To celebrate the New Year I have a wonderful, mouth-watering holiday tradition that I’m going to share with you. It’s a decadently delectable way to ring in 2017, but first some background…
Every year I make my Stephanie Queen’s Royal Munch Mix. Beginning at Thanksgiving time and spreading, gaining steam and intensity through to New Years Day, the house fills with an irresistible aroma. Pans, mixing bowls, measuring spoons, empty boxes and bottles of spice cover the counters.
On Thanksgiving day I serve the special treat for the first time. Then at every holiday get-together thereafter, whenever I host or wherever I go to celebrate the holiday season I bring it with me to expectant open arms and mouths.
At Christmas, I box it up fancy and give it to my favorite people who love it most and to
those who already have everything money can buy. On New Year’s Day as all my favorite people relax and contemplate the future, they savor the last bits to fortify themselves for the year ahead.
As traditions are wont to do, I’ve created an expectation. I MUST come through every year without fail or disappoint. Feeling like Santa Clause-ette, I now must bring my bowls and boxes of Royal Munch Mix to eagerly waiting eaters of holiday treats.
But part of the specialness of this tradition comes from the absence of this treat all year long. It can’t be helped. There is a cost to the enjoyment of this rich holiday mix and continued indulgence would take a toll.
So I must post this WARNING: It’s a decadent treat that would likely cause premature heart failure if consumed on a regular basis since one of the main ingredients is BUTTER, and SALT follows closely behind.
Like many rare, forbidden pleasures …
If you could smell this tantalizing treat, you would love me. If you could taste it, you would be my slave forever.
For any of you out there in Authors Billboard Blog-land who would do anything to create a following of love-slaves, I have the perfect recipe for you. Eyes will light up even as hearts pound on with determination and pleasure (in spite of the butter-induced challenge), once they take one taste.
As long as you swear to prepare this dangerously delicious treat only once a year, I’ll share my recipe with you.
The Crunch:
1.5 lbs mixed nuts
1 Large box Cheerios
1 16 oz bag of pretzel sticks
1 large box Wheat Chex
1 large box Corn Chex
The Secret Sauce:
1.5 lbs BUTTER
½ bottle of Worcestershire Sauce
1.5 Tblsp Celery Salt
2.5 Tblsp Garlic Powder
The Fix:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
In a VERY LARGE deep sided baking or roasting pan (I use foil turkey roasters or extra large foil lasagna pans) mix the crunchy ingredients.
Melt butter in the microwave in a large glass bowl. Mix in the remaining secret sauce ingredients and stir well. Reheat if needed.
Pour secret sauce onto crunchy mix a little at a time, mixing well.
Bake at 250 degrees for 2.5 hours, stirring/mixing every 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool. Dish it up or store in plastic containers or bags.
Serves: A whole lot of people!
Happy New Year!