Ingredients:

Look for wasabi-flavored dried peas (used in the Wasabi Party Mix variation) in the produce section or ethnic food aisle of your supermarket.

Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 45 minutes

Oven: 300F Makes: 16 to 18 cups

5 cups pretzel sticks

4 cups round toasted oat cereal

4 cups bite-size wheat or bran square cereal

4 cups bite-size rice or corn square cereal, or bite-size shredded wheat bisquits

3 cups mixed nuts

1 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Several drops bottled hot pepper sauce

Directions:

1. In a roasting pan, combine pretzels, oat cereal, wheat cereal, rice cereal and nuts. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, heat and stir butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce until butter melts. Drizzle butter mixture over cereal mixture; stir gently to coat.
3. Bake in a 300F oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on a large piece of foil to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Cajun-Style Party Mix: Prepare as above, except substitute 3 cups pecan halves for the mixed nutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the butter mixture.

Five-Spice Party Mix: Prepare as above, except substitute 2 cups honey-roasted cashews and 1 cup unsalted, unblanched almonds for the 3 cups mixed nuts, and omit Worcestshire sauce, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce. Add 3 tablespoons five-spice powder to the melted butter.

Wasabi Party Mix: Prepare as above, except substitute 3 cups wasabi-favored deydrated peas for the 3 cups mixed nuts; omit hot pepper sauce.

Yield:

Per 1/2 cup: 152 cal., 7g total fat (3g sat. fat); 16mg chol., 314mg sodium, 19g carbo., 1g fiber, 2g pro. Daily values: 7% vit. A, 4% vit. C, 4% calcium, 24% iron Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 1/2 fat