Do you ever have the na gosti that is not a dinner na gosti, but more than a coffee na gosti? Are you looking to snack on something while watching football matches, the Fashion Channel, or VH1 videos? Do you want to make a snack for your child, that is healthy, not chocolate or fried? Well, look no further than this week's article for some great ideas.

First, there is the yogurt fruit smoothie. This is a basic recipe that involves fruit, yogurt, and a little honey. Smoothies are much healthier than that greasy banitsa and are great for dessert or a mid-afternoon snack.

Children love smoothies, as evidenced by my landlady's three-year-old grandson. After he tried the banana-orange smoothie, it was all he wanted to eat for the next month. For an added bonus, you can also add a little Nutella to the smoothie to give it a chocolate flavor. For the lucky ones that have peanut butter, add one spoonful for extra protein and great taste.

Second, there is the tangy ranch sirene spread, which conveniently hides the taste of sirene. This is an American favourite, but Bulgarians are hit and miss with ranch dressing. One can find ranch-dressing packets at the Oasis supermarket in Sofia, but supplies may not last forever.

Third, there is the spicy tomato and sirene spread. This is my personal favourite, and with Bulgarians who like extra spicy food. Beware of Bulgarians who say they like spicy food because their tolerance level is weak for this dish.

Here is a great testimonial. After a long night of drinking and disco dancing in the numerous discos in Balchik, a friend of mine was convinced that the spicy sirene spread was ricotta cheese. This may have been the rakiya talking, but he devoured the remains of the tomato and sirene spread like a hungry vulture.

By the way, these recipes all need a hand-held mixer. It is impossible to cook without the hand-held mixer, and everyone who sees its magical powers buys one.

Enjoy these great dishes while watching TV, having guests, or after a long night of drinking. The Formula 1 races, bad chalga videos, and bad B-movies will be bearable with these great appetizers.



Yogurt Smoothies

1 banana
1/2 orange, peeled
50-100ml yogurt
1 large spoonful honey
1 large spoonful Nutella (optional)

Directions: Place all ingredients into one large glass, and then mix with hand-held mixer until fully blended. Be creative with the fruits, use kiwi, apples, pears, peaches, raspberries, and many others.

Tangy Ranch Sirene Spread

250g sirene
1/2 packet Ranch Dressing
75-100ml yogurt

Directions: Break sirene into small pieces, and place all ingredients into large bowl. Mix with hand-held mixer until ingredients are well blended. Eat this with bread, toast, baked potatoes, fresh vegetables, or any snack food.

Spicy Tomato and Sirene Spread

1kg tomatoes
300g sirene in a big block
225ml orange juice
2 large spoonfuls oil (or one)
1 small onion, chopped
1 hot pepper, finely chopped or pureed
5 cloves garlic, pressed or finely chopped
Salt
Pepper

Directions: Cook onion, garlic, and oil together in a frying pan for about 3-5 minutes at medium-high heat. Puree tomatoes and hot pepper with the hand-held mixer. Add tomatoes, hot pepper, and orange juice to pan. Cook until mixture reaches boiling point, then simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Take away from heat and pour mixture into baking pan. Place sirene on top of sauce in 3-4 block pieces, then bake at 200°C for about 20-25 minutes, or until sirene is soft. Eat this with bread, toast, or any snack food.

Joseph Herr is a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer currently working in Balchik. His column appears weekly and he can be contacted at jdherr75@sabreshockey.com.