Microwave Snack Mix

Prep: 15 min., Cool: 30 min. Use a glass bowl when you zap this in the microwave. (Don't use a plastic bowl; we tried it, and the mixture got too hot and could possibly burn.)

Yield: Makes 13 cups

Ingredients

• 2  (1-oz.) envelopes Ranch dressing mix
• 1/2  cup  vegetable oil
• 3  cups  crisp oatmeal cereal squares
• 3  cups  corn-and-rice cereal
• 3  cups  crisp wheat cereal squares
• 2  cups  pretzel sticks
• 1  cup  dried cherries
• 1  cup  candy-coated chocolate pieces

Preparation

1. Whisk together Ranch dressing mix and 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Stir in oatmeal cereal squares and next 3 ingredients.

2. Microwave mixture at HIGH 2 minutes, and stir well. Microwave at HIGH 2 more minutes, and stir well. Spread mixture in a single layer on wax paper, and let cool 30 minutes. Add cherries and candy pieces. Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Quaker Essentials Oatmeal Squares for crisp oatmeal cereal squares, Crispix for corn-and-rice cereal, and Wheat Chex for wheat cereal squares.