Coming Out Hot! Hot & Spicy Chex Mix and Spicy Pretzels

I’m a big fan of anything spicy, and I think hot & spicy Chex Mix tops my list of favorite snack foods (closely competing with queso, of course, I’m not sure I can pick a winner). For our recent trip to Colorado, we made some snacks and I was in charge of making Chex Mix and spicy pretzels. Both are so easy, I decided to post them for quick reference!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and the spicy and the crunch.

Hot & Spicy Chex Mix – From the Kitchen of Angela

Ingredients:

¼ c. stick margarine or butter                                                           
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 ½ tsp Tabasco Red Pepper sauce                                     
1 ¼ tsp seasoned salt
3 drops Dave Insanity Sauce
3 cups corn Chex cereal                                                       
3 cups wheat Chex cereal
3 cups rice Chex cereal                                                         
1 cup pretzels or pretzel sticks
1 cup salted peanuts or mixed nuts                                       
1 cup Cheez-It crackers – Tabasco flavor

Directions:

Melt margarine in a large microwavable bowl, uncovered on high. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on high 5-6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels or wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container.

Microwave time is approximate. I only cook for 5 minutes, stirring after every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. If you cook too long, or do not stir frequently, the cereal will burn.

Butter makes everything better, right?

Melted butter with all of the seasonings.

Depending on how much Dave’s Insanity Sauce you put in, the steam coming off of the mix might burn your eyes. I stir mine with a wooden spoon or just a regular cereal spoon. Doesn’t need much, just stir it so it doesn’t burn.

Here it is cooling on wax paper. Once it’s cool, throw it in an airtight container or ziplock bag.

Spicy Pretzels

2- 16 oz bags pretzels (bigger pretzels)
3/4 c oil
1 pkg regular dry ranch dressing
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp red cayenne pepper

Dump pretzels in a two gallon bag zipper bag. Mix oil and spices and oil together. Dump over and mix well. Turn over every 20 minutes for 2 hours.

Oil with all of the seasonings. Be sure to mix well, otherwise it’ll be clumpy.

All mixed up. You don’t know what to do.

At first you’ll be able to see through the bag. But be sure to gently turn and shake the bag to distribute the seasoned oil among the pretzels.

The bag will get nice and cloudy by the time the two hours is up. Don’t worry, you’ll serve in little bowls for easy access with your beer. Mmmmmmmm… Beer and spicy pretzels. Some bar should serve these puppies!