Party Mix

With my daughter in town with her family this week, I am happily up to my eyeballs in cooking and baking!  I think I've made 3 batches of bread since they've been here, a big lasagna dinner, as well as a tea ring (which was almost completely eaten up before I even got the camera out), cookies, artichoke spread, and this, one of their favorites:  party mix.  I've had this particular recipe for about 25 years.  It's addictive!  The aroma of the seasoning is potent and mouth-watering.  The mix takes a little 'tending to' while it's baking, but it's well worth it!  It makes quite a bit, but we've been known to make 2 or 3 batches in one week!  The recipe is very forgiving... if you don't have one or two of the cereals, just make up the difference with what you have on hand.  If you don't have mixed nuts (the recipe calls for a small can), substitute 1 cup of another kind of nut.  Add what you like, leave out what you don't!  This is a great nibble while watching the big game on tv or just sitting around and chatting with each other.

Party Mix
Makes about 12 cups

1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup butter or margerine
1 tablespoon hot sauce (i.e., Red Devil, Tabasco, etc.) (optional - but I recommend it!)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
2 teaspoons seasoning salt (i.e., Lawry's or Penzey's has a nice one!)

2 cups rice Chex cereal
2 cups corn Chex cereal
2 cups wheat Chex cereal
2 cups Cheerios cereal
2 cups pretzel sticks or small pretzels
a small can of mixed nuts or peanuts
1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 200 F.

Heat first six ingredients to simmering.  Put cereal, pretzels and nuts in a large roasting pan.  Pour seasoning liquid over ingredients in roasting pan, and mix until well-coated.

Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Cool completely and store in air-tight container.

For Printable Recipe, Click Here