Honey-Sweetened Snack Mix

Please don't forget to check out my other post today...Healthy Peanut Butter Dip {no refined sugar}

I made this for a 'guys get together' and they cleaned it up quickly.

I am so tempted to rename this delicious snack....

"Whatever you Have on Hand Snack Mix"

I've began following a new blog a while back...

Debbi does dinner...Healthy and Low-Calorie

She's a lot like me in that not everything she posts is healthy and low cal, but she's got some great recipes that are, and in trying to eat healthier, I'm so glad to have Debbi on my side in Blogland.  =)  And very happy to find this recipe at her site.

She named this recipe Butterscotch Snack Mix.

I know we all tend to tweak recipes, and this one has SOOO much versatility. 

It's good with anything you add. 

I happened to have some open bags of 'replacement items' that I used and it turned out wonderful.

I just don't think there's any way you can botch this simple recipe.

It would be great to make for a quick snack or class party or even a bake sale.  It could easily be packaged into ziploc bags.

I'll share what I used and what the original recipe suggested.

HONEY-SWEETENED SNACK MIX

Cinnamon Graham Crackers - broken into bite sized pieces - 2 of 3 pkgs. in box

(I substituted cinnamon graham twists...they look like pretzels but are graham crackers instead)

1 lg. box of rice chex cereal

(I used honey nut toasted oats and used less honey - I also added a few cups of crispix rice cereal that was already open)

2 cups pretzels

1 - 2 cups pecans

(I used peanuts)

1-1/2 sticks butter

1/2 c. honey

(I used 1/4 c.)

1 bag butterscotch chips

(I used pretzel M & M's someone had recently given me)

You could try peanut butter or chocolate chips too?

Combine the crackers, pretzels, cereal and nuts in large bowl.  In microwave, melt butter and honey together.  Drizzle over

the mixture and stir to combine.  Spread out on two cookie sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake for 12 - 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times during baking.  Be careful not to burn.

Cool mixture completely - then add butterscotch chips.  Store in air tight container.

GUARANTEE: It won't last long!!!

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               Mrs. Fox's Sweet Party
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         Sweets for Saturday
          Melt in Your Mouth Monday

Healthy Peanut Butter Dip {No Refined Sugars}

Please be sure to hop over to my 'other' blog post today -
Honey-Sweetened Snack Mix - MMMM!


AND.....I'm so tickled that my Peanut Butter Delight was featured at this week's linky party at Totally Tasty Tuesday - if you haven't seen that recipe, you'll want to..it's delightfully delicious!

Onto the recipe for today....

This is a healthy snack for any time of the day - even for breakfast!

Delicious protein and fruit - it would be a great way to begin the day!

It would be a great after school snack as well.

I was pretty doggone H-A-P-P-Y! when I saw this healthy treat at This Chick Cooks. Katie graciously shares whole food recipes and tips. Please stop by and check her out.

I doubled this simple recipe and enjoyed it with bananas. Oh my!

Another one of Katie's recipes that I 'pinned' some time ago is very popular at my Pinterest Boards  It amazes me how it continues to be the #1 RE-pin.

Check it out at the link below....

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothies

(I think just maybe...she loves peanut butter as much as I do!=)

Healthy Peanut Butter Dip Recipe
(makes about 4 servings)

4 heaping Tb. natural peanut butter

3 Tb. plain nonfat Greek yogurt

2 Tb. unsweetened applesauce 

couple dashes of cinnamon 

1 tsp.honey or agave nectar (optional)
chopped peanuts for garnish, optional

Mix all ingredients, except peanuts, cover, refrigerate, then serve. Garnish with chopped peanuts.

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   Iron Chef Mom - Peanut Butter

Cook Once - Eat Twice: Baked Parmesan Tilapia/Corn & Potato Chowder

Double your pleasure...
Double your fun...
(Can you hear the music playing?=)

Today you get a 'bonus' recipe - it's a TWOFERONE.

