This is not low carb by any means but it is lower in carbs than the traditional chex party mix. We've made my Nanny's "chicken feed" recipe for Christmas for as long as I can remember. I don't know when or why the name changed but we've always called it trash. Neither name is all that appetizing which is why I'm sure most folks call their versions Chex Party Mix.

We've always made tons of this stuff because everyone loves it and no one in the family makes it as well as we do, or at least that's what they tell us. The trick is a good balance between red pepper flakes, garlic and Worcestershire sauce.

But it's just too darn high in carbs to even indulge in a little here and there, but it's so much a part of our Christmas traditions. So this year we mom made 2-3 batches of the regular stuff for friends and family. I made this lower carb version for her and I so we can have a cupful here and there so we don't feel left out.

Lower-carb Party Mix

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole shelled pecans
• 2 cups whole shelled walnuts
• 1 cup mixed nuts
• ½ cup cashews
• 2 cups Fiber One
• ½ stick butter
• 2-3 tsp. Garlic powder
• 2-3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• Red pepper flakes to taste (we like it spicey)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200
2. Melt butter and spices in a small sauce pan
3. Mix together nuts, cereal and popcorn in a large bowl
4. Drizzle butter over nut mixture and stir to coat
5. Spread out on a cookie sheets and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring ever 10 minutes. Do not over brown!
6. Let cool and store in an airtight container.
7. Eat one cup at a time for a lower carb Christmas treat!

What's chili without chips right? These have the extra spicy kick of chili and the fresh clean flavor of lime, perfect to set off my Mellow Chicken Chili.

Chili Lime Chips

Ingredients:

• ½ sheet of Joseph's lavash bread, fresh or stale doesn't matter
• ¼ package True Lime
• ¼ tsp. chili powder
• Paper lunch sack
• Salt
• 1-2 tbsp. coconut oil

Method:

1. Cut lavash bread in half, then in half again. Save other half for another time. Stack the 2 pieces and cut in half again. Then cut diagonal triangles if you like.
2. Mix salt, True Lime and chili powder in the lunch sack, don't use plastic it will melt from the hot grease.
3. Heat coconut oil and fry Lavash bread pieces until golden brown on both sides.
4. Move chips directly to the paper bag and shake.
5. Remove to a bowl or basket to cool.

I serving = 5 net carbs + 3 grams fiber

My chili powder is 1 net carb for ¼ tsp. so check you label. Yours might be far less.

I have a brand new favorite snack. It's quick, rich and creamy and can easily stand as a meal replacement if you need it too.

Low Carb Orange Julius

• 1 cup Hood Calorie Down = 3 net carbs
• 1/3 c heavy cream = 1 net carb
• 1/3 c crushed ice = 0 net carbs
• Tsp. vanilla = 1 net carb
• 2 pkg. True Orange, or s/f orange syrup such as DaVinci's = 1.5 net carbs
• 1 pkt. Splenda or equivalent = depends on what you use.

Place ice in your favorite mug. Pour cream over ice and using a small whisk, quickly whisk to froth and chill the cream. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk again to mix and froth. Enjoy!

You can of course easily change the flavor to your favorite. But I'm a huge fan of the vanilla/orange combo and the true orange is perfect for this. I picked mine up at Kroger's.

For a quick meal, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.

Even without the protein powder the fat and protein in the cream keeps me going for a nice long time.

Since a cup of heavy cream and a cup of hood have the same carb count, you can adjust the ratio to fit your taste without any change in carb count. So make it as rich and creamy as you like.