After the cookie party over the holidays, I exchanged some gifts with Kelly and Tessa. Part of my gift was a tin of homemade Chex Mix. It was a nice gift not only because it was delicious, but also because me and Kelly and Chex Mix go way back. In about 1997 we went on a road trip around the southwestern part of the U.S. and for a week or two just about all we ate was Chex Mix. Plus, we’ve made Chex Mix together many times.

Kelly’s Chex Mix was so good that I had to make some of my own. Plus, it was quickly clear that Dallas was going to finish off the whole tin that Kelly gave me and there’d be none left for me. In addition to the Chex cereals we have always added the Quaker Squares. You can see the box of it in the background of this photograph of me and Chex Mix back in 2003. Kelly also had Golden Grahams in her Chex Mix, which added a hint of sweetness to counterbalance the salty.

When my brother’s family and my parents came over for Christmas I had a ton of Chex Mix for everyone to enjoy. Only thing – my brother also brought Chex Mix and so did my mom! They were all different, though. I made the microwave version, my brother made the oven baked version and had a heavier hand with the seasonings, and my mom made a light version. They were all good in their own ways.

Later on I made another batch or two so that I could use up all of the Chex cereals. Dallas could have eaten the extra Chex Mix all by himself, but I put it in cute holiday bowls and brought it to people’s holiday parties as a nice gift.