Sugar Free/Fat Free Caramel Apple Salad + 20 Tips for losing weight

I'm excited to share one of my favorite dishes with you today!

Simple...easy...delicious...and healthy!  How can ya beat it?

This is another Weight Watchers recipe - I've tweaked it a bit, but I believe you can count 1/2 c. salad = 2 points.  Hurrah!

Chopping the apples is the hardest part...and you don't even have to get the mixer out!

                                                            MMMMMMMMM!



There have been times when I've made this, taken a taste, put the dish in the fridge, get it back out, take another taste, put it back, get it out...you get the picture!  It's tough to stop eating it!

CARAMEL APPLE SALAD

1 (20 ozs) can crushed pineapple, slightly drained

1 (4-serving size) box sugar free butterscotch

pudding mix

1 (8 ozs) tub frozen fat free whipped topping, thawed

4 unpeeled apples, diced

1/2 c. dry roasted peanuts, chopped

Place pineapple in medium bowl. Stir in dry pudding mix and blend well. Add whipped topping, and stir in apples and nuts.

(I prefer to add nuts on top as they tend to soften)

You might want to make this while your family is gone - that way they'll never have to know you made it.  *-*

This recipe and picture have been linked up to

Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies

Lark's Made it on Monday

Recipe of the Week

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And a 'BONUS' read for today....

Just in case you need some incentive and encouragement about sticking with healthy eating, I thought I'd share these realistic tips & ideas from

Reader's Digest: 20 Tips for Losing Weight

HANG IN THERE!! And enjoy a wonderful weekend.

Lowfat & Easy Cheese Soup..and a Song 2011

TA-DA! We've arrived in a new year..and another decade! It's unbelievable how fast time flies isn't it?

WELCOME to 2011!!!  A year of new beginnings and second chances...and my first blog post of the year! I look forward to visiting with many of you and getting to know you even better in the months ahead.

I SO love the saying..."Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes".

Sure seems that way with me - the older I get, I cannot keep up with how quickly the days...months...and years get by me.

I guess we can probably agree the #1 NY Resolution has to do with our diets! I really went 'hog wild' over the holidays and feel it too. UGH!

I am miserable and need to get both feet back up on the 'healthy eating wagon'.

That's one reason why I added the new 'veggie' background to my blog - to remind me to eat healthy and more salad!  

I hope to focus my January posts about healthier eating dishes & habits. With my dear hubby being diabetic, I've got some pretty terrific low fat/low sugar recipes!

In the past, I have lost weight by following the Weight Watchers plan. It worked well for me, but after a while I needed something more.

I plan to stick with lots of the WW recipes in the new year, and hope you enjoy this favorite of mine.

Some of the goals I aiming for are:

• eat more veggies and fresh foods
• make time to exercise atleast 30 minutes 5 times a week
• drink more water (I don't get thirsty, so it's hard for me to think of it...even though I sometimes fill a jug of water to keep with me...it's just a difficult thing for me to do)

2010 was an awesome and wonderfully blessed year...I enjoyed two glorious vacations, spent special times with family and friends, and got to live my dream-come-true by having my cookbook published...then, with God's Hand of Blessing...sold over 400 in 5 short months. 

We are headed into this new year with new news that my hubby - who is 100% disabled because of Agent Orange - is facing even more health issues.  He's had low kidney function for many years, but a few days after Christmas was told his function has dropped to 20%.  Dialysis begins at 15%. 

So looking ahead, we know there will be changes and challenges, but nothing is impossible with God.  And I believe that with all my heart. 

I try to begin my new year with a theme (usually a scripture verse) to wrap my heart around during the year. {For example, for 2009 my theme was "Joy and peace is mine in 2009" - Romans 15:13} 

This year, I heard a song on January 1st and thought to myself 'This is it! This is my theme for the year!" I cried and cried as I listened to the words of this song that deeply stir my heart and soul. 

These are lyrics to the chorus of the Christian contemporary song "I Will Follow Christ". 

Chorus:

I will follow Christ

I will run the race

Fighting the good fight

Standing on my faith

I will wear the name of Jesus

I will give Him all my life

As for me no matter what the sacrifice

I will follow Christ

I look forward to the year ahead...even though we don't know what the future holds...we know Who holds the future, and that's good enough for me. 

I have made this soup recipe so often, I have the recipe memorized. Very easy and delicious - and wonderful at 1 WW point per cup!

As you can see in the picture, I like to use a combo of broccoli & cauliflower, and even better - I use California blend veggies - with carrots also. MMM!

