Healthy Recipe: Crunchy Party Mix

Finally - I'm giving you the recipe I promised!! I found this recipe in Weight Watcher's magazine a couple of years ago. It's a yummy little snack and the portion is surprisingly satisfying. I love that you make this snack in your slow cooker rather than the oven!

Crunchy Party Mix

6 tablespoons light butter
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cups Rice Chex cereal
5 cups Corn Chex cereal
1 cup tiny pretzel twists
1/3 cup lightly salted peanuts

1. Place the butter in a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until melted, about 5 minutes on high. Add the curry powder, soy sauce, sugar, cumin, and salt; mix well. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well.

2. Cook, uncovered, about 45 minutes, stirring well every 15 minutes.

3. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is crisp and fragrant, 3-4 hours. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool completely. Store in ziploc bags in pantry up to 6 weeks.

1/2 cup serving: 89 cal., 3 g fat, 1 g fiber, 2 WW pts.

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This has a very strong curry smell. It's a good mix, but we decided that we might like more traditional Chex Mix seasonings. I made it the exact same way, except that after melting the butter, I replaced the curry powder through salt with: 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt, 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Yum!!

After it's done, I portion out 1/2 cups into separate snack bags so I know I can grab a 2-pt. snack later! I hope you get to try this - so fun to make in the slow cooker!

I'm linking this to Crockpot Wednesday at Dining With Debbie - yummy ideas!

Lisa :)

You Lose Some, You Gain Some...

Sorry I didn't post like I said I would last week - I do have a recipe to get on here and will post it this weekend!

I went to Weight Watchers this morning! Remember - I said I would go no matter what and one of my readers even said to do it and get it over with. I totally agree with that. No surprise that I had a gain (over 2 lbs - ACK), but it was good to get it on the record so that I can lose it! Why do I keep working within the same 5 lbs and never get beyond?

I want to be good this next week, but I am worried! I have company coming for the week and there's the usual eating, desserts, etc. I am going to try and plan out all the meals - including where and when to eat out. I will also work in walking whenever possible. I've already got a couple of ideas for that.

I hope you have had a good week! If not, plan to make a small change for the better this week. We can do this!!

Lisa :)

Just A Little Note For You ~ Do As I Say, Not As I Do

I HAD to say it! Because guess where I did not go this weekend? To weigh in at WW - that's right! Ugh - so bad! I had another bad week and my weight is up and I just could not bring myself to go log that weight. But really - you should do it so you can start losing it sooner!

So, once again I say - THIS is the week! I'm not making any promises of what things I will do this week. I'll just try to do something great every day - whether it's eating right or exercising or getting through a craving. I do hope that I have a weigh-in and success to report to you this week!

I have some healthy recipes to get posted for you and will see what else I can come up with to help motivate me...and you!

Did you have a good week? Do you do better with healthy eating and exercising in Fall or Summer? Forget about any issues from last week - start fresh! Let's have a great week!!

Lisa :)

No Weigh-In Report

Sorry I have missed posting for a few days! I have no current weight report for you. I wasn't able to weigh in last weekend due to being out-of-town and I confess that I did not go weigh in this morning because my weight is up from the last time I weighed! We ate too much while visiting relatives last weekend - no surprise there. My weight has come down during the week, but not enough yet. I will work hard this week and see what I can do by Saturday. I get so tired of the constant up and down. Why can't it be down all the time? :)

I will keep close track of my points this week and do some Wii Fit. And I will go to WW next Saturday and weigh in no matter what, even if I'm still up (I better not be - LOL!).

How have you been doing? Did you have any Labor Day pinics or visiting that threw you off track? Let's make this the week of success! We can do it!!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipes: Updated With Pics

I often forget to take pics of the food I make - still not in the habit! I use a lot of food pics on my other blog, but have forgotten many on here. I'm trying to remember as I go, so I thought I would give you 3 of the pics that I've taken recently along with the links to those recipes that are already posted here. Maybe you've tried them, but maybe they're new to you! Enjoy!

Mini-Cinnamon Rolls

Asian Chicken Slaw

Bow Ties, Tuna & Veggies in a Balsamic Vinaigrette

Hope you get a chance to try these! Have a wonderful weekend everybody!! :)

Lisa :)

Lost Again!

I had another successful Saturday weigh-in at WW! I didn't have time to attend the meeting which is too bad because there is so much valuable info shared. I lost...1.6 lbs for last week! Yay!

I didn't do Wii Fit at all like I wanted to. I think the first week of school for my son and me getting back to waking up early threw me off. I'll try again this week! I did drink some water and tried to watch my points though I could do much better. I'm really hoping for a good week this week! I just keep on trying - keep moving forward.

How was your week? Are you on track or are you having trouble even getting started with losing weight or being healthy? This is a good time to start - the first week of September! You have plenty of time to make some big changes before the end of the year! If I can do this, you can too!!

Have a wonderful week!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Apple and Carrot Salad

Recently at a WW meeting, I was given a booklet that had some great recipes in it. I decided to try some and want to share one with you. This salad is a little different for me, but I really liked the flavor - so refreshing and I do like feta cheese. If you don't like feta, you could experiment with other cheeses.

Apple and Carrot Salad

1 large red apple, cored, thinly sliced and cut into matchsticks
1 large green apple, cored, thinly sliced and cut into matchsticks
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups matchstick-cut carrots (can get pre-cut in store)
1/4 cup chopped chives
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Place apples in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice. Add carrots, chives, oil, sugar, salt, pepper and cheese; toss to mix thoroughly. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving (makes 8 servings).

1 WW pt. per serving

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I need to make it again soon. It makes a great side dish! Hope you get a chance to try it out. Let me know what you think!

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa :)