What do you eat for a mid-night snack?

[Passadumkeg]

My wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in Seoul. We have jet lag and are up at 3:00 am. We went through the various options for going back to sleep. Our youngest, a 19 year old did not replenish foods, so the cupboards are pretty bare. What to eat? Apple & Finlandia Swiss? Sardines, cheese & toast? We settled on open faced tuna sandwiches w/ Calmata olives, mayo, lettuce, tomato, Vidalia onion slice on sesame semolina bread, with a glass of Dynamite Vineyards Merlot. While eating my best beloved popped the question, "What do Chowhounds eat for mid-night snacks?" Which lead me to this post. What is you favorite mid-night snack?
Good night, moon.

[jmckee]

A heaping soupspoon of peanut butter and a glass of milk.

[buttertart]

My DH always asks me if I want anything before lights out - usually not, but if I'm in the mood, he hies himself to the kitchen and improvises a dessert from what's on hand. Last time it was a wedge of a hazelnut cake I made from a Nick Malgieri recipe, topped with some Fage 0% and a chestnut preserved in liqueur (an Italian brand) The time before that, a couple of (stale, but good) browned butter/bitter orange rind madeleines again with the Fage and some defrosted sour cherries from last year - and a Turkish marron glacé hidden in the bottom of the bowl. He's a really nice guy...and a creative bed snack maker!

[Sam Fujisaka]

You two have given me a big smile today.

[fresnohotspot]

heh, heh, heh...

[buttertart]

I'm happy to hear that!

[fresnohotspot]

... grilled cheese on sourdough, and if ambition fails - slice up a Fuji apple and chomp on a cheese wedge... and a lot of times, ice cream just wins out.

[NellyNel]

Wow!
I know this is CH - but I am surprised at how many people still indulge in a mid-nite snacks!

Other than last Saturday night after my sister-in-laws wedding when we returned to our B&B room , and had left over naan bread and Poppadoms -I haven't treated myself to a late night snack in -YEARS!
(maybe the odd bit of bread after a late night)

Here's an odd one - When I was young my friends and I used to love to snack on buttered peas an chocolate milk shakes late at night!
The combo was perfect for the munchies!

[luckyfatima]

Wow, Seoul is a dream foodie vacation of mine. However, my realities are much less exciting than my dreams. I usually have cereal, yoghurt, or yoghurt drink.

[babette feasts]

Right now, watermelon.

[Sharuf]

Well here it is midnite and a cup of hot cocoa and a slice of toasted raisin cinnamon bread with butter on it (of course) sounds just about right.

[tracylee]

A glass of very cold milk.

[Jacey]

nuts, cottage cheese or turkey slices.

[Caroline1]

Welcome home! See? If you lived in California, instead of slugs you'd have real edible French snails in your hard and y ou would have great midnight snacks!

I do like egg salad, and I mix a little dill weed into mine. But lately, in addition to the dill weed, I spread it on cracked wheat toast, then sprinkle (real) wasabe powder on top. Real wasabe has a rather nutty flavor, in addition to the horse-radishy flavor, and it's GREAT on egg salad.

I also like cheese quesadillas loaded with green Tobasco any time.

When I cook, I always cook two or three times more than needed so I have some to freeze in individual servings. I currently have moussaka, beouf Bourguignon, mole enchiladas, and some pot stickers that can be ready in two minutes or less.

I love this time of year for fruit... Valencia oranges and doughnut peaches, lots of berries on hand. The peaches and/or the raspberries go great on a small scoop of vanilla ice cream which is lovely around midnight!.

I also keep a supply of Campbells Soup at Hand in the cupboard. With or without a grilled cheese sandwich, the creamy tomato is good any time of night. Or day.

And as I've mentioned in another thread, this year, for some inexplicable reason, the stems-on tomatoes from Walmart, of all places, are incredibly flavorful! Haven't had tomatoes like this in years. Decades even! So I'm eating a lot of diced tomatoes with fresh croutons fried in evoo, a touch of garlic powder, some onion powder, a sprinkle of oregano or thyme, salt, pepper, evoo and Balsamic vinegar. It's almost panzanilla, but not quite. If only the croutons were as low calorie as the tomatoes! Great midnight snack, especially if they're leftovers and the croutons have swollen from the dressing. And maybe a little blue cheese crumbled in?

A couple of nights ago, I pulled the tab on a can of Swanson's Chicken Broth, poured it into a saucepan with a little corn starch, shoyu, a touch of sesame oil, and chives, then when it was at the simmer, stirred in a beaten egg for egg drop )or flower) soup. Takes about two or three minutes and it's very satisfying.

hmmmm.... If I'm awake at midnight, I don't snack. I eat! I want a magic oven that cooks out the calories and leaves all the flavor and texture in tact!

[cimui]

Glad you're home safe, Passadumkeg! And dang, your midnight snacks are so much more sophisticated than mine. My favorite is a humble bowl of yogurt. Full fat with mix-ins of fruit, cocoa powder and sugar (a trick I learned from another Chowhound), honey or maple syrup, or just plain. I think the fat and lactic acid helps me fall asleep. My second favorite is a shot of bourbon. Leftovers from earlier in the evening work, too.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Right, forgot. Here in DC i have the 1.75 liter bottle of Jim Beam and a 1.5 liter of Chilean cab. I miss my homemade yogurt and honey and maple syrup in my pantry in Colombia.

