Homemade Chex Mix

We love Chex Mix in our house.  And as much as we love it from the bag, we love this homemade version even more so.  It's incredibly addicting.  Salty and buttery and tangy from the Worcestershire sauce.  Just you wait...once you make it, you won't be able to stop eating it!   

I have always done mine in the oven.  Yes, it takes longer (a lot longer) than the 5 or so minutes in the microwave, but this recipe is from a good friend's mom and that's how she made hers.  I'm not knocking the quicker way, I've just never tried it! 

My favorite pieces are the ones that get extra coated in the seasoning and are a bit chewy.  I also usually make it with just the cereal, but we have a ton of the mini twists pretzels in the house so I tossed them in as well.  You can also throw in nuts or bagel chips.  Just so you have about 12 cups of the whole mixture. 

Serves 12 

Homemade Chex Mix

1 1/2 sticks butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
9 cups Chex cereal
3 cups pretzels

Preheat oven to 225 degrees and place the sticks of butter on an 11 x 18-inch baking sheet.  Place the pan into the oven until the butter melts.  Remove pan from oven and add Worcestershire sauce and seasoning salt to the melted butter.  Stir to combine.

Pour Chex cereal and pretzels on top of melted butter mixture and carefully stir to coat everything.  Put pan back into the oven for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Pour finished Chex mix onto paper towels to drain.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

M&M Valentine's Day Treats

I adapted these for Valentine's Day from my Pretzel and M&M Holiday Treats.  And how precious?!  Such a pretty treat to give away to friends and family for Valentine's Day.   

Pretzels, topped with Hershey's Hugs and Valentine's Day pink, red and white M&M's.  You can use round pretzels or waffle pretzels - I'm not partial.  I use whatever is on sale!  In this case, the store brand mini twists suited me just fine.    

These are so fun if you have little helpers - and I have the best one!  My 4 year old loves to help in the kitchen and these are one of her favorite treats to make.  She practically does it all herself, my big girl.  So easy, fun and adorable!       

Serves 4

M&M Valentine's Day Treats

Mini pretzels (about 1/2 of a 15 oz bag)
1 (12 oz) bag Hershey's Hugs
Valentine's Day M&M's

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.  Pour the pretzels onto a 11 x 18-inch baking sheet and start unwrapping the Hugs.  Place one Hug on each pretzel and place pan in the oven.  Let the Hugs melt for 4-5 minutes.  Pull the pan out of the oven and top each Hug with an M&M (it should be melty enough that the M&M pushes the Hug all the way down and spreads it on the pretzel).  Let harden a little bit and store in the fridge for a couple of days.

Ranch Parmesan Popcorn Mix

The most addicting snack mix I have ever made.  This may even replace my homemade Chex Mix for awhile - and that's saying a lot! 

It takes just minutes to whip up - all done right in the microwave.  So easy and quick - your family will be begging you to make more!  This is a definite must make for your next party.  

You could very easily substitute other crackers or nuts in this - I used popcorn, pretzels and cashews.  The combination was awesome, but peanuts or pistachios would be very tasty as well.  

Makes 8 cups

Ranch Parmesan Popcorn Mix

2/3 cup canola oil

1 (1 oz) packet of ranch dressing mix powder

4 cups of popcorn 

3 1/2 cups mini pretzels 

1/2 cup cashews 

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the oil and ranch mix.  Stir.  Add the popcorn, pretzels and cashews and toss to evenly coat the mixture.  Heat on high for 1 minute, then stir, mixing from the bottom (the oil has a tendency to pool at the bottom).  Heat for an additional 1 minute, then add the Parmesan.  Toss to coat evenly.  Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.  

(Source:  Adapted from Averie Cooks)

Pretzel Bites

This is the best recipe I've found for pretzel bites.  I've tried a few, but I love the simplicity of the ingredients, plus the added brown sugar that gives it a touch of sweetness.

  

I love very simple pairings - like serving these with just regular ol' yellow mustard.  My favorite! 

This recipe makes a lot, but beware - they are addicting.  I think I may have eaten half the batch myself when they were first made (which is when they are the absolute best).  Great for a party snack, but maybe consider doubling the recipe.    

Makes about 60 bites

Pretzel Bites                                                                                                                        

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup warm milk (110-115 degrees)

2 1/2 - 3 cups of flour

1 package instant dry yeast

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1-2 tablespoons kosher salt 

In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook (or stir by hand), combine the brown sugar, milk, 2 1/2 cups of flour and the yeast.  Stir until a soft dough forms, adding the remaining flour as needed (dough should be soft, but not really sticky).  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead to form a smooth ball.   

Spray the inside of a large bowl with non-stick cooking spray.  Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover with a clean dish towel.  Allow to rise for about 2 hours until dough has doubled in size.  

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Punch it down and divide into 4 equal pieces.  Start rolling and stretching each piece of dough to about 12 inches long.  Cut into 1-inch pieces and transfer to a greased cookie sheet.  Let rest, uncovered for about 30 minutes and preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bring 6 cups of water to boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.  Boil pretzels in batches, cooking about 20 seconds on each side (they will be slightly puffed).  Use a slotted spoon to transfer them back to the baking sheets.  Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes.  

Brush warm pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle generously with kosher salt.  Serve immediately.  

(Source:  Adapted from Pip and Ebby)

Buffalo Ranch Pretzels

Where else but Pinterest can you find such goodies as Buffalo Pretzels?  This recipe was adapted from the blog A Taste of the Best, and these pretzels are addicting!!  Great football snackin' food in my opinion - or any sport or get together for that matter. 

Be sure to use a very large bowl so you can really get everything nicely coated in the butter, hot sauce and ranch seasoning mixture.  I mean how good does that sound already?

Spread the coated pretzels onto a baking sheet and bake for an hour stirring everything every 15 minutes (similar to making Chex Mix).  This recipe is also very easily doubled.   

Buffalo Ranch Pretzels

6 cups pretzels (sticks or mini twists, etc.)

1/2 stick melted butter

1 1/2 tablespoons ranch dressing mix

2 tablespoons hot sauce or buffalo sauce

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  Pour the pretzels in a large bowl and set aside.  In small bowl, combine melted butter, ranch dressing mix and hot sauce and pour over pretzels.  Stir to coat and spread out onto a 11 x 18-inch baking sheet.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool and eat! 

(Source:  Adapted from A Taste of the Best)

Pretzel and M&M Holiday Treats

I just discovered these last year (thank you Pinterest!) and now I'm seriously asking, where have they been all my life??  They are so easy, so tasty and so much fun to make with your kiddos!  They will love helping you, from unwrapping the Kisses, to placing them on the pretzels - they can really help at every step!  

My 2 year old (soon to be 3!  Her birthday is Christmas Eve!) was so excited and happy to help me.  

Lots of yummy looking pictures follow...

You could really make these all year round.  Especially with the regular M&M's...during the Holidays, red and green would be fun, but I didn't think of that before I made these! 

I keep mine in the fridge and you can put out for a Holiday party in a cute festive bowl or plate.  They will be gone in a flash so make a ton!!   

Pretzel and M&M Holiday Treats

Round or mini twists pretzels
Hershey kisses
M&M's

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.  Pour the pretzels onto a 11x18 baking sheet (completely cover it!) and start unwrapping the Kisses.  I used a medium size bag, but you will probably need the large bag if you are making for a crowd.  Place one Kiss on each pretzel and place pan in the oven.  Let the chocolate melt for about 4-5 minutes, just until you can push down on the top and it goes all the way down.  Pull the pan out of the oven and top each Kiss with an M&M.  Let harden a little, then store in fridge for a couple of days.