Valentine's Puppy Chow

This week we will all celebrate that most romantic of holidays...Valentine's Day!  Actually, come to think of it my husband and I have been married for over a decade so we usually don't do a whole lot for Valentine's Day...actually we do nothing...we are boring and old I guess.  The only one that really celebrates Valentine's Day on any level in our house is my daughter - who is 8.  Anyone out there who has a school aged child knows that it where the true Valentine's pressure lies...in the hearts and stomachs of 5-10 year olds!  Of course this week the kiddo came home with her traditional Valentine's note containing details about the party and the all important list of students for whom we are now obligated to provide a suitable character card.  Goodness knows the world will end if she can't find a box of puppy cards for the girls and Minecraft for the boys (I feel I should specify my kid has not played Minecraft...doesn't even know anything about it but it is cool so we must buy).

Every year I swear I will be good - I will buy the cool stuff right away before it is gone and every year we are swinging by Walmart on Monday night the week of Valentine's Day after Girl Scouts because if we don't - I will forget and the world will END!  No worries this year though!  It doesn't even matter if we end up with a box of last year's reject cards because I made this stuff!  What's not to love?! Chex cereal? Check. (See what I did there?)  Chocolate chips melted with peanut butter drizzled over said cereal?  Double check!  Top that off will powdered sugar?!  Super sugary check! And THEN I added M&M's...yup, I know, I rock!   There you go folks - screwed up the "must have" Valentine's again?  No worries!  Send this to school and all is forgiven - after all who really needs the 15 step home made from all natural doilies card that Beth's mom saw on pinterest when you have puppy chow with Valentine's M&M's?!

Measure out 9 cups of Chex cereal.

Put the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave 1 minute and then stir until everything is all melted together.

Add in the vanilla and stir up, then pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal.

Stir until all the cereal is well coated.

Place into a ziploc bag large enough to hold everything comfortably.

Add in the powdered sugar.  

Seal the bag and shake until everything is evenly coated with sugar.

Toss in some seasonal M&M"s and give it another good shake!

Enjoy!  Yum!

Valentine's Puppy Chow

Original recipe found here

9 cups Chex cereal

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 cups seasonal M&M's

1-2 gallon ziploc bags.

Measure out the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.  Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute.  Remove and stir until completely melted.  Stir in the vanilla and then pour over the cereal.  Stir gently but thoroughly until all the cereal is evenly coated with chocolate.  Pour the cereal into a ziploc bag - either use a 2 gallon one or two one gallon ones as you need to leave enough room to be able to shake up the mixture with the sugar.  Add in the powdered sugar and shake until everything is evenly coated.  Pour in the M&M's and give the mixture another quick shake to mix them in.  Eat right away or store in the refrigerator until you are ready for them.