Fix-It and Forget-It

Thanksgiving is nearly here and that means it’s officially time to pull out the recipe for this Spicy Party Mix.

Why?

1. Our friends and family just can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. They keep sneaking back for more and, by the end of the evening, that bowl of mix is usually empty.

2. It’s easy to transport to a party. We just put the mix in an airtight container and take it along with us as we travel. We don’t have to worry about keeping it warm and there’s no sticky spill to clean up if the container tips over.

3. Spicy Party Mix is a great gift for teachers or the host of a holiday party. All you need to do is put the mix in an airtight decorative container or glass jar and add a bow. The kids may enjoy decorating these festive gifts after school or on the weekend.

Make sure to take the lid off your slow cooker and keep it off while this Spicy Party Mix cooks. That way, the moisture escapes as the mix cooks and the crackers and pretzels stay crisp instead of getting soft. And remember to stir the mix gently so the crackers don’t break.

Spicy Party Mix. We love making it, serving it, and giving it as gifts. But we love eating it most of all.
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I do not love chopping vegetables. Yes, I know there are all sorts of amazing kitchen gadgets and processors that do this for you in the blink of an eye. But I’m always calculating whether I’m actually saving any time when I use them because I have to wash all their crazy parts when I’m finished. And then I have to re-assemble them in the right way. (I get my French press out only on Saturday mornings since putting it together the right way takes me too long on a weekday morning when I have a schedule. Shameful to admit, I agree.)

Pretty often I need to chop just 1 onion or 3 potatoes or a single bell pepper—hardly worth the effort of hauling out the food processor or even the little buzz chopper our younger daughter gave me a few years ago. Apparently I’ve been talking about this chopping burden.

Merle and I were away all last week, and we got home too late Saturday night to go grocery-shopping. I was glad to be home and wanted to cook Sunday, but there weren’t many ingredients around since I had nearly emptied the fridge and pantry before we left. Except for the good old staples—carrots, potatoes, onions, celery. Right, things that require chopping.
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We love a good salad. In fact, one particular office-mate has been eating Strawberry Spinach Salad at least three times a week.

But salads come in a variety of forms. In fact, the Amish here in Lancaster County often count a jell-o concoction as salad.

Crunchy Pea Salad is another option. It’s a great way to eat your veggies without making the same old lettuce salad day after day. And, you can alter it to fit your taste preferences. For example, we exchanged the cashews for almond slivers.

Crunchy Pea Salad: perfect for a picnic or for lunch at the office…at least three times a week.
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