Foodie Friday: Puppy Chow

With Thanksgiving weekend, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, our little heads will be spinning with sales, packing orders, and doing our very best to get your orders to you in the timeliest manner. I love this time of year because my little ADD-riddled brain is firing on all cylinders. The Bibbed Wonder, The Bean, JW, and Erica, who hasn't been around long enough to earn a nickname yet, and I will be working at full capacity. Yes, we will eat Thanksgiving leftovers, but we will also crave an easy snack when we sit down for the night and probably watch a Christmas movie. It's what we like to do after a busy day. 

A classic and easy snack while watching It's a Wonderful Life is Puppy Chow—a simple, sweet snack mix made from Chex cereal, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. I've been eating this since my teen years, that's forty years! Ugh, I'm old! My bean enjoys it, The Bibbed Wonder enjoys it, and it's very easy to make. This simple snack is only made during the holidays, and it feels like a Christmas movie. Pair it with hot cocoa, and you have a warm, cozy, holiday snack with minimal effort.

Puppy Chow (I always just Google the recipe)

9 cups Rice Chex, Corn Chex, or a combination of both cereals

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup creamy peanut butter (avoid "natural" peanut butter that separates, if possible)

¼ cup salted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, but recommended for flavor),

 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar), plus more as needed 

1. Prepare the Cereal: Pour the Chex cereal into a huge mixing bowl and set it aside.
2. Melt the Chocolate Mixture: In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir the mixture. Continue microwaving in 15-30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is completely smooth and melted.
3. Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract until combined.
4. Coat the Cereal: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir and fold the cereal until every piece is evenly coated. Be careful not to crush the cereal.
5. Add Powdered Sugar: Pour the coated cereal into a large (2-gallon) resealable plastic bag or a clean paper grocery bag. Add the powdered sugar.
6. Shake to Coat: Seal the bag tightly (leaving some air inside helps with shaking) and shake vigorously until all of the cereal is well-coated with the powdered sugar.
7. Cool and Set: Spread the finished puppy chow onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper to cool completely and allow the chocolate to set, about 10-20 minutes. 

• Clumps are Good: For more clumps, let the chocolate-coated cereal sit for about 5-10 minutes before adding the powdered sugar. This makes the mixture slightly stickier.
• Add-ins: Once the puppy chow is completely cooled, mix in extra goodies like M&M's, mini marshmallows, mini peanut butter cups, or pretzels for a sweet and salty twist.

This simple, classic snack lasts forever. We enjoy it on multiple evenings, or I gift some to friends and neighbors. It's pure nostalgia and oh, so good. I hope you remember it and enjoy it as much as we do. On this seasonal November day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy simple, delicious, nostalgic treats, and keep washing your hands.