Muddy Buddies aka "Puppy Chow"

Somehow both the box of Chocolate Chex and Rice Chex were open at the same time!  There is only a few people in my house that like Chex cereal in a bowl of milk.  So instead of throwing it out to the birds or just dumping it in the trash, I figured that I would use it up before it went stale and make a sweet treat with the cereal.

I love making Muddy Buddies because it is quick and easy and you can fill your sweet tooth with chocolate!

I poured the Chocolate Chex and Rice Chex cereal into a big mixing bowl and gathered the rest of my ingredients.



I melted 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1/4 cup margarine, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter in a pan. Once melted I removed it from the heat and stirred in 1 tsp. vanilla.  Then I poured the melted mixture on top of my cereal.
Once the cereal was coated with the chocolate/peanut butter mixture, I poured the covered cereal into a ziploc bag that had 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar.



I shook the bag to coat the cereal with the powdered sugar. Once it was fully coated, I added in another 1/2 cup powdered sugar to finish coating it.

Now it is ready to eat!  All total it took me about 10 minutes from start to finish!

With the holidays coming, I am going to be adding this to my list of "go to" appetizers/munchies to have on hand for when guests are visiting!  I love that this recipe is kid friendly as well!  Most of my kids will eat it and most of them know how to fix it without a lot of help from me!

Here is the full recipe:

8-9 cups Chex cereal
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar

Pour cereal into a big mixing bowl. In a separate bowl or pan, melt peanut butter, margarine, and chocolate chips together. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Pour melted mixture on to the cereal, stir carefully until all the cereal is evenly coated.  Put powdered sugar into a gallon ziploc bag(or even a paper grocery bag), pour coated cereal into the bag, close bag and shake until cereal is coated with powdered sugar. Add in more powdered sugar if needed, and shake the bag again. Open bag and enjoy!

This post is linked to:

• Food On Fridays at Ann Kroeker’s!
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge!
• Friday Feasts at Mom Trends!
• Foodie Friday at Designs By Gollum!

Veterans Day 2009

**Even though the video is a couple years old, it is still fitting for today!

Veterans Day

by Cheryl Dyson

On Veterans Day we honor all,

Who answered to a service call.

Soldiers young, and soldiers old,

Fought for freedom, brave and bold.

Some have lived, while others died,

And all of them deserve our pride.

We’re proud of all the soldiers who,

Kept thinking of red, white and blue.

They fought for us and all our rights,

They fought through many days and nights.

And though we may not know each name,

We thank ALL veterans just the same.

To my hubby, a Persian Gulf Veteran(and currently a Navy reservist)
To my uncle, a Korean War Veteran
To my cousin, a Vietnam War Veteran
To my grandfather, a World War II Veteran
To hubby's grandfather, a World War II Veteran
To hubby's uncle, a World War II Veteran
To my aunt, a retired Air Force Lt. Col.
To my cousin's hubby, currently serving in the Air Force
and to ALL other Veterans from the past and present and their families...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICE!

There are several companies nationwide that want to recognize veterans for their service by giving them discounts or freebies!  You can find a list of them here or here.  You might also find that there are businesses in your locale that are also honoring veterans, like in my city there is a car wash that is giving free car washes to veterans today.

This post is linked to: 

• Veteran's Day Tribute at The Happy Housewife!

Menu Plan Monday 11/8-11/14

Last week’s menu plans were a “fly by night” job.  Or better known as “Oh no! Its 4pm in the afternoon, what am I fixing for dinner!” Between not having a plan and sickness in the house, I am amazed that we did not eat out once during the week! We had homemade chicken club sandwiches, creamy chicken over rice, skillet chicken with mac & cheese, cube steaks and crashed potatoes.

This week’s meals are family favorite simple meals.  There is still sickness in the house so I am going the route of using my crockpot or easy meals so that I do not have to spend lots of time in the kitchen. I really would like to get some baking done this week but that will be determined on how much of my energy level increases over the next couple of days.

For this week’s lunches that are for the kids and me!  Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.  Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch so I don’t take the time to plan his lunches.

This week’s shopping trip was a payday week shopping because I didn’t do any shopping last week!!  It was refreshing to take a break from shopping and just work at using what was in the pantry and freezer.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie’s site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (11-8)

Breakfast: eggs, sausage, hash browns, and chocolate donuts

Lunch: pizza

Dinner: McDonald’s (after church)

Snack: snack basket

Monday (11-9)

Breakfast: cereal and toast

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: roasted chicken served with mashed potatoes & gravy, corn and biscuits

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (11-10)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner:  roast, carrots and potatoes served with homemade bread

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (11-11)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner:  Bacon burgers, fries and fresh veggie tray

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (11-12)

Breakfast:  Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  lemon pepper chicken served with rice and peas

Snack: snack basket

Friday (11-13)

Breakfast:  cereal and toast

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner:  pizza subs

Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (11-14)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: chicken nuggets and tater tots

Dinner:  cube steak served with mashed potatoes, corn and rolls

Snack: popcorn