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Apple-and-Celery Dinner Crunch

Name: Apple-and-Celery Dinner Crunch
Prep time: 12 min
Total time: 12 min
Yield: 4 side portions
Ingredients: 2 cups small apple pieces, from about 2 medium apples; 1 cup thin celery slices, from about 2 stalks; 1/4 cup ready-to-eat roasted shelled sunflower seeds; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp bottled lemon juice; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 1 tsp maple syrup; 1/8 tsp salt

Suggested ages 9–12 Independent prep, with an adult nearby

4 side portionsActive 12 minTotal 12 min

Crisp apple and celery make a bright side for a family meal. A small amount of lemon-mustard dressing coats the pieces without turning them creamy. Sunflower seeds add a different crunch, so mix them in just before serving.

Start with the grown-up check

Red-skinned apple pieces, thin celery slices and sunflower seeds in one shallow oval dish beside a window. — AI-generated gouache-style food illustration. Follow the written ingredients and method.

Before you begin · grown-up check

The adult slices apples and celery in setup, then stays nearby while the child makes the no-heat salad.

A grown-up checks ingredient labels, the workspace and the young cook’s readiness before starting. No heat is needed; the grown-up stays nearby.
Adult washes apples and celery, removes apple cores and celery strings, then cuts small apple pieces and thin celery slices; put knife away before the child starts.

Ages are a starting guide. A grown-up checks your readiness and stays nearby. Follow the actor label on every step.

Let’s make it

Tick off steps as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser.

Young cookWash hands with soap and water, clear the work area and read all the steps before measuring.
Young cookWhisk oil, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup and salt in the small bowl with the fork.
Young cookPut the prepared apple and celery in the large bowl. Pour over the dressing.
Young cookLift and turn gently with the spoon until the surfaces are lightly coated.
Young cookFold in sunflower seeds and divide between four side bowls. Serve while crisp.

The skill you’re learning

Dressing goes on before the seeds so it reaches the apple and celery evenly. Adding the seeds last helps them keep their crisp texture.

Try one change

Replace sunflower seeds with 1/4 cup ready-to-eat roasted shelled pumpkin seeds; the adult checks the new package label.

Serving & storing

A grown-up refrigerates covered at 40°F or colder within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Use within 1 day; store seeds separately for the best crunch.

Cook with a grown-up

Read the young-cook and grown-up guide for help labels, clean preparation and ingredient checks.

Keep your recipe card

The card includes the exact ingredients, grown-up setup and actor-labeled steps.

Save printable recipe card

Printable ingredients, age and actor-labeled steps for Apple-and-Celery Dinner Crunch