Friday, December 4, 2015

Merry Mix!

Have you been baking for Christmas? 
Do you make Christmas cookies a tradition in your family for home and gifts?

 I love to bake for Christmas and I try and make an assortment of cookies
 and 
candies for a variety on the cookie tray. 

However, each year, finding enough time for all this fun, is limited. 
I will get it all done in good time,
 but I found a little short cut for a gift idea years ago
and 
I thought I would share it with you today.

I am calling my quick, easy and tasty snack mix, "Merry Mix" 
often known as Monster Mix in grocery stores and very expensive,
 plus,
 loaded with additives to preserve it's shelf life.

So to start with, you will need,
 a box of raisins, 
jar of unsalted peanuts,
 almonds,
 an average size bag of butterscotch morsels,
 milk chocolate chips
 and 
red and green M&M's.
 You can adjust this depending on what you like. 
Enjoy cashews, add them in. 
But remember to try and keep the ingredients compatible and those that go together. 
I might also say, this can also be made in  the springtime by using pastel M&M's.


In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients and stir to blend.

Next you can fill jars for gift giving or cookie tins. I used glass jars which show the red and green Christmas colors. I found these at the craft shoppes this year for 50% off making these nice jars perfect for this project.

Now as the jars are filled, 
you can add gift tags and bows around the lids or even an ornament.

Tags made from vintage graphics add a nice touch.

Add some pretty ribbon and a tag.


Finished and ready to give to family and friends.
I have to say, this mix is so yummy and looks festive in a candy dish.
 I hope you will try it or make your own combination of this idea for Merry Mix.
 It's fast, quick, easy and perfect to make when you are busy,
 but still need a little homemade treat to give.

 It won't last long either!
It's very addictive!

Have a wonderful December day 
and 
great weekend!!

Enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest. 
I'll be back again soon to share my holiday decor.

And,
Monday the 7th begins the
Christmas in Texas Home Tour Blog Hop!
through the 11th.
Texas Bloggers have been busy
and you can visit all those links at


Merry Christmas!
Celestina Marie

And 
I'm having a Christmas Giveaway
Visit HERE to enter 
a chance to win either a 
traditional tree in reds
or
a shabby tree in pink and white.




41 comments:

Stacey said...

What a great idea! I made this a couple of years ago for Bunko but haven't done it as a gift. I'm going to remember this one. :)

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Hello Celestina,
I love your Christmas trail mix idea to give out for gifts!! This would be a perfect idea for the neighbors.
I am happy to inform you that I am featuring your Christmas tea cups for our Monday Cooking and Crafting with J & J. Hope you have a nice weekend.
Julie xo

The Bear's Blog said...

Good Morning,

Thank you for the wonderful snack recipe, what a great hostess gift that would make.

Happy Friday.

Valerie-Jael said...

This sounds so yummy and really my cup of tea - and soooooo tempting! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs, Valerie

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your Merry Mix looks great and I'm sure people will feel merry when they receive this.

Happy Christmas holidays ~ FlowerLady

Homemaker'sThoughts.blogspot.com said...

I've always loved gifts of food like this and I've totally forgotten about this mix. Thank you for the reminder. Your presentation is gorgeous.
Merry Christmas!

La Petite Gallery said...

Thanks for these great idea's I can make one for the Post Office.
I also make candy and cookies. Getting tired so easy as of late.
Pushing 80 so I guess I am hanging in there. I can't believe that Muslin
guy in Calif. was an American and Killed all those people. Such sad news
at Christmas. I feel so bad for the families. God Bless. yvonne

craftyles said...

Yummy goodness in a jar. I love how easy this is and how pretty it looks in the jars. I'll have to try this one for sure. I even have some of the stuff already. Have a great weekend in the sunshine!

Anna said...

A great idea for a gift. December 6 is St Nicholas' day and we usually offer candies and sweets !!!!
Have a lovely weekend !
Anna

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Looks like fun my friend.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

I love every ingredient in that mix...what a great gift to have!!!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Mmmm this looks like a jar of yumminess! What a perfect gift for friends and family, and say, too!
See you soon! xo

Cynthia said...

Hi Celeste, playing major catch up. I love this idea and thanks for sharing. I agree the ones in the stores are filled with preservatives a big turn off

Cindy

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a wonderful gift idea!

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a great idea! I love your Merry Mix! Hope you're doing well.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

I'm so glad you shared this Celestina. I need a quick and easy idea for Christmas gifts! Let's see, I always make peanut brittle. I only make it at Christmas and if I say so myself, it's good! The kids like to make the round pretzels with white chocolate in the middle with holiday M+M's. They are addicting. We always have Krispy Kreme doughnuts Christmas morning which isn't baking for me but still very important to my people :)
Hope you have a great weekend!

Donna said...

What a fun idea, Celestina! That mix looks so yummy and addictive, too:)
I love gifts in jars, and used to give cookie mixes that I made in mason jars.

Roosterhead Designs said...

YUMMO!! I've not see this one! Thanks for the great tips miss Celestia! : )
I have caught on to the canning jar/gift jar idea though~ I love how easy that is; and can be so easily decorated for any holiday. Thanks for sharing!! Have a blessed week-end ~Karen O

Lisa said...

This makes a really adorable gift! And we know it's yummy!

Jan Hermann said...

I love your idea Celeste! It sounds delicious and looks lovely!

