The Buffalo chicken twist of the ants on a log.

Fire Ants on a Log

by Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime

Did you know that it was National Ants on a Log Day?

Yes. We are a nation with holidays for everything. And holidays are a good thing!

Usually, ants on a log are a simple concoction made up of celery, peanut butter and raisins as a healthy snack that can fit into most diets.

As a snack for school lunches for children we would likely skip the peanut butter due to the serious nature of nut allergies in children and if someone allergic was exposed that could be really unfortunate. But a good idea instead of peanut butter is to use something like Mascarpone cheese instead, which is slightly sweet, or an ordinary cream cheese jazzed up with a little flavoring, such as curry powder. The combination of cream cheese, celery, curry and dried cranberries is a usual component of many of my chicken salads that my family adores.

Other cheese spreads work well too and the sky is the limit to choosing which kind you prefer. You can also be creative and use things like squeeze cheese or meat spreads such as ham or tuna salad.

What is your favorite kind of ants on a log?

Do you think it is a good snack for children?

What about adults?

My fire ants on a log, admittedly, probably are not the best choice for children, although fried chicken wings could be dipped into ketchup or a mild barbecue sauce for something more palatable for the younger set.

These babies are fiery though, dosed with extra hot Buffalo style sauce. And quite easy to prepare. You can make your own wings if you like, but it is short work to pick up a sixer of wings from a shop and use that instead. Most places have Tuesday wing specials too, so isn’t that auspicious?

The cheese you can use blue cheese or Gorgonzola. I cut it with cream cheese to both lower the intensity  of flavor, and since I use premium quality blue cheeses, lower the cost as well. You could use all cream cheese if you want, but the flavor of blue cheese with chicken and celery is exquisite.

And for today it makes a great snack, but you know what? I am thinking these are going to be great for parties and football Sundays. I think back to the party I had with a few friends and a hundred wings were instantly inhaled. These would make those wings stretch a little bit further, especially if you need to buy them. Funny how people love Buffalo wings. I had prawns that day that went virtually untouched. Go figure! Chicken wings for the masses…Haha! However or whenever you choose to prepare these, I do hope you enjoy! Bon appetit.

~Sue

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Buffalo Hot Wings

Thai Chicken WIngs

Chinese Sticky Sesame Chicken Wings