A Chex Mix Holiday

Chex Mix is the one snack that I can't resist over the holidays.  A holiday without Chex Mix is like a holiday without a Christmas Tree!  It is one of those special treats that after my first taste I vow to make Chex Mix a monthly treat rather than a December only treat.

This year I decided to start with a trial batch of Chex Mix.  I compared a few recipes online just to get an idea of the quantity of chex, cheese crackers, pretzels, and nuts needed.  I didn't want to overestimate and have too many ingredients and not enough flavor to go around.

The first batch turned out fine.  It was edible and yummy but didn't have that special zing that I expect from the perfect batch of Chex Mix.  The first mistake I made was preparing the mix in a small broiler pan that wasn't deep enough to accuaratly cover most of the mix with flavor.  It was very difficult to stir and toss the mix without some spillover onto the floor, counter and oven floor.  It was somewhat that of a messy kitchen disaster.  The only one that benefited from the experiment was my dog who managed to find the treats all over the kitchen and my boyfriend who still enjoyed the finished product. Half way through baking the mix, I decided to divide the mixture into pans and added more seasoning to finish up the product. 

I learned a lot from the first mix. 

• The larger & deeper the broiler pan, the better!  I bought a disposable aluminum broiler pan that saved time on clean up.  Just bake and toss!
• Be sure to take your time stirring the mix into the wet ingredients.  This way you are sure to get a flavorful bite everytime.  (My first batch didn't get covered entirely because the pan was to shallow.)
• It's okay to make the Chex Mix your own.  It really is one of those difficult recipes to mess up.  I think that anyone could make Chex Mix and it would still be edible.  If you want more flavor, add more seasoning.  If you love garlic add a couple extra dashes.
•  Be prepared to make this dish over and over again.  I made 4 batches of Chex Mix with in a two weeks.  It disappeared fast!
• Each time I made the mix I changed it up a bit, adding and taking out some of the ingredients.  The final batch was by far the best Chex Mix I have prepared.  It was just the way I like it!

Here is my new go to Chex Mix Recipe:

6 cups of Chex (Rice, Wheat, Corn) (I switched it up sometimes only using Corn or Rice)
4 Cups of Cheerios (My favorite ingredient!)
2-3 Cups of Pretzel Sticks
2 Cups of Cheez It crackers
1 small can of Cashews
1 Stick of Butter
5 Tablespoons of Worchestire Sauce
2 Tablespoons of Garlic Powder
1/2 Tablespoon of Celery Salt
1/2 Tablespoon of Seasoned Salt
2 Tablespoons of Garlic Bread Seasoning ( I found a jar at Tuesday Morning and loved the added flavor)

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.  As the oven is heating add the stick of butter into the broiler pan and place in oven to melt.
2. Once melted, add the seasonings and stir well. 
3. Slowly add in the Chex Mix ingredients such as Chex, Pretzels, Cheez It, Cashews and Cheerios.  Be sure to toss and cover ingredients as evenly as possible.
4. Place the broiler pan with Chex Mix ingredients into oven and bake for 1 hr and 15 minutes.
5. Set timer for 15 minute intervals and be sure to stir the ingredients well every 15 minutes.
6. When the product is finished store it in an airtight container and enjoy your break.  You will probably be making more very shortly! :)
7. I prefer a bold, flavorful and zesty Chex Mix.   For those that like milder flavoring than feel free to decrease the amounts of salt or garlic to your liking.  Have fun experimenting and be sure to have some guinea pigs around to taste your finished product!