We’ve polished off the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers, enabling us to focus on Christmas.

Our first effort is our annual batch of fancy Chex Mix, great for home snacking, visitors, and handing out in small gift bags to delivery guys.

This year, the folks at Chex have outdone themselves with Merry Grinch Mix (photo #1).

Fun for kids and adults alike, this Chex Mix is fancy enough to be given as a gift in a mason jar or other container.
 
 
RECIPE: CHEX MERRY GRINCH MIX

Ingredients For 20 Servings

 
Preparation

1. LINE 2 large rimmed cookie sheets with waxed paper. Add the cereal to a large bowl.

2. MICROWAVE 1 cup of the vanilla chips uncovered in a small microwavable bowl, on Medium (50%) for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes. Stir after 30 seconds, until melted and smooth.

3. DIP the pointed end of each Bugles corn snack, one at a time, into the melted chips. Coat the top two-thirds of each, allowing the excess to drip off. (If necessary, reheat mixture 5 seconds at a time as needed for dipping consistency.)

4. SPRINKLE the coated Bugles with red sugar. Place the Bugles on one of the cookie sheets in single layer; let stand about 20 minutes or until set.

[2] Rice Chex.

[3] Rice Chex (all photos courtesy General Mills).

6. POUR on top of the cereal in the bowl; stir well to coat evenly. Transfer to the remaining cookie sheet, spreading the mixture apart. Immediately sprinkle with the green nonpareils and sprinkles; let stand about 20 minutes or until set. Carefully break apart into bite-size pieces.

7. MIX the coated cereal, corn snacks, chocolate candies and heart sprinkles in large serving bowl. You’re ready to snack!
 
 
THE HISTORY OF CHEX MIX

Wheat Chex cereal was introduced in 1937 by Ralston Purina; Rice Chex (photo #2) in 1950.

The debut of Chex Party Mix followed in 1952, in an advertisement in Life Magazine. The original recipe (photo #3) included both Rice Chex and Wheat Chex, plus mixed nuts, mini pretzels and bagel chips, blended with butter, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder and onion powder. (Here’s the recipe.)

The original Chex Party Mix mix became popular as a holiday treat when purportedly, in 1955, the wife of a Ralston-Purina executive in St. Louis served it at a holiday function.

Chex Party Mix was not the pioneer; it was one of numerous “TV mixes” that were developed in the 1950s, as snacks to accompany the wide adoption of home television sets (a 1950 Betty Crocker cookbook includes a recipe for a snack mix made with Kix cereal).

In 1958 Corn Chex was introduced, and added to the recipe. In 1985, pre-packaged Chex Party Mix was introduced, so one could snack right from the bag.

Between Chex-developed recipes and consumer contributions, a vast proliferation of savory, sweet, spicy, and chocolatey recipes now exists. Here are Chex brand’s recipes and a creative array of uses.

Today, the Chex brand is owned by General Mills (source).