It’s Hard to Top a True Original – Chex® Party Mix Announces America’s Favorite 15-Minute Recipe

Party mix fans have spoken: the preferred pick in the search for America’s Favorite Chex^® Party Mix Recipe is The Original Chex® Party Mix made with Chex cereal. But with easy 15-minute microwave-prep platforms, all five nominees are deemed homemade snack-time winners this holiday season.

Of the five irresistible recipes in the race, the crowd-pleasing savory favorite came out on top, just ahead of the delicious chocolate-peanut butter combination of Chex Muddy Buddies. The remaining contenders – Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix, Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch and Cinnamon-Apple Chex Mix – ran respectable campaigns, but in the end, they could not beat the most experienced candidate.

"It’s been an exciting race filled with lively debate and even a little ‘muddy-buddy’ slinging, but America’s love for the Original homemade snack mix couldn’t be beat,” says Adrianne Daniels, marketing manager, Chex cereal.

Special Election Nominates Top Party Pick

The search for America’s Favorite Chex Party Mix Recipe kicked off earlier this fall with the help of Katie Lee Joel, TV food personality and author of "The Comfort Table,” an entertaining and recipe book. Consumers were able to vote online for their favorite homemade recipe between September 15 and October 15, 2008 and also view demonstrations of each snack being prepared by Joel. The campaign was heavily promoted across the Reader’s Digest Association Food & Entertaining properties Allrecipes.com, Every Day with Rachael Ray and Taste of Home. One lucky voter won a trip for two to New York City to indulge in the ultimate prize package.

"The Original Chex Party Mix was the recipe that I used to make with my grandmother, so it came as no surprise that it was voted as ‘America’s Favorite,’” says Joel. "I like to make it for game-day parties, but will also give it a little extra kick by adding hot sauce to it.”

With the holiday season upon us, it’s easy for home cooks to wow their crowd now that Chex Party Mix offers easy, 15-minute microwave instructions for many of its great-tasting, popular party snacks. Children and adults alike will rave about the flavorful crunch, and the simple microwave directions are ready in a snap – leaving you with time to spare.

All homemade Chex Party Mix recipes can be made ahead of time making it the perfect pick for entertaining, holiday gatherings and homemade gift-giving. "Wrapping Chex Party Mix in a pretty gift bag or Mason jar is easy and affordable, but makes a big impression,” advises Joel.

To view the complete recipes for each candidate and access more than 70 unique recipes, many of which are ready in minutes in the microwave, visit www.ChexPartyMix.com. Several gluten-free recipe options are also available.

A Crisp Campaign Declares Decisive Victor

The campaign for America’s Favorite Chex Party Mix Recipe revealed not an election of red vs. blue states, but savory vs. sweet and chocolaty vs. cheesy. As with any election, interesting voting trends emerged:

• Swing-state sweep? California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas proved to be the battleground states – contributing the most votes overall and representing nearly 32 percent of the pollsters. But, in these top five states a clear winner did not surface. The ultimate winner, The Original Chex Party Mix, carried California while Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix was voted the favorite in Florida and Texas, and Muddy Buddies brought home New York and Pennsylvania.
• Are Midwestern states "friendlier?” Muddy Buddies was given top billing in the majority of the Midwest including Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota.
• Time for a recipe runoff? Cinnamon-Apple and Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix recipes tied for the lead in the District of Columbia with each taking 31.3 percent of the vote.
• Popular vs. Electoral College? There is no debate – The Original Chex Party Mix was the clear winner taking the popular election with the majority of votes, and carrying 27 states.

About Chex

The Original Chex Party Mix has been a tradition since 1955 when the wife of a Ralston Purina executive brought the treat to a holiday gathering. It has been a staple snack ever since. In addition to the five microwavable recipes, there are more than 70 unique Chex Party Mix recipes available on the Chex Web site at www.ChexPartyMix.com. Chex Party Mix can be made with all varieties of Chex cereal including Rice Chex (now gluten-free), Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Multi-Bran Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex and Strawberry Chex.

About General Mills

One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had FY2008 global net sales of US $14.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

About the Reader's Digest Association's Food & Entertaining Affinity

Food & Entertaining @RDA is the first and only media community designed to unify the voices and experiences of everyday cooks and home entertainers. Food & Entertaining @RDA encompasses: Allrecipes.com, the largest social networking company in the food and entertaining category; Every Day with Rachael Ray – one of the fastest growing magazines in history that spawned a new food-lifestyle category; Taste of Home – the largest food magazine in America – and its portfolio of assets including print, online, experiential and marketing.

2008 © and ®/TM of General Mills