This is a family tradition in our household, made from generation to generation from as far as I can remember.

My very French grandmother Evelyn Mary Gallant Orne stood barely 4 foot, 11 inches tall …But I’m going to tell you, when she stomped her foot and pointed her finger at you, you moved and did what you were told, LOL. It didn’t happen very often but when it did, you never forgot! This is her recipe.

People have called Chex mix lots of different things; my pal (aka) Leaslie and her husband Pete call it reindeer oats. I love that name.

Here’s my ingredient list: Cheerios, Chex cereal (you can use any kind — they have wheat, corn and rice; it really doesn’t matter, whatever you have on hand) butter, dried cranberries, nuts of your liking, pretzels, cheese puffs, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic salt pepper and M & Ms, lots of what you have loose ends of in my pantry, I put into this recipe. Dana likes it when I add cheese – it’s in the mix. I always cook this in a big turkey roasting pan, you’ll need lots of room. It cooks on low temp for a couple of hours. You will bring it out of the oven several times, adding more Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and onion powder.    

First, preheat your oven at 250 degrees, melt one stick of real butter in a large pan (none of that other stuff like margarine- yuck). I only use real butter in everything I cook. Once the butter has melted, add your nuts, Chex, Cheerios, etc., mix it all up and pour your Worcestershire, onion powder and garlic salt depending on how spicy you like it. We like lots of spice so I tend to add lots of Worcestershire. So every half an hour, take out of the oven and stir depending on much “zing” ya want, add Worcestershire. Please eat as you go, it’s the only way you’ll know how much more to add. After a couple hours bring it out of the oven and let it rest on your counter top. When the mix is fully cool, add your M & Ms. I remember as a kid there was only one kind of M & M — plain. My hubby likes peanut M & Ms in ours! Hey YOLO! You only live once, go crazy and mix it up!

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving … I’ve been blessed in so many ways, thank you everyone for the continuing support. Kindness goes a long way and it’s free.

Hearty turkey soup coming your way next week ... using up some leftovers.

Live, laugh and love.