Party mix OTHER than White Trash?

[jeanhall]

Hey there,

I want to make a fun (and yummy) "party mix" for guests to take home with them after my New Years Eve party. I don't want it to include cheerios or anything like that, and I'd even prefer to stay away from M&Ms. Anyone know a good, maybe sweet and salty (with chocolate) mix idea? Maybe some cranberries, nuts, whathaveyou? or am I better off making a bark?

[asf78]

The December Real Simple had as their "10 ways to prepare..." feature 10 different items you could make for just this type of thing. Here is the recipe for the Maple Pretzel Nuts: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipe... I've actually bookmarked this one to make for my sister-in-law, who is a big fan of the salty-sweet (and spicy) combination. Hopefully it's as good as it looks!

I can't recall all of the items off the top of my head. One was some sort of granola/oats/pepita mix, another was a limoncello. Obviously some are more feasible than others.

[buzzardbreath]

I think your "party mix" favor idea is creative! If your friends are at all like mine, they will love it! :-)

[Terrie H.]

My next mix is going to be "fish and chips" -- goldfish crackers and salt-and-vinegar potato chips. Not my idea, but made me smile.

[jbsiegel]

LOVE this!

[hill food]

and kasugai (wasabi peas) right? (hey traditional 'pub' food usually has mushy peas on the menu after all)

[wekick]

I love this and it is great for breakfast. I make a huge batch.

Cranberry orange chex mix.

3 cups Corn Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup butter melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup frozen (thawed) orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup dried cranberries

I melt the butter in the oven while preheating to 350. Stir in the brown sugar and orange juice concentrate.
Mix all except the dried cranberries and turn in the pan coating the cereal. Bake about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. The almonds should be toasted when done. Let it cool and add cranberries.

[meatn3]

This sounds really good! Thanks.

[sandylc]

For anyone who is interested:

http://www.foodnetworkfans.com/forum/...

It is SERIOUSLY sweet, and the couple of times I made it I drizzled bittersweet chocolate over it at the end to un-sweeten it.

p.s. I don't much care for this one, but others really go for it....

[mamachef]

You might consider this one; I just saw it the other day.

Ajil/Persian Trail Mix

1 c. roasted salted pumpkin seeds
1 c. whole salted pistachios
1 c. sugar-dusted slivered almonds (just sprinkle w/ sugar; bake briefly and toss)
1/2 c. whole, roasted unsalted almonds
2/3 c. dried mulberries (use double the currants indicated below, or sub in craisins, if you can't get these)
1/2 c. salted roasted soybeans
1/2 c golden raisins
1/2 c. dried currants (see above...)
8 dried figs, chopped
1/2 c. dried mango, diced
Just combine. Some like to add a dash of salt, or sesame cracker-ettes, to this.

[prima]

that looks interesting, mamachef! I'm going to give it a try.

[mamachef]

I made it two days ago, and it was good at first, but now it's addictive and I'm going to have to make a LOT more, if I actually plan to give some away. :)

[rose water]

That's the thing--the sweet savory combination means you can alternate, and just keep eating it forever. The fact that ajeel is washed down with tea, and alternates with fruit means that you can spend the whole day ingesting.

But mango? Never ever seen mango in Iran, or among the many awesome Iranian dried fruit options.

[prima]

Maybe the dried mango is a substitute for dried peach? I've seen dried peach in some Iranian dried fruit mixtures.

[jbsiegel]

Sugar Coated Pecans - these are FABULOUS!!!!!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sugar-co...

[katbri]

Nuts & Bolts Recipe

1/2 box Crispix cereal
1/2 box plain mini ritz
1/2 box cheese flavored gold fish crackers
1 box/bag Bugels (you can't buy these in Canada anymore but you can in the states)
1 bag mini pretzels
Mixed peanuts (optional)
1 cup oil
1 pkg dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp dill weed
1 Tbsp Lemon pepper

In large bowl mix all cereals & crackers.
Combine oil with all spices and then pour over the cereal & cracker mixture stirring well. Let sit for one hour mixing occasionally.
Then place in a large roaster and bake in 200-250 degree oven for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

[buzzardbreath]

I remember this delicious mix! My grandma would send a batch of this delight the week before Final Exams when I was in college. A much appreciated treat and a wonderful memory. I am so glad to have this recipe now. Thank you for posting it!

[FrankJBN]

I'm glad this post was reopened because I am curious - has anyone been involved with this before? I mean taking home a bowl type snack after a New Year's Eve party.

To me it's kind of like, 'hey everybody, don't forget to take a handful of popcorn as you're leaving.'

[nemo]

Oh, gee, Frank, lighten up. Everyone likes a little take-home goodie bag, sweet or savory. Breakfast granola or a snack on the couch with football on New Years Day.

The way I read OP is she wants to use snack stuff that was NOT served at the party, totally separate gift, and I think she's trying to go beyond "a handful of popcorn."

[miss_belle]

I got the impression that the OP would bag the mIx up with festive bows and give them to guests as they were leaving. Not putting it in a big bowl at the front door so everyone can grab a handful on the way out.

[MrsJonesey]

Hmm, I have a recipe for a mix that includes pretzels, peanuts, Chex and caramel bits covered in white chocolate. It's very good. If you're interested, I'll post, but have you considered a brittle?

[Joebob]

Or immitation Heath bars?

[prima]

Realize this is a late request, but could you post your mix, MrsJonesy?

