Pack a Punch

Make Your Picnic a Knockout with These Tasty Twists on Classic Finger Foods

By Melissa Tate

Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins

Makes: 12 Muffins | Prep time: 20 mins. | Bake time: 20 mins.

Ingredients: 6 Tbsp. butter | ¾ cup peanut butter | 1¾ cups flour | 1 tsp. baking soda | ½ tsp. salt | 1egg | ½ cup brown sugar | 2 tsp. vanilla | ¼ cup milk | ½ cup sour cream | 1 cup strawberry preserves Crumb topping ingredients: 5 Tbsp. brown sugar | 5 Tbsp. white sugar | 1/8 tsp. cinnamon | 1/8tsp. salt | ¼ cup butter, melted | ¾ cup flour

Directions: Preheat oven to 350° F. Line muffin tin with 12 paper liners and spray liners with nonstick spray. Place butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and warm for 40 seconds.Stir until combined. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together. In a mixing bowl, beat egg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add butter and peanut butter mixture and beat until combined well. Mix in milk and sour cream. Add dry ingredients and combine. Fill each muffin liner 3/4 full of batter. Create a well in the top of each muffin with the back of a tablespoon. fill each well with 1 Tbsp. of strawberry preserves. Prepare crumble by whisking together the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter. Add the flour and combine until the mixture crumbles. Sprinkle the crumble over the batter, covering the strawberry preserves. Warm remaining strawberry preserves in microwave for 15 seconds and drizzle over the crumble. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes.

Ham & Cheese Tortilla Hack

Makes: 2 | Prep Time: 5 mins. | Cook Time: 3 mins.

Ingredients: 2 large flour tortillas | 4 to 6 slices of deli ham | 4 slices of cheese | pickles | Everything Bagel seasoning | 1 Tbsp. butter | Mustard, for dipping

Directions: Lay one tortilla on a cutting board and cut from the middle of the tortilla down to the edge. Imagine the tortilla being divided into four quadrants (see top photo.) Place the cheese slices on each side of the slice. Place ham in another quadrant and pickles in the last quadrant. Sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning. Fold the wrap starting from the bottom right quadrant. Fold it up over the top right and then again over the top left and finally, down to the bottom left. Heat 1 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Grill stuffed and folded tortilla on each side until golden brown, sprinkling with as much Everything Bagel as desired. Repeat for the other tortilla. Serve warm or pack up and serve room temp on a lovely picnic.

Tips & Tricks: You can use any ingredients you want in these tortillas. Another favorite for a quick weeknight dinner is taco meat, grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

Inspired by Tik Tok Tortilla Wrap Hack

Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls

Makes: 28 to 32 balls | Prep time: 20 mins. | Cook time: 18 to 20 mins.

Ingredients: 1 lb. ground pork breakfast sausage | 2 cups Bisquick | 1 cup prepared pimento cheese | 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Directions: Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine all ingredients in a stand mixer. Shape mixture into approximately 30 balls about 1 inch in diameter and place on two baking sheets or bake one batch and reuse baking sheet for the next batch. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the bottom is sizzling a bit. Remove from baking sheet and serve.

Tips & Tricks: Rather than using parchment paper on your baking sheet, spray with nonstick cooking spray and bake directly on the sheet. This will give you a crispy bottom to contrast the soft top.

Recipe by Melissa Tate

About our Chef

Melissa is a freelance food writer with a passion for hospitality and home cooked meals. Along with writing, she helps her husband run their working ranch and event venue in Rockwall, Texas. To follow her cooking and ranching adventures visit MelissaTateTX.com or find her on Instagram @melissatatetx