Snacks At Hand

Now that I am home schooling with a teenager at home full time I have had to rethink some things and one of those is snacks.  For those of you who haven't had teenagers yet they tend to be bottomless pits : ) As my daughter laughingly points out all those raging teenage hormones require sustenance. So I have started making what I call a snack box. It is actually a dishpan that is on the pantry shelf with optional snacks in it. I do this to try to guide her towards healthier snacks that are already prepared in single servings.  Things like cereal chex mixes, dried fruit and homemade granola bars. My daughter loves Chex mix so I try to sneak in a few healthy things that she might not ordinarily try on her own. Toasted walnuts right off our farm and high in Omega 3. Dried apples bits again off of our own farm. Sunflower seeds, toasted flax seed. Just a few thrown in with the mix.

This is the original Chex Mix recipe found on the box. 

  Ingredients

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

1.	In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2.	Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Oven 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.

  

After baking I added 2 cups of cheese crackers. You can add goldfish crackers or even a small bag of cheese puffs. Dried fruit such as raisins and even a small bag of M and M's after it has cooled.  Try adding popcorn seasoning to it for a variety of flavors. Once cooled I bag in small off brand ziploc sandwich bags and throw in our snack dishpan in the pantry. Waiting for a hungry teenager or grandkids. 

Anyone out there have any great recipe additions for your Chex Mix.

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter