Spicy Pumpkin-Pie Party Mix

Need a quick recipe for a Halloween party? Looking for a seasonal spicy snack to take to your tailgate this weekend? Try this crunchy snack mix, seasoned with pumpkin pie spices and a bit of pepper! This recipe makes 4 cups and can be doubled or halved as needed

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups corn, rice or wheat Chex cereal (or some of each)
2/3 cup mini-pretzels
2/3 cups broken walnuts
4 Tbs butter or margarine
4 tsp honey
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice*
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper (or more to taste)

Combine the cereal, mini-pretzels and walnuts in a large baking pan or in two 8x8x2 inch baking pans. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Stir together the butter or margarine, honey, pumpkin spice mix and pepper in a saucepan. Heat on the stove, stirring, until the butter or margarine is melted. Drizzle over the cereal and carefully toss to mix well. Bake at 350F degrees about 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once. Place the pan(s) on a cooling rack to allow the snack mix to cool. Store in an airtight container.

*You can use a commercial pumpkin pie spice blend, or try this recipe from Rodale's Natural Foods Cookbook, which makes 2 Tablespoons and can be stored for future use.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground mace
1/2 tsp ground cloves

Combine together all ingredients and mix to blend thoroughly -- I place the ingredients in a small plastic container with a tight-sealing lid or in a clean & dry glass spice bottle with a lid, and then shake the container until everything is mixed uniformly. Store in a tightly covered container.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company