Do you like fish?  Or hate it?  Do you only eat it out because you can't stand the odor in your kitchen when cooking it?

Let me tell you - this fish isn't 'stinky' like some, and is oh so delicious...light and buttery actually.

This is such a great way to serve tilapia - TWO WAYS!
(Don't want you to forget that part!)

These marvy dishes from my sweet friend Tonya at
4 little Fergusons. Her recipes have proven to be NO FAIL!

Since making these recipes, I've seen similar ones for baking the fish at other blogs.

A 4-ozs. serving of tilapia has 108 calories, 1.9 gr. of fat and it's a good lean source of protein.  

Even for those who may not be giving up red meat for Lent, you'll want to add these recipes to your collection. 

What a 'catch' this recipe is! {grins}

We love fish - my husband is very particular about how his fish is prepared, so I was really pretty excited when he told me "That was REALLY good" after enjoying this yummy meal. (He likes his fish drier, so I did cook it a few minutes longer than suggested)

We lived in Alaska for 8 years, and got very spoiled enjoying the freshest and tastiest of fish, so I think it's safe to say when we really like another fish dish, we can guarantee it's gonna be delicious!

Give this a try - it's easy, very tasty and healthy for you too!

Serve fish with pan drippings on top of fish, over a bed of wild rice and a veggie.

(I served ours with oven-baked sweet potato fries and a side salad)

If we hadn't been so full, both of us would have loved to enjoyed the meal again right then!

If your family is larger (more than 5) you may want to double this first recipe.

BAKED PARMESAN TILAPIA

1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese (from the can, not fresh)
1/4 c. butter
3 TB. mayo or Miracle Whip
2 TB. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. onion salt
2 lbs. tilapia

Mix ingredients (except for fish) together; set aside.

Grease pan (I lined with non-stick foil) and evenly place the fish on top. Broil on the top rack for 2 - 3 minutes.  Flip, repeat, and broil
2 -3 minutes longer.

Spread the top side of fish with the butter mixture.  Broil 2 - 3 minutes more or until golden brown. 

With the leftovers you can make....TADA!

CORN AND POTATO CHOWDER WITH TILAPIA

3 Tablespoons Butter
4 Garlic Cloves, Pressed
1 small Red Onion, Diced
1 Red Pepper, Diced, optional
1/4 c. All-purpose Flour
2 cups (fat free) Half-and-half
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cans (15 Ounces each) of Corn
3 cups cubed Potatoes, Skins On
3 oz package of Pre-cooked Real Bacon Bits
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper (we like more)
1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
2 cups Shredded Cheese, like Cheddar or Colby Jack
(I used a reduced sodium just-as-good substitute for Velveeta instead)
Leftover Parmesan Tilapia, warmed

Melt butter in your soup pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and pepper and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Add flour and stir until combined. Slowly add half and half, stirring well after each addition, making sure it’s thick before adding more. Then gradually add in chicken broth. Stir in corn, potatoes, bacon, and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes.



When potatoes are tender, add cheddar cheese to the soup and stir until cheese is melted. Pour desired amount of soup into bowls and top with shredded tilapia.

I wasn't reading the directions and added the fish to the chowder, then topped it with bacon - either way you fix it, you're sure to enjoy it.

Happy Anniversary to us & Cherry Cordial Creme Cheesecake!

Tomorrow, March 10th, 2012, my 'Sugarbear' and I (his 'Trixie Lou') will be celebrating 44 years of wedded bliss!

Oh how blessed we are to be growing old together!

My sis-in-love has been posting some old (really old!) photos on Facebook, so I snagged one to share today...

We were high school sweeties...began dating at the end of his senior year, but were good friends before that. 

This one was taken while we were dating....how could I not adore those dreamy eyes!!?? OR those Marine Corps blues???

We wrote tons of letters while Ron spent 3 tours in Vietnam - 2 years, 2 months and 2 days. He was home on leave for a month afterwards and we decided to get married just before he left again.

