Did ya ever eat ants on a log when you were a kid? I never even heard of it until I became a mom and started attending toddler buffets at kid parties. Well, it’s one of those snacks my kiddo will eat up if a jif! (hehehe) I like it too. Full of protein, a nice celery crunch and a little bit of natural sweetness, it’s perfect for a quick pick me up. If the kids need a project, this is a great way to get them into the kitchen . I like the sense of accomplishment I see in my son when he makes his own food. He struts around like a cool dude. Little cutie.

First of all, start with wholesome peanut butter. Ingredient label should read : peanuts,salt. Go for Organic. Peanuts are a big crop in the U.S. and heavily pesticide ridden. I know you don’t want your child gettin all ADD from the pesticide residue. (I’ll write more on that another time.)

Celery : Organic. Please! I know it costs like 50cents more but really, it’s worth it. Did you know that celery has a calming affect? I learned this from the juiceman juicer recipe book. I like calming….Plus, the fiber is helpful with the kid who is resistant to eating veggies.

If peanut allergies are an issue, try cashew or almond butter. If you want to experiment with them, look for the “grind yer own” section at Whole Foods. Sun Harvest and Wheatsville COOP have grinders too. If you really want to go all out, get a grinder! Food processor works great!

I was making this recipe for my boy and his buddy yesterday and randomly picked up a spoon to spread the P.B. instead of a butter knife which I usually grab out of habit. OMG! The spoon is the way to go for an easy spread on the celery. With the butter knife, the P.B. gets all over the place and is quite a challenge to spread evenly and pretty. The spoon technique allows for quick little dabs to get the P.B. on juuust right! Really, the little things in life make me very happy…

Raisins: Yawn… I like to mix things up a little. So, we used dried cranberries instead! The tartness is so delicious and great for the holidays. Now, don’t get me wrong, I looooove raisins. Variety is the spice of life, right? How ’bout mixing up golden and black ones for halloween? Fun Fun Fun. Try all kinds of dried fruits like blueberries, chopped apricots, diced pineapple. You can rename the critter on the log each time. The creativity is bursting at the seams!!!

So, who da thought there could be so much to say about this simple childhood recipe ? Hopefully it helps us to stop and think about how many different ways we can experience something.

See ya, I’m gonna make some right now…for me!