A Chex Party Mix-change for the Holidays, plus giveaway! ($20 debit card + more) #MyBlogSpark

I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a wall flower.  I typically shy away from parties (particularly hosting one), mainly because I don't feel I am a good hostess.  Call it lack of perceived culinary skills, but I don't want to disappoint friends with my food.  That honor is solely reserved for family!  Plus, I have some odd food allergies and that can make entertaining a bit hard at times too.  However, I did accept a party assignment for Chex, via MyBlogSpark.  They have many cereals that are gluten free, thus allowing me the ability to make a gluten free snack that I can enjoy with everyone else too.  As it happened, I had the chance to host a party at my sister's house.  We gathered there after my mom's memorial service, and I know my mom would want us to get in the holiday spirit because she always loved Christmas best of all the holidays.  I secured the OK for providing snacks and made these goodies with a little help from my twin sister and some photo assistance from my 10 year old daughter.


I received two boxes of Chex, plus a $20 debit card to help buy some of the ingredients that I would need.  I sent hubby on this errand, and, well, he did forget the M&Ms, but I still think the two mixes I made turned out great.  My twin sister texted me on her way back to Maryland that they were enjoying the caramel Chex in their car on the long ride back.

These pictures above show me melting caramel.  I was able to do it in the microwave, a huge plus when you're using someone else's kitchen.  My hubby couldn't find actual caramel squares, but he did find some round caramel pieces, and they worked perfectly for the Caramel and Chocolate drizzles recipe I used.  I did have some issues with the chocolate chips not melting perfectly for drizzling, so I had a chocolate paste at the end.  That was disappointing, but I did manage to smear it on some Chex and it still tasted good.

These are pictures of the chocolate and peanut butter Chex mix that I made called Chex PB and Chocolate Blast.  This was the recipe that asked for M&Ms, and I do wish we'd have had them to toss into the mix.  The choco/peanut butter Chex Mix included some salted peanuts too and was the mix my hubby liked best, but he's a peanut butter lover to the extreme.

Find these holiday recipes I used and more at the Chex Party Mix-Change Website. I think I'll try the Chex Pumpkin Pie Mix next.  If you're involved with a holiday cookie exchange, there are lots of Chex Mix recipes to use or to adapt for some cookies of your own.  Even better, get your friends together and invite everyone to make a different recipe to exchange instead of exchanging cookies. 

One lucky Making Ends Meet reader will win a Chex prize pack, which includes the items pictured above, plus a $20 debit card to purchase ingredients.  Included are a box of Rice Chex, box of Corn Chex, a $20 debit card, recipe cards, and Chex Party Mix containers to send home with your guests so that they can enjoy the Chex Mix you prepare at home too.

This giveaway runs through 12/19/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern time with the winner drawn via Random.org on or about 12/20/2011.  Winner shall have 48 hours to provide information.  If winner does fails to respond within that time frame, a different winner shall be chosen.  Please leave your email in your mandatory comment or ensure that your email is publicly viewable in your profile as I need a way to reach you if you should win.  Mandatory entry required before extra entries come into play.  **Please note:  I cannot, nor can the sponsor, guarantee delivery by Christmas if you should win.  Please bear that in mind! **

Mandatory entry:  Leave a comment letting me know the answer to either one of these:  1) How you plan to put a fresh spin on the traditional cookie swap at their Chex Party Mix-Change or 2) Which Chex Party Recipe you would try first.  As a reminder, you can check out all of the recipes at the Chex Party Mix-Change website.

Extra entries:   Each action is an entry, so be sure to leave a comment for each separate item below.  Remember, if you've already friended/followed, just let me know in a comment.   Pinching Abe appreciates all her followers whether new or old!  Also, it's not required that you leave a note on a sponsor's Facebook wall.  Just let me know you've completed the action.

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook

• Follow me on Twitter

• Tweet out a link to your favorite Chex Party Mix-Change recipe with these hashtags: #ChexPartyMixChange #MyBlogSpark and leave me a link to your tweet in the comment.  Have more than one fave?  You can do this entry option up to three times.  Not on Twitter?  You can share your faves on your Facebook page too - it counts!

• Follow Blog POP! on Facebook

• Subscribe via email (right side bar)

• Tweet this giveaway out and/or share it with your friends on Facebook.  Sharing tools are below.  You can share one time per day for each platform (once daily for Facebook, once daily for Twitter); just be sure to leave a separate comment for each day you share.

• Be/become my Google Friend  (right side bar)

• One last easy entry:  Leave me a comment letting me how you would package up Chex Mix for party guests.  Do you love the "take out" containers (as seen in the picture above) or do you have your own special way of packaging up cookies and Chex Mix gifts?  A tin? Holiday themed baggies? Something else? Let me know in a comment.

Good luck to all!

Disclosure:  The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark.