“Girl dinner,” a name coined for when you eat snacks as a meal, first went viral on TikTok in 2023. It soon took over other social media platforms and has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, as well as places like NBC’s Today show. A riff on the idea that women appreciate a low-effort, grazing-style meal made of bite-sized portions, it is “literally just a snack plate,” as food journalist Ali Francis wrote in Bon Appétit. But Snacking Dinners: 50+ Recipes for Low-Lift, High-Reward Dinners That Delight by Georgia Freedman (Cooking South of the Clouds) takes this idea one step further, referring to snacking dinners as the “ultimate form of self-care.” The result is 50 recipes that are nourishing and delicious, yet easy to prepare and even a little decadent, too.
Divided into five sections—fresh and fast, pantry, classic, prep-ahead and splurgy—Freedman covers all the snack bases. Each recipe focuses on what makes it as easy to prepare and consume as a snack, such as how a deconstructed winter fruit fattoush uses pita chips to scoop up the flavorful Middle Eastern style salad instead of mixing them in, as is traditional. The recipes are versatile and easy to follow, with abundant ingredient variation suggestions: Nine Meal-Worthy Toasts includes a take on the classic Elvis (white toast spread with peanut butter and topped with slices of banana and crumbled bacon) and White & Green (whole wheat toast with ricotta, peas and soft herbs).
Freedman also includes useful tips on sharing snacks, which is much appreciated, as many of these appetizer-type meals could easily serve as starters for any number of occasions, from sporting events to fancy dinner parties. Many recipes are also ideal for fun, simple dinners, especially for kids and teens. Lovely photographs help cooks visualize the final recipe and give inspiration for plating and serving. Although the title is Snacking Dinners, this cookbook has dozens of applications and will appeal to many tastes.
