Holiday Chex Mix Recipe

Today my family decorated our lovely Christmas tree that we cut down yesterday.  We turned on our holiday music, got out the family ornaments, and I made up a homemade batch of chex mix!  I love chex mix.  If you've never had it and you are thinking that it is just liked the stuff you get in the bag, you are sorely mistaken.  It is SO much better!  I look forward to chex mix every holiday season.  I know I could probably make it other times of the year, but it has become a tradition that I make our chex mix while we decorate our tree.  Please, please, please give this a try - you will love it!!  

Here's the recipe for homemade chex mix (it's usually right on the side of the box, but in case you threw out your box :-):

Holiday Chex Mix

3 cups Corn Chex® cereal


3 cups Rice Chex® cereal


3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal


1 cup mixed nuts


1 cup bite-size pretzels


1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces


6 tablespoons butter or margarine


2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce


1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt


3/4 teaspoon garlic powder


1/2 teaspoon onion powder


Directions:  Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. 

Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. 

Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. 

Store in airtight container. Enjoy!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  I prefer to use cheez-its instead of bagel chips and I also like to use cashews instead of mixed nuts.  I also triple the recipe because like I said, I LOVE chex mix! Pin It

Lindsay's "Romantic" Cheese Fondue

The evening seems to bring craziness around our house, especially with having a 19-month old and a 3-month old.  We have dinner, bath-time, and bed-time routines to attend to that keep us on our toes.  Sometimes it's hard for my husband and I to find the time to really connect with one another; though I know it is so important for us to do so.  Usually we find time to chat over dinner, after our little ones are in bed, but so often this is done with us watching our favorite television program and we don't truly look into one another's eyes and connect on a daily basis.

My "Romantic" Cheese Fondue is a wonderful meal to cook for your significant other when you really want to sit down at the dining room table and reconnect with the one you love.  It allows you to linger over dinner and really interact with one another.  Give the recipe a try, open up a good bottle of wine and I'll bet you'll feel the romance!

Lindsay’s “Romantic” Cheese Fondue

(Makes 2-3 cups fondue, serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

½ lb. medium-sharp cheddar cheese, grated                                   

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

½ lb. Emmanthaler Swiss cheese, grated                                   

¼ cup dry white wine

2 sliced scallions (white & green parts)                                   

2 cloves garlic, minced

Pinch of ground nutmeg           

1 Tbsp. Olive oil

Heat a 3-quart sauce pan to medium heat.  Add olive oil and then garlic. Sauté garlic until cooked through, but not brown. Add ¼ cup dry white wine to the pot.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Meanwhile, toss grated cheddar and Swiss cheese with 1 Tbsp. cornstarch to coat.  Add cheese to the pot along with a pinch of ground nutmeg.  Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until the cheese is melted and smooth.  Before transferring into the fondue pot add sliced scallions and season with salt and pepper to taste.  

To serve, transfer to fondue pot over a flame.

Serving Suggestions: Serve with cubes of bread, grilled shrimp, sliced sausages, cubed chicken, roasted mushrooms, sliced zucchini or summer squash, steamed asparagus, boiled or roasted potatoes, sliced apples and grapes.

Cook’s Note:

• I prefer to use white cheddar cheese to ensure a unified color.
• If the fondue is too thick, add up to an additional ¼ cup of white wine.

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