Chex fix for a Chex mix

Chex Fix – The food rescuer strikes again. A friend had purchased way too much cereal for holiday Chex Mix. She was making regular and gluten free versions. Months later she asked if I wanted the rest of her myriad boxes of product. I’ve got an air fryer, I was in. I grabbed a scoop full to toast in the air fryer dry, as I didn’t have time for the buttery real thing, as in a big batch toasted in the oven. I realized I had spray oil and jar of spice mix handy, and made an improvised mix that was good to the last crunch. Let’s call this another variation of Texas Trash, Nuts and Bolts, Chex Mix, Puppy Chow and Reindeer Mix. Sweet or savory, we can’t wait for some to show up on a party table near us.

Amuny’s Liquor and Deli – Let me take a moment to again talk up one of my favorite flavors of Port Arthur, Texas. An Amuny’s Original poorboy is a simple pleasure of complex flavor and unique to our area. If you get a sandwich tray, you can share this pleasure with dozens of your closest friends. I still run into locals who didn’t know there’s a thriving sandwich shop in this Gulfway Drive store. But most of us simply nod our heads knowingly at the very mention of an Amuny’s poorboy.

 Take a Shelfy – Come over here and look at these photos of rotting vegetables. Then imagine your future fridge with Shelfy, a plug-in that improves your shelf life, reduces waste and food cost and even odors in your fridge. Charge it up, plug it in and rinse off the filter when you need to. Soon Southeast Texas refrigerators will be full of figs picked from grandma’s tree; zucchini from neighbors and watermelon. Savor every serving with this sleek device that simply charges and does the job of scientifically keeping gross stuff from making your food go bad. I’m enjoying the use of one at home because food waste is much more than a pet peeve for me. Is Shelfy a diet aid? Well, the notion of juicy grapes, fragrant garden herbs and crunchy apples is making me shop down the green aisles. See some videos and you’ll want one, too. www.vitesy.com has other unique products and they all look like they’ll make your life more simple. 

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie trying to snack sensibly. Share with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Don't 'trash' the rice cereal

 

Don’t you love a good bowl of spicy Chex mix, or Texas Trash around the holidays? I tend to make a batch of that and enjoy it as a “meal” sometime the last week of the year. It’s about the only time I have reason to reach in the pantry for Worcestershire sauce. So I saw a stack of cereal boxes with those familiar squares and bought just one box to make a small batch. I wish they’d had wheat but I got corn. About a week later, I realized it was a box of crisp rice cereal instead of the square shapes. Total frustration for a short while. Then I remembered the wonderful spicy concoction my sister’s relatives from India make. I searched how to create chevdo from the crispy rice and I’m completely satisfied. This one basically calls for toasting cereal and nuts in an oil with spices. I used olive oil, curry powder, toasted fennel seeds, garam masala and coriander. There are several variations and I simply used what I had with great success. Many fans in India have this with their tea. I gifted some to a man who asked if it would be good over yogurt and I think that’s a great idea. This is good stuff. But if some “traditional” Chex mix comes into my life, I’ll be good with that, too.

 Kelp is on the Way! - I'm seriously fighting my husband for a little bag of kelp. Crunchy chipotle Kelpie Chips are our favorites, but does he know about the salt & pepper variety I stashed away? Zesty pizza could give us a run for our folate, magnesium, iron and vitamins A and K1 money. Snacks from the Sea Kelpie Chips are the gateway snack from under the sea to your snack bowl. Go for the crunch and stay for the flavor, carotenoids and sustainability. www.snacksfromthesea.com

 Season of Understanding – Surprise! It seems much of the world prays, fasts, looks to the light and celebrates through different belief systems. A children’s book, “ABCs of the World’s Religions” starts with Altars, Buddha and Christmas for A, B and C and covers much in a digestible format. The Rev. Vicky Michela Garlock, Ph.D, and illustrator Raman Bhardwaj made this a fun, educational journey. It has won awards and, I’m sure, opened hearts.

Quotes to Get You Thinking – There’s a story in Arwinder Kaur’s book, “Living While Human.” The message and intent can easily be found on several pages of lists at the back of the book. Follow some of these for a kinder 2025:

 ·       Read more.

·       Do things like plant trees and edible gardens, for yourself and for your neighbors.

·       Larn how other kids and people live in different parts of the world. Make a connection.

·       Stop, wait, reflect; just be. Do not rush.

 

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie celebrating all the things of all the holidays. darraghcastillo@icloud.com