Time to Celebrate Caramel Crispix Mix

It is hard to believe that Mr. K has been back to school for eight days!  So far he has been loving Kindergarten.  Highlights of Kindergarten are that he gets to ride the bus to and from school each day, eating hot lunch at school, keeping a pair of gym shoes in his locker and learning how to read.  Today after school I asked him what his favorite part of the day was and he said it was getting homework...  While I'm sure that will change as he gets older, I just love how much he loves learning.

Mr. K waiting for the bus on the first day of school

The first day of school is always a fun time to celebrate.  We started the day with pancakes and after school I had Caramel Crispix Mix ready to go for a snack.  This Caramel Crispix Mix is a signature recipe of some of my family friends, the Lund's.  I have many memories of this snack associated with school - from snacking on it on the bus after a sporting game, to munching on it all day in the gym during speech contests.  The Lund girls always seemed to have a large batch to share and this Caramel Crispix Mix was a nice perk of being one of their friends. ;)

So I thought, what a perfect after school snack to make to celebrate being back at school, especially since the kids were going to neighbor's house that night.  This snack mix isn't just great for a school snack, but is also great for tailgating and the holidays.  You can make the mix festive and coordinating to whatever you are celebrating. :)

Caramel Crispix Mix 

(shared with permission from the Lund family, with slight adaptions)

1 - 12oz box Crispix
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) Butter
1/4 cup Corn Syrup
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
Your choice of Mix-Ins:  M&Ms, Peanuts, Candy Corn, etc.

Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in pot and heat until boiling.  Let boil for 30 seconds.
Add baking soda and stir until foamy.
Pour mixture over cereal in microwave safe dish.  Mix to coat squares.
Microwave on High for 1 minute.  Stir to evenly coat.  Repeat 3 times.
Spread on waxed paper to cool.
Get creative and toss with your choice of mix-in.
Enjoy!  And fair warning, this is highly addictive...

What are some of your favorite school memories?  Do you have any foods that you automatically associate with school?  How about your favorite school lunch?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!