In college a group of girlfriends and I started to do a Cookie Exchange at Christmas. Once we graduated and were scattered across the United States we decided to still do a Cookie Exchange. Instead of physically being there we mail each other cookies and then have a Skype party. As I am sure you have seen in commercials and advertisements Chex has been promoting Chex Party Mix-Change. Since money is tight for everyone this year we decided we would skip the cookies and send each other some Chex Mix.  I made Traditional Chex Mix (my way any way) and Lemon Puppy Chow.
What\’s your favorite kind of Chex Mix?

Lemon Puppy Chow
Ingredients
• 9 cups Rice or Corn Chex cereal
• 1 1/4 cups white chocolate or white vanilla baking chips
• 1/4 cup butter
• The zest of two lemons
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions
1. Measure the cereal into a large bowl and set aside.
2. In a pot over low heat melt the butter and white chocolate (or vanilla baking chips). Once it has melted stir in the lemon juice and zest. Pour mixture over cereal, stir until evenly coated.
3. Pour mixture into a 2 gallon ziplock food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar, seal bag and gently shake until coated. Spread on waxed paper and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Chex Mix 
Ingredients
2 cups Rice Chex cereal
2.5 cups Wheat Chex cereal
2.5 cups Honey Nut Chex
1 cup Corn Chex cereal
1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup rye chips
1.5 cups Cheez-Its
6 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 teaspoons garlic powder
1.5 teaspoons seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoons onion powder

Directions
• In a large bowl, mix the cereals, nuts, Cheez-Its and rye chips.
• Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees.
• While oven is pre-heating cut the butter into pieces and place it in an oven safe glass dish. Place in the oven until the butter has fully melted. Remove and stir in seasonings. Add cereal mixture, stir until evenly coated.
• Place in the oven and bake for one hour at 250 degrees. Stirring every 15 minutes.
• When finished remove from oven and pour onto paper towel and enjoy!

Christmas baking has officially kicked off in my home. I started off by making up a batch of holiday cheer cookies which were always a college favorite. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

 Holiday Cheer Cookies
Ingredients
2 sticks butter; at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup toffee pieces
1 cup red and green M&M\’s, smashed into pieces; i used a rolling pin and rolled it over the M&M\’s
2/3 cup pecans; chopped I bought mine from Oh Nuts!
2/3 cup honey wheat pretzels; finely broken up

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. With an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla for three minutes. Add the egg and beat until just combined.
3. In a separate bowl add salt, baking soda and sift in flour. Reduce the speed of the mixer and slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture until combined.
4. Stir in toffee, M&M\’s, pecans and pretzels.
5. Scoop and place on your baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned on the edges. I made bigger cookies so they took 12-14 minutes. If you are making smaller cookies start at 7 minutes and gradually add time as needed. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least five minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.