Cranberry-Nut Cinnamon Chex Mix

'Tis the season for snacks and appetizers! Here's an easy one from Betty Crocker.

Check out Betty's website (picture from there) and make it Gluten-free!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal
• 1 cup walnut halves
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Preparations:

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and walnuts; set aside.
2. In 2 cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, orange juice concentrate and oil on High 1 minute; stir.
3. Microwave about 1 minute longer, stirring after 30 seconds, until mixture is hot. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. 
4. Microwave uncovered on High 5 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Stir in cranberries. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Store in tightly covered container.

Cheesy Chex Mix for Game Day!

New Year's day is fast approaching and if you're a football fan or married to one - you're most likely to hear "Keep the snacks coming!" (My record for football watching is 9 hours straight. But I was seventeen and trying to impress a really hot guy. :)

Here's an easy snack that can be made in minutes.

Ingredients:

9 cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex® or Wheat Chex® cereal (or combination)
2 cups bite-size pretzel twists
2 cups bite-size cheese crackers
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (1 oz) ranch dressing and seasoning mix
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparations:

1. Mix cereal, pretzels and crackers in a microwave safe bowl.
2. In a small bowl (microwave safe) melt butter. (This takes about 25 - 30 seconds in my microwave.)
3. Pour over cereal mixture.
4. Stir so the whole mixture is evenly coated.
5. Add dressing mix and cheese. Coat evenly.
6. Microwave for 3 minutes (on high), stir after each minute.
7. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. 

Makes 26 servings. Store in a ziplock bag or airtight container.

Holiday Treats - Muddy Buddies

It's one of those days where I find myself negotiating with a teenage daughter via text messaging and wondering - "When did I get old enough to have a teenager to negotiate with?"

It's a good thing I had this easy yummy treat to distract me from such a thought. :)

These are super easy and I pulled the recipe straight from Betty Crocker's website. (Their picture is better than mine. :)

Ingredients:

8 cups Corn Chex® (They say nine cups but eight works better)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preparations:

1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.