Recipe: Grandma Ruth’s Chex Mix from Winter’s Hill Estate
Check Mix, also known as Nuts and Bolts or Gizzies, is a longtime staple in the Gladhart family home. This version comes from Grandma Ruth Gladhart’s handwritten recipe, which their family has updated over the years to include more Tabasco, less celery salt, extra cashews, no wheat Chex, no oil, but extra butter. Recipes like this have no right or wrong answer; just keep adjusting until it’s perfect for your own taste!
Recipe + wine pairings courtesy of Winter’s Hill Estate.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 box Cheerios
- 1 box Wheat Chex
- 1 box Rice Chex
- 3 pkg thin pretzel sticks
- 1/4 pound melted butter
- 2 c. veg. oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp tobasco sauce
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp A-1 sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp powdered garlic (not garlic salt)
- 1 tbsp celery salt
- 3 pounds mixed salted nuts
INSTRUCTIONS
- Empty the first 4 into a large pot. (Grandma Ruth recommended a canning kettle.)
- Melt butter, add vegetable oil. Add seasonings to oil & butter. Pour it over cereal until all is coated.
- Put into rectangular baking pans to hold ingredients, but not too packed.
- Bake for 2 hours at 250°, stirring occasionally & shifting the pans on the racks.
- Pour into a large pot again & mix in the nuts, then re-spread in pans and bake
1 hour more. - Cool! Store in tight containers.
WINE PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS
Russell Gladhart, Grandma Ruth’s grandson and owner of Winter’s Hill Estate, along with winemaker Chris Lubberstedt, share their wine pairing recommendations for this homemade Chex Mix.
- Winter’s Hill Estate 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé: This recently released vintage is a dry, fruit-forward, bright rosé from 100% estate Pinot Noir.
- North Valley 2023 Pinot Noir from Thoma Vineyard: Super juicy and dense fruit, with plenty of acidity and tannin structure to hold up to salty snacks.
- Torii Mor Syrah Port: Finish your Chex Mix with this rich, luxurious vintage, which offers notes of dried fruits and a touch of nuttiness to balance the sweetness.
