Christmas Trail Mix

Christmas is filled with last minute holiday parties and more gatherings then you even though you had time for. I think it is only proper this holiday season to bring a homemade filled with love gift to every house I visit. The problem with this is the I am about as Martha Stewart as Marilyn Manson. I just don't have that happy home maker in me.

So what do I do for holiday gift giving. I make things simple by preparing the worlds biggest batch of Christmas trail Mix. It is a hit at every party I go to, not that expensive, and uses the worlds most under utilized treat, the date. I love dates! I think they are so great in salads and in this trail mix.

The best part of this Christmas Trail Mix, aside from how easy it is, is that it loves to be an anything goes type of treat. If you are missing one ingredient, just add a little more of another one.

I like to make this in big batches and divide them up into little decorated holiday tins. I bring a tin to every house I go to over the holiday season! You don't even need to go out and buy tins, just use an old coffee can, Raisin container, or old cookie tin and make it fresh with some new holiday paper wrapped around it and a bright ribbon taped on top.

Your Christmas Mix Shopping List:

Orange Flavored Craisins (I like the zest the orange flavor adds)

Almonds (just grab a big old bag and go)

Sunmaid Chopped Dates (Yum!)

Yogurt Covered Raisins (get the extra large container if you are a snacker)

Peanuts (this is a pretty cheap filler so stock up if you are cutting costs)

Yellow Raisins (One can should be plenty and generic is okay)

Anything else you might want to throw in (Walnuts anyone?).

That is it. You just take the ingredients listed above, throw them in a big bowl, and shake it baby shake it! I like to divide it up into tins and you are good to go.

The trail mix keeps for at least a week (Two maybe three sometimes). I like to make one huge batch every two weeks starting at thanksgiving and extending throughout the new year. this way I always have a tin to grab on my way out the door and my Christmas Trail Mix is pretty much the only reason I think I get invited to so many parties during the holidays.