Enjoy this with a delicious salad and you'll feel better, physically and emotionally, about eating healthy. 

ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!

It only takes a few simple ingredients!

                                             

Cheese Soup

4-15 ozs. cans of 99% fat free chicken broth

2 - 16 ozs. bags of vegetables - broccoli or broccoli/cauliflower combo

1 can rotel tomatoes (If rotel are too spicy, try using italian, or unseasoned tomatoes), drained slightly

10 oz. 2% light Velveeta

Cook vegetables in broth until tender - add tomatoes and velveeta and stir until cheese is melted.

Makes 10 cups

WW points - 1 per cup

I normally saute chopped onions and celery in oil before I add the broth and vegetables..just to add a little crunch.  Oftentimes, I mash the veggies with a potato masher instead of having large chunks. It's an option so do as you like best. Of course, if you prefer, use fresh raw veggies instead of frozen.

WHATEVER YOU DO.....ENJOY EVERY BITE!

Best wishes on sticking with your goals. I try to tell myself I need to stick with it until Valentine's Day - when I can reward myself with a little chocolate for being good. I think rewarding ourselves..somehow...is very effective when it comes to goal setting.

Leader Enterprise - January 2011

How refreshing to begin a new year! I'm so glad we get an opportunity to begin again and have a fresh start. I love having goals and deciding on a theme for my new year.But what about choosing one word to help you change your tone in the new year? How about words like acceptance? forgiveness?faith? family? health? Something you can ponder and remind yourself of often during the year. Resolve to find a word to help you to become a better person this year.
Cold and flu season is here, so if you've avoided getting sick thus far,good work! Here are some easy ways that you can continue sickness prevention(or get healthy sooner if you've already caught a bug)

• Take Your Vitamins:vitamins can help fill those nutritional gaps created by stress and lack of sleep when you're sick. You don't have to spend a fortune on vitamins either. According to Consumer Reports, store brand multi-vitamins are on equal footing as their name brand equivalents.
• Change Out Your Toothbrush Regularly: bacteria can build up on your toothbrush while you're sick and decrease your immune system's effectiveness. Either get a new one after you've been sick or boil yours in some water and vinegar(without melting it!)
• Drink plenty of fluids: When you're sick, take extra effort to stay hydrated. It helps keep mucus thinner. Every time you sneeze or blow your nose,you're losing moisture. Drinking warm tea or broth helps loosen up the mucus, making it easier to cough out. Stay away from caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, which will dehydrate you.
• Disinfect household surfaces regularly: Door handles, remote controls, light switches, computer keyboards & telephones are storehouses for germs. Swiping them down with a disinfectant wipe helps eradicate germs.
• Wash your hands, Wash your hands, Wash your hands: this one thing cannot be emphasized too much.

January is National Soup Month, so I'm sharing a couple of simple & delicious soup recipes.

LOWFAT CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP1(15oz)can refried beans
1(15oz)can whole kernel corn, undrained
1(16 oz)can black beans, drained and rinsed
1(10ozs)can rotel tomatoes, or 1/2 jar salsa
1(14ozs)can 99% fat free chicken broth
1(10ozs)can chicken breast
chopped onions/celery

In a soup pot saute onions and celery, then add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve with tortillas, quesadillas or topped with fat free sour cream.

BAKED POTATO SOUP
4 lg.baking potatoes
2/3c.butter or margarine
2/3c.all purpose flour
3/4 tsp.salt
1/4 tsp.pepper
6 c.milk(or 4 c.milk and 2 c.chicken broth)
1 c.sour cream
1/4 c.sliced green onions
8-10 strips bacon,cooked&crumbled
1 c.shredded cheddar cheese

Bake potatoes at 350 for 60-70 minutes or until tender; cool completely. Peel and cube potatoes. In large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour, salt&pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk, using a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; whisk in sour cream. Add potatoes and green onions. Garnish with bacon and cheese. Yield:10 servings.
This salad is delicious,whether or not you're trying to watch your weight.

DREAMSICLE SALAD
1(4-serv)box sugar free orange jello
1(4-serv)box sugar free instant vanilla pudding
1(10oz)can mandarin oranges,drained
1(8oz)tub fat free frozen whipped topping,thawed
Dissolve jello in boiling water according to directions. Add cold water or ice to make 2 cups;let stand in fridge for 20 minutes. With mixer or whisk, add dry vanilla pudding and mix until smooth. Fold in oranges and whipped topping. Refrigerate.

Happy 2011!

Enjoy a safe and fun holiday weekend! 

We'll be in touch in the new year!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!