Recipe: No Bake Ranch Snack Mix

This past week I have made this snack mix not once, but twice.  That's how good it is! And the best part is that it takes just a few minutes to make, so it is dangerously delicious and easy to make!  I found the recipe on Pinterest like almost all of the other recipes I make.  It comes from a blog called Averie Cooks.  I have modified the instructions with some tips from my experience making this, so feel free to head over to the blog to see the original instructions and beautiful photos.

No Bake Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup canola, vegetable, or olive oil 
  
• One 1-ounce packet ranch dip seasoning mix powder
  
• About 4 cups popcorn, popped
  
• About 3 1/2 cups pretzels (I used regular twist pretzels, not waffle as shown above)
  
• 1/2 to 1 cup peanuts, almonds, cashews, or favorite nuts or mixed nuts, optional 
  
• 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated 

Directions:

In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the oil, ranch mix, and stir to combine. Add the popcorn, pretzels, nuts, and anything else you'd like to throw in there. 

Toss to evenly coat the mixture; it may seem a bit on the oily side, this is okay and it absorbs. Heat on high power for 2 minutes, stopping after 1 minute to toss the mixture because the oil has a tendency to pool at the bottom of the bowl. Add the Parmesan and toss to coat evenly. Serve mix immediately. Mix will keep for up to three days in an airtight container or large ziptop plastic bag; but is best enjoyed same day, noting that cheese has been added and some may wish to refrigerate the mix if storing it longer term. 

Optional Instructions: When you're almost done eating the snack mix you may find that there is a bunch of oil coating the bottom of the bowl.  Instead of throwing it out, I decided to make my mixture last even longer by adding more popcorn and pretzels to the bowl and re-heating it.  This worked well for me because my air-popped popcorn machine makes more than 4 cups in one batch, so I already had extra popcorn on hand.  After heating again I tossed on more parmesan cheese and it was like I had a fresh new batch.  By doing this my mix lasted me a couple of days, so I stored it in the fridge due to the parmesan cheese.  

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I am going to continue posting my favorite recipes every Thursday, so please let me know if you have any recipe requests as far as dessert, side dish, entree, etc. goes.