This was of our wedding day (we planned it in 3 days because he was headed to Parris Island, SC - where he became a drill instructor.) We spent another 6 weeks apart while I finished business college.

I was 18, he was 20.

(All right - now don't go figuring how old that makes us now!) ha

He ended up getting out of the Marines after 4 years, was a civilian for 3 years (while we had 2 of our kids)...the job situation was tight, so he joined the Air Force and retired in 1988 after 20 years of military service. 

Oh how I LOOOVED our military life!

Besides living in SC, we've lived in TX (twice), California, Alaska  (twice) & WA state.

This is the most recent picture I could find of the two of us...taken this past summer.

We've grown UP together and OUT together too...

(teehee)

(We make a great pair...I love to cook, and he loves to eat=)

Actually - in case you don't know this...I LOVE LIVING UP TO MY NAME!  When folks have told me I'm a good cook, my favorite response has been "But I'm a Better BAKER"....(grins!)

We are the proud parents of 3 wonderful adults and 8 of the cutest grandkids on the planet.  It's so true...Grandkids make life GRAND.  They are absolutely some of our greatest joys!

One thing I would share that makes for a good marriage...is to keep a sense of humor!  My man has always had a terrific sense of humor...how do you stay mad at someone who always makes you laugh???  *-*

Some things that keep our marriage sweet are holding hands and hugging often.  The little things in life really are the big things!

Enough of the mush & gush..onto the recipe...

A dear friend (thank you Sandy) gave me a bag of these Hershey's kisses so I could make the recipe on the package, which I did...for Valentine's Day.

But I decided to save it to share now, for our special celebration.

(After all - there is a HEART on top of the cheesecake!=)

The recipe is on the back of Hershey's cherry cordial creme kisses, and it's M-M good!

CHERRY CORDIAL CREME CHEESECAKE

(from Hershey's)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1-1/4 c. white sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

2/3 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. (Hershey's) baking cocoa

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 (8 ozs) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. chilled whipping cream

1 (21 ozs) can cherry pie filling, drained

25 Hershey's Kisses - cherry cordial cremes, unwrapped

Heat oven to 350*. Line 9-inch round cake pan with foil, extending foil beyond sides.  Grease foil.

Stir together melted butter, white sugar and vanilla in large bowl.

Add eggs; beat well using spoon.  Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating with a spoon until well blended.  Spread batter in prepared pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until cake is set. (cake is fudgy and will not test done). Remove from oven; cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar in medium bowl until well blended.  Beat whipping cream until stiff; gradually fold into cream cheese mixture, blending well. Spread over brownie layer. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.  Use foil to lift out of pan; remove foil.

Just before serving, put drained cherry pie filling in 5-inch wide heart shape in center of dessert.  Place chocolates around edge.  Cut into wedges; serve with remaining pie filling.  Cover; refrigerate leftovers.

Yield: 10 - 12 servings. 

Can you believe it? 3-ingredient 7-Up Cake {WW}

Yep - you read it right....there's only 3 ingredients in this cake, and that includes the Cool Whip on top!

Any cake mix and a 20-oz. bottle of diet 7-Up!

I found this idea at Pinterest and know it's a 'hot' recipe there too.
I pinned it to my 'Healthier Choices' board.

This is definitely a gold mine! 

The whole cake...let me repeat...THE WHOLE CAKE....is only 18 Weight Watchers Points and it is very light and wonderful.
(1.5 points per piece= 12 servings)

The original recipe used a lemon cake mix - I had a 50% reduced sugar yellow cake mix and used that instead and it was wonderful.

Try chocolate...or strawberry...or spice cake...or...or...you could try diet gingerale or Mt. Dew - take your pick!

I mixed it with my whisk and it was still 'foamy' when I put it in the oven.

Bake at 350* in greased 9" X 13" dish for 30 minutes.
Cool to room temp - 'frost' with light Cool Whip and
SCARF IT DOWN!!

(I did google the recipe and saw a few recipes that used 12-ozs. of the soda instead) ??

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