[cimui]

Jim is a good friend, eh? We go way back, though lately, I've been fond of less sweet bourbons and whisk(e)ys.

Sounds like you're pretty well-stocked in your DC headquarters, though. (That might be the best-stocked travel fridge I've ever heard of, in fact! Have you shipped out for the long term?)

[Sam Fujisaka]

I stay in a great suite hotel - bedroom, bathroom, guest bathroom, washer-dryer, living room, great, fully equipped kitchen with giant stainless ref, full cooktop and oven, microwave, coffee maker. This time the chef's knife was a bit worn down. Got a ChefMate Santoku for $2.95 at Target. Back to Colombia on Wednesday.

[cimui]

That is a pretty sweet (suite) setup. Hohohoho...

I wish you a safe flight home accompanied by lots of enjoyable imports!

[goodhealthgourmet]

"I think the fat and lactic acid helps me fall asleep"
~~~~~~
lactic acid, yes, but not fat. eating high-fat foods close to bedtime can disrupt the body's mechanism that induces sleep.

[cimui]

I'm sure you're right re: a large quantity of very high fat foods, but I find that if I eat a bit of fat while I'm winding down for bed, it helps me feel satiated and happy, so I sleep better. A handful of sunflower seeds are another favorite. And a few last moments of reading Chowhound. All good for the soul and the belly (where the soul resides).

[Sam Fujisaka]

Welcome back!!

I always have food and makings in the ref awaiting future meals. Not left-overs, but stuff I cook ahead of time for meals or can be assembled quickly. Here in DC at the moment I have gizzards cooked in a spicy sauce, a pasta sauce made with Hungarian sausage and kale, sauerkraut, beef weiners, bread, corn tortillas, peanut butter, lettuce, collards, cheese, cooked al dente pasta noodles, bread, oranges, along with some pickles, hot sauce, oranges, and chiles. Only have rice standing by to be cooked. Drop by at mid-night and I can prepare you a bunch of different things.

[Cloudjuice]

I tend to stick to simple things late night, so I don't get all hyped up and can't easily fall asleep later.
Fried egg sandwich on wheat toast
If applicable leftover meatloaf makes a wonderful snack
Microwave Nachos with cheese, salsa, and sour cream

Or if I'm feeling especially groggy I just go for a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and a big glass of milk

[kchurchill5]

Oh how could I forget meatloaf, thx cloudjuice. The one reason I make meatloaf is to have leftover sandwiches.

[schrutefarms]

White bread and mayo, with the meatloaf cold?

[kchurchill5]

what for me and mustard and mayo but, love that stuff!

[schrutefarms]

Depending on if I just want a nibble or something a bit more substantial, I either have a couple stuffed grapeleaves (which are ALWAYS in the fridge), or I microwave a Cederlane Cous-Cous and Veggie wrap. Sometimes it's Pace mild poured over cream cheese with lime Tostitos. (I had all three last night!)

[kchurchill5]

I often eat late with the hours I work and usually don't get to sleep until 1-2, but I am always up by 6. If I want a snack, it is usually

Cheese and crackers
Fried egg sandwich
Even a sliced hard boiled egg with a little mayo, s/p on 1 slice of bread and fold it over
Grilled cheese or just a simple cheese sandwich with tomato, not grilled just toasted
A slice of toast with cream cheese
NO fruit, it doesn't satisfy me at all
and definitely
NO cereal. Only at breakfast for me.

[bagelman01]

Favorite mid-night snack?
Whatever my wife will bring from the kitchen to our bedroom...............

OTOH if I have to go to the kitchen>>>
I usually make a small plate of cheese and crackers or toast, and some raw veg
or
I attack leftovers from supper if we've cooked at home.

I never do the cereal and milk thing, don't find it satisfying.

Last night, I had some brie on carr's water crackers, green grapes, and baby carrot at 2am

[Passadumkeg]

The brie and Carr's is a regular for us too and I agree on the cereal. I bring the food to my wife, however. I've been known to make 3 am tacos too.

[bagelman01]

My wife generally gets the mid-nigfht snacks. She walks down to the kids wing of the house (near the kitchen) to check on them about 2am.

I'm responsible for her breakfast served in our bedroom, either in bed or in the sitting area

[Honeychan]

Passadumkeg, always love your posts!

I'm a night-owl, not getting home till 11:30 most nights. The easiest snack is allways a bowl of cereal. But, peanut butter on a Wasa rye crip bread is great as well. I sometimes will fry a single egg, or even make a small salad. Fry bacon at midnight?! Sure, sounds good too. When they're cooked, hardboiled eggs or egg salad is a fave.

Really guilty pleasure? Either Goldfish pretzel crackers (have to share with the dogs) or some Chicken In a Biskit crackers. WHY did they have to stop making my beloved Bac-Oh's??

[Passadumkeg]

Just took the dog out for a sunrise walk and then up to the garden to pick a whoe big yogurt container of slugs.
We often have open face sandwiches, especially turkey, or fruit and cheese.

[Sharuf]

So what did you do with the slugs?

[Passadumkeg]

I pick the slugs into the container w/ soapy water and let "age" for a day, then dump them into the compost bin. I thought of buying a cook shack, selling them to tourists as Maine Escargot. Now that would be a tourist trap.

[chef chicklet]

yum that sounds pretty good. I am often up late, so a snack is not unusual.
I usually go for raisin bran though.

[Brandon Nelson]

I rock cereal too, or ice cream.