snacks for after school; crunchy mixes

http://greatist.com/health/21-healthier-trail-mix-ideas
I'll try some of these combos as soon as I go shopping next week.

Here's the very simple one I did today with a few variations...

http://ask.metafilter.com/254421/Best-recipes-for-savory-cereal-Chex-mix

My family recipe is called "Nuts & Bolts:"

Preheat oven to 200F-350F (100C-175C, off the top of my head)

2 cups each of the following:    USED: 3 c Toasted Wheat, 1 c Shredded Wheat
Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, Corn Chex, Plain Cheerios. (In the past I've included shredded wheat*, the little ones, as well as crispix, which is wheat+corn chex, fused into a hexagonal hybrid). Generic cereals are just fine for this application.

2 cups of pretzel sticks, broken in half or thirds. (Roughly-- the goal is to get something that won't jab you in the cheek by surprise because it's too long). I measure first, then break the pretzels.  USED: 1/2 c broken pretzels

1 can of Planter's Mixed nuts with Peanuts (or without, and then add a handful of peanuts)

1 cup or more of Sesame Sticks (originally these came in a can of Planter's snack mix, which was basically Mixed Nuts + sesame sticks...but they're my favorite part).

USED abt 1/2 of the liquid mix below - 3/4 c. butter, garlic powder, smoked paprika
Melt (microwave) a stick of butter (half a cup or about 100-115g) to liquid. Mix with a teaspoon (I heap this one) of garlic powder (don't use garlic salt-- I'm not making that mistake again) and a teaspoon of paprika (sweet is how mom made it, but I prefer smoked), and a pinch or more of cayenne, or else some hot sauce of your choice: I've used Cholula, Tapatio, Tabasco, as well as chipotle powder. Hot stuff is optional. Other stuff that would work here: a few shots of worchestershire (umami!), roasted garlic, finely chopped raw garlic, fresh ground (fine-to-medium) black pepper, but you can add that later to taste.

Mix everything so the butter mixture coats everything (stir while pouring to keep the spices suspended); I usually do this in gallon ziplock bags, whereas mom had the patience to gently stir and turn in her baking (casserole) dish. Either way, combine and get it into a casserole dish. You can do this part in batches, keeping in mind it multiplies your time. 

*If you use shredded wheat, keep it out until the butter's on everything else, then add. The fact is that you're pouring a slightly sludgy butter mixture over a pile of solids, and it starts out unevenly distributed, and shredded wheat soaks up more than its fair share at this stage.

Mom always did this at about 200F for 25-30 minutes, but I prefer closer to 300-350 for half the time. Stir/turn as possible halfway through. If doing this in batches, have a strategy to remove the first batch from your casserole (to a foil-lined sheet-pan, e.g.) to free up the dish for the next batch. Baking it is not a science, but you want to warm the butter until it's mostly absorbed, and then toast everything, basically. 

Let cool before eating-- the oilier nuts hang on to heat for a little while, so let a brazil nut be your thermomet

Mayo with Avacado oil to try

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/248190629446014169/sent/?sender=248190766873051781&invite_code=53e8fcc07b85442089dd40180bb36914

http://www.inspiredtaste.net/
http://www.inspiredtaste.net/25943/homemade-mayonnaise-recipe/

Thanks KGF!

Goal: good foil dinners with at least 8 month shelf life

Every April and October we go through our 72 hour kits and update clothing and switch out the expired food. This helps our kids remember that we're prepared for emergencies, at least.

My new goal in the next 6 months, now that they're old enough to do the switching out themselves, is to see if I can find some foil dinners which don't need refrigeration and use up my food storage that we can pack. That way if we do the idea below, we'll be ready!

Here's one great site for foil camping recipes..... but I'd have to think through how to make any but one (granola smores) last in my 72 hour kit without refrigeration.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/foil-packet-camping-recipes?utm_term=.bxRae5eZL#.kuAzBABoP

Idea from a friend....
Grab your 72 hour kits and live on them for a last minute camping trip with the family.
Then you'll really see if you're prepared. Be sure to grab enough water, a couple of board games, the tents and sleeping bags.

We'll see if we're up to that adventure in about 15 months.

Update: 2020 - still haven't done this grab and go, but I'm feeling good about our prep. Kids are old enough now that we can probably handle things without too much miserable chaos. I've changed out my foods to match what I eat no - no sugar, dairy or wheat. That took some thought but wasn't too bad.