Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies?

Now stay with me, but I want to talk about puppy chow.

I thought only midwest kids from the 80's and 90's grew up with this sweet treat, but I came to realize that it is not actually a regional treat at all. AND, to make matters worse it is not even called puppy chow by some. The box of Rice Chex I bought to make a batch of puppy chow had a recipe for "Muddy Buddies" printed right there on the back which shattered my perception of puppy chow. But, it can't take away my fondness for this ridiculously simple confection. 

In all honesty, I hadn't thought about puppy chow for nearly 2 decades (the last time I remember eating it was on one of many road trips with Tricia, my hometown homegirl and lifelong soul sister). But randomly my subconscious inserted puppy chow into my thoughts as I was dreaming up a list of things that could be perfectly scooped with one of my handmade porcelain scoops. In short order, I became relatively obsessed with making a big bowl of the the stuff. Hence, buying a box Rice Chex and discovering "Muddy Buddies". UG. 

SO... if you grew up under a rock and didn't know about this addictive scoopable snack called puppy chow, or you haven't looked at the back of a Chex cereal box lately, I am here to share the puppy chow love!

Just a side note that my recipe varies a bit from the Chex box Muddy Buddies version in proportions. 

Please comment below if you have a favorite puppy chow memory, or have any questions about the recipe.

Puppy Chow

2 cups of dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (I prefer dark)

1.5 cups peanut butter (I like chunky but smooth works very well and is more traditionally used)

8-9 cups, Rice Chex or similar cereal

1.5 cups-2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate and peanut butter together. Use a double boiler if you have one, or place a heat resistant bowl over a saucepan with an inch of water in the bottom of the pan. With water lightly simmering, stir the chocolate peanut butter mixture in the mixing bowl over the steam heat until the chocolate is melted and the peanut butter is combined with the chocolate. 

 2. Place cereal in a large mixing bowl with a tight fitting lid OR in a large *clean* paper bag. Please note that the bag or bowl you choose needs to be large enough to combine the chocolate mixture with the cereal. 

3. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal.  Then with the lid tightly closed or the top of the bag folded over a few times, shake until the cereal is coated with the chocolate peanut butter mixture. 

4. Add the powdered sugar and shake until the mixture is well coated.

5. Cool, then try not to eat it all in one sitting. Good luck.

The scoops, like the one pictured above, are made on a very limited basis. They are only available twice a year. The shop is stocked up with 13 scoops - to check them out click HERE.