I do bake for Christmas...however, this year, baking for me will be limited. But baking for others will be a GO! I'm making a Gingerbread Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting for several people...and it's yummy! For a few others, I'm baking my Chocolate Marshmallow Topped with Sprinkles cookies, as well as some delicious Rice Krispies thin [and baked] cookies that are so buttery and good. I'll be sharing my recipes on my blog soon. Watch for them.

Hugs,
Jan ♥

BTW...I'm totally pain free! I had a massage this morning and all the kinks and sciatica have been taken care of. I can once again move pain free and walk heel to toe!! PTL!!

Karen@Southern Gal Meets Midwest said...

These would make fabulous gifts for friends and associates that are difficult to buy for. I will definitely keep this in mind!

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Celeste,
OMGosh thank you my friend, your healthy mix will be made up and included in my Grands presents. I will have to think of clever containers to house the yummy mix in so its a hidden surprise. Yes to baking cookies but this year I'm only baking 3 types. Pistachio Biscotti, chocolate chip and butter/sugar star cookies with sugar crystals that look like ice for my Grands. The star cookies hold special meaning in memory of my son and they will be gifted to my Grands. The lead up to Christmas always seems long but funny how time slips away during the final three weeks.

Every year we make our Christmas cards and tags (still never gave up our love of creating greeting cards from owning our card company).
I need to concentrate on designing, staging and photographing my two theatre holiday presentations for my blog and suddenly I'm feeling the time crunch just as you expressed.

Celeste my heart was filled reading your comment on Believe and I appreciate your friendship. As we countdown to the big day I send you love and wishes of merry and bright days.
xoxo,
Vera

Junkchiccottage said...

Hi Celeste,
I have made this before and it is so yummy. What a cute idea to use this for gifts. Love the little jars and the tags.
Happy Friday and have a wonderful week end.
Kris

Alessandra said...

This is a great idea for a gift! The jars and the tags are very adorable.
Hugs
Alessandra

Brenda Pruitt said...

I used to bake and bake at the holidays. But now that it's just me, I don't do much. I did, however, bake dark chocolate brownies today. (Dark chocolate is supposed to be good for your blood pressure.) Good enough for me!
Brenda

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Oh that looks really good; think I'll put it on my make list and then tote it around to folks who've helped me during the year. Thanks, Celeste.

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Those do make nice gifts! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
warmly,
deb

Unknown said...

Celestina Marie, HMM Good! Looks delicious and tastes so good!
LJ

Debbie said...

What a wonderful gift idea, Celestina! Pretty, and edible.
I think I will give this one a try. Thank you for sharing this.
Have a fun weekend!
Debbie
xo

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Oh my this looks and sounds so good! I haven't done any baking yet. I'm slow this year!

Joy Junktion said...

Oh My, that looks so yummy! I think I may stop at the grocery (Sprouts) after work tomorrow and make a few batches to have under the tree! Definitely a keeper recipe! Blessings for a wonderful weekend! Cindy xoxo

Patty Sumner said...

The snack mix looks so yummy! I used to do lots of holiday baking but not so much anymore..we do make lots of unhealthy candy goods...lol Thanks for sharing your recipe.. Blessings!

Stephanie said...

Mmmm... looks delicious, my friend. These are definitely a perfect gift for friends and family.

Happy weekend to you, sweet Celeste!

Blondie's Journal said...

This is such a great and incredibly time saving idea. I think your pretty jars make the whole mix so special. I, too, do trays and bags of goodies for friends and family and I'm adding this to my goodies! Thanks, Celeste! :)

Jane x

cynthia lee designs said...

I think I will make this for my parents and in-laws, plus for my kids and grandkids. Thanks for sharing it.
hugs,
Cindy

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Oh, I love this idea, Celestina - so pretty in the glass jars and quick and easy, too! The pretty French enamel pitcher I found at your Etsy shop looks so pretty in my kitchen. I featured it on my blog (post before last). Hope you have a lovely weekend, my dear! Hugs xo Karen

Anonymous said...

I love a mix like this - it is addictive. I made something similar for a neighbor for Thanksgiving and added Bugles.

Conniecrafter said...

Such a great idea and there are such pretty containers out there to put it all in too, thanks for the tip, I just may need to use that this year :)

Kerri said...

Oooh I'm lovin' this gift idea! I haven't even started decorating my home yet, but I will on Monday because I've had the last dog shows of the year and tomorrow is my last one for 2015... so looking forward to a break! I need to paint more items :)

Have a fabulous week!
xoxo
Kerri

Debbie Harris said...

Celestina, who doesn't love a good trail mix, and yours sounds delicious. You are so right though, one can add whatever works for them.
I must keep this in mind for gifts. I would like to share a gift with a new elderly lady I just met but she has to watch her sugar, so something like this will be good, that is if I add good things. :-)
Thank you for sharing your idea with us.

Enjoy the rest of your week end.
Debbie

Gypsy Heart said...

Thanks so much for sharing this! Yes, it's a perfect gift and also for a little treat to have on hand. Love the ingredients and the colorful look. Will definitely try this!

xo
Pat

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Celestina Marie
Celestina Marie

Welcome To Rose Garden Market from Celestina Marie Design. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Celestina Marie named after my grandmother and my friends call me Celeste.My creative journey extends over 30 years enjoying the love of painting and redesigning vintage and new treasures. I love to go treasure hunting and the fun of finding great vintage pieces to redesign..