  4. Press the mixture firmly into an 8 by 8-inch pan.
  5. Cut into squares to serve.

Build a Healthy Snack Mix

dried cranberries

Makes 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole grain (whole wheat cereal squares, oat cereal O’s, or popcorn)
  • 1/2 cup fruit (any dried fruit, such as cranberries, apricots, and bananas)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable (any dried vegetable, such as edamame, dried green beans, and dried sweet potatoes)
  • 2 tablespoons dairy (try yogurt-covered dried fruit or grated cheese)
  • 2 tablespoons protein (such as almonds, peanuts, or walnuts)

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. Place in ziplock bag to keep fresh.

Breakfast Banana Split

corn cereal

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1/2 small banana
  • 1/4 cup crunchy nugget, oat, or corn cereal
  • 1/4 cup low-fat flavored yogurt or cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup pineapple tidbits & cherries
  • 1 tablespoon chopped nuts

Directions

  1. Wash hands and surfaces.
  2. Wash banana. Then, peel and split it lengthwise and place in small cereal bowl.
  3. Sprinkle cereal over banana, reserving some for topping.
  4. Spoon yogurt or cottage cheese on top and drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon honey if using cottage cheese.
  5. Decorate with pineapples and cherries.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

NOTE: Other fruits and different yogurts can be used.

© 2026 North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

North Carolina State University
Agricultural and Human Sciences Department

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES)

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