We Wing It Party Mix. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
TOM GILBERT
Love me some Fruity Pebbles (
quel surprise), but they just wouldn't taste right with cayenne pepper.
Of all the cereals that spring to my holiday-addled mind at the moment, none are so spice-rack friendly as Chex Mix. (No, I do not own stock in whatever company makes Chex Mix.)
This time of year, it always seems some form of Chex Party Mix appears at a holiday party, for which I'm quite thankful.
As I promise y'all in my Sunday story on Chex Party Mix, I have a couple of recipes to share, and I hope to read some of yours, too.
First up, my buddy 007 makes THE best party mix I've ever had -- hot but not TOO hot. She uses her and her buddy Steve's We Wing It, a dry, spicy seasoning for meats and vegetables they created. You can find it at Petty's (Utica Square), Made in Oklahoma (5529-B E. 41st St.), Dwelling Spaces (119 S. Detroit Ave.) and online at
tulsaworld.com/wewingit for $6.
WE WING IT PARTY MIX
3 cups rice cereal
3 cups corn cereal
3 cups wheat cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup pretzels
1 cup rye chips
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons We Wing It
1. Bake at 250 for 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes.
2. Cool on paper towels.
The past few Christmases, I've made snack pretzels (i.e., doctored-up some store-bought ones with spices). My editor, Ashley Parrish, brought some to work, and I asked her for the recipe -- which is nowhere near me.
But I've made it enough to remember the directions. In fact, when I made two bags at Thanksgiving, I didn't even measure. Yeah, I play it fast and loose like that in the kitchen, y'all
SPICY PRETZELS
1 (1-pound) bag of pretzels
(I've tried the stick kind, don't care for how the seasoning mix coats them)1 packet dry Ranch mix
(I've used various flavors of Ranch, the spicier the better)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon(ish) lemon pepper
1 teaspoon(ish) cayenne pepper
1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
(I've seen some recipes call for garlic salt, but you better love salt.)1. In a bowl, whisk together your spices in the oil.
2. Dump the bag of pretzels in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, then pour the spiced-up oil mixture inside.
3. Shake, shake, shake / Shake, shake, shake / Shake your PRET-zels, shake your PRET-zels! You can make up your own song, of course, just as long as you shake the tar out of the dang things for at least a minute.
It's best to let 'em sit overnight, but I rarely have the restraint to do this. But they do taste better.
Speaking of taste, I usually add a pinch more cayenne, plus 1/2 teaspoon of cumin (or a full one, whatever). I've also wondered if I could do one using olive oil and a Caesar dressing mix, plus Parmesan cheese. Think that'd be gnarly?
Peace, love and cumin-sprinkled cereal ... XOXO
