Solar Eclipse Snack Mix

Living in Southern Illinois, we happen to live right in the Line of Totality for the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017. (We are in the Line of Totality, again, for 2024.) With massive amounts of out-of-towners flocking to our area for the event, many offices chose to close today, including mine. So, we made a day of it at home! We grilled burgers while waiting for totality and snacking on my own created snack mix that represented sun and moon characteristics. We then finished off with "Solar Eclipse Cookies" (these shortbread thumbprint cookies made with organic blackberry jam). Follow the underlined links to see where to buy the ingredients I trust!

Ingredients: 8 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 cups Cascadian Farm Organic Berry Vanilla Puffs

5-6 ounces Organic Mini Cheddar Sandwich Crackers

5 ounces Snyder's Hanover Smoked Gouda Wholly Cheese Crackers

1 cup almonds

1 cup pepitas

Directions:

Over low heat in a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in Parmesan cheese and spices until well combined.

On a large ovenproof pan, spread out dry ingredients.

Pour butter mixture over the top of dry ingredients and toss well.

Bake at 200* for 45 minutes -- remove the pan from the oven every 15 minutes and toss the mixture well before returning for the remaining time.

Store in an airtight container.