[MrsJonesey]

Blizzard Party Mix

12 oz. pkg. Nestle Toll House Premier White Morsels
2 cups oven-toasted cereal squares
2 cups small pretzel twists
1 cup cocktail peanuts
1 cup coarsely chopped caramels (from about 20 caramels) or use caramel chips

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Combine cereal, pretzels, peanuts & caramels in a large bowl. Microwave morsels 1 minute @ 70% power, then at 15-second intervals until it will stir smoothly. Pour over cereal mixture and stir to coat evenly. Spread mixture into greased pan; let stand 20-30 minutes until firm. Break into bite-size pieces.

[meatn3]

How about Matzoh Crack? You could easily incorporate some dried fruit and/or nuts into the recipe. No matzoh? Sub saltines instead!

I'm afraid to even make the stuff anymore - I can easily pick away at it during the cooling stage and end up with nothing to wrap up!

[1sweetpea]

I have to stay away from the tray at Passover seders to avoid gobbling the whole batch. If a to-go container comes my way, look out container! You might get eaten too! Matzoh Crack is entirely too good. Much better than the sum of its parts.

[smilingal]

I had copied a recipe, not sure from where and haven't found it upon recent searches, for White Trash - having never heard of such a thing and was intrigued! I am thinking of making it this weekend for a tailgating party for about 25 people. Please share your version and what makes it the bestest!

[Emme]

i recently made some for a bridal shower, per the bride-to-be's request... i took a turn from my own list :) and used
peanut butter filled pretzels
some with raisin bran, some with bran flakes
chex
shredded wheat
crackin' oat bran
Milk Crumbs
roasted salted pistachios
buttered popcorn (considered kettle corn, but maybe next time... think it would be too sweet...)
cinnamon sugar roasted pumpkin seeds
i did half with white chocolate and half with nutella

[smilingal]

I just made some - the recipe for white trash that I had included rice chex, raisins, dry roasted peanuts, (peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips melted). Then mix it in a white trash bag with confectioner's sugar. I am bringing it to a tailgating party tomorrow for a BRUCE! concert.

[prima]

The White Trash recipe I've used calls for white chocolate chips and Golden Grahams cereal.
Bet the peanut butter version is tasty.

[Emme]

things i might consider including:
-cacao nibs
-salted popcorn
-pepitas
-freeze dried fruits and/or veggies

...or you could make Christina Tosi's Milk Crumbs and jazz them up by stirring in dried fruits and/or nuts before stirring in the white chocolate...

[hill food]

last year I made (for fusty grumpy family) chex mix, but with mostly Japanese assorted rice cracker (nori and hints of wasabi on some pieces) and a bit of sesame oil in lieu of part of the butter. went over well. just followed the standard recipe and swapped out this for that.

[Robinez]

I still love the old fashioned; just Reg Chex cereal, wor sauce, butter, and garlic salt.

We even had a special tupperware flour container for it. (green). My Sis and I used to sit on the floor in front of the tv and munch on it. They had tv's on the floor back then. Kid's don't sit on the floor and watch tv anymore. They are missing out, I think. Nothing better than a pillow and a blanket in front of the tv at night watching a movie and munching on popped corn or the beloved Chex as a kid.

I blame TV's on the wall and hardwood floors. When I was growing up, there was wall to wall carpet everywhere and it was warmer to hang out on the floor. Area rugs just don't cut it like the padding from wall to wall. And you would get a stiff neck if you tried to watch a wall mounted tv from the floor.

[hill food]

there is something to be said for traditions. but this question is different.

and one is allowed to mount (or stand) the TV at what ever height one wishes (I like 'em lower too)

[Crockett67]

Bingo on the rice cracker mix! But my friend are like me and like those kind of things... my parents not so much.

[hill food]

Crockett - that's what was surprising - the types who look at everything new with the suspicion of a cat in an unfamiliar house were inhaling it.

[Crockett67]

Really? Did you just set it out and walk away or did you tell them what they were eating?

[prima]

It's funny. I brought a purchased Spanish cocktail mix on a ski trip, which included roasted chickpeas, pistachios, almonds, corn nuts and fava beans. None of my ski friends would try it. In fact, they all looked at it exactly as you described, with the suspicion of a cat in an unfamiliar house. One of the ski friends asked "Who brought that? What is that?", with the type of voice most people would use if someone left used socks on a kitchen counter. So I let them know I brought it, because I like it.

After leaving the container out with the other snacks the entire weekend, I ended up bringing the entire container home with me. Which was fine with me. I love Spanish cocktail mix. ;-)

[kattyeyes]

I've wanted to make these Lavender, Rosemary and Cinnamon Spiced Walnuts since Patty posted them earlier this year:
http://pattysfood.blogspot.com/2011/0...

If chocolate is a must, I'd think bark's the way to go. :)

[Cathy]

Perhaps you are looking for trail mix and not Party Mix.

I never thought of any of those mixes, which were staples in the 1950's, that my parents so enjoyed, as "white trash".

[imsohungry]

Cathy-I *think* the OP meant the party mix called "White Trash" which is a bunch of stuff with a white chocolate coating. No need to be offended (I LOVE Chex mix and it was indeed 'fancy' party food or only on the holidays when I was growing up).

http://www.food.com/recipe/alton-brow...

[jeanhall]

Yes -- I did mean the White Trash that is a staple for the holidays! I do mean a mix, I think, as opposed to a trail type of thing. I'm envisioning melted chocolate poured over a bunch of tasty things -- nuts, pretzels, cranberries, whatever. I suppose I can just go ahead and do that myself -- mix the melted chocolate with a little bit of shortening, or is that not necessary?

[MRS]

Spiced mixed nuts? you can decide what flavor you want and create exactly what you want- sweet, savory, spicy?

[Samalicious]

The Chex cereals website has several ideas for party mixes, provided they are not too trashy for you. The advantage of the cereal is you can make the mix gluten free, which many people appreciate.