Muddy Buddies

This fun party food is also called 'Puppy Chow'.  Its very easy to make, and is always a great hit.

The original recipe only calls for 9 cups of chex; you can the original recipe here.

I modified the recipe to use a whole box of chex, which is about 13 cups.

Ingredients:
13 cups Chex cereal  (I prefer rice Chex)

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup creamy peanutbutter

3 Tablespoons butter

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

1.) In a microwavable1-qt. bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir.  Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.  This may require stirring for several minutes.  Do NOT over cook.  Stir in vanilla

3.) Place cereal into a large bowl.  Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and stir until coated.

(Here I am stirring away!)


(The kids loved helping with this snack!)

4.) Pour the coated cereal into two gallon  zipper bags. Split the powdered sugar between the two bags.  Seal the bags well, then shake well until the sugar evenly coats the cereal.

For best taste store in refrigerator, and serve cold.
 26 servings (1/2 cup each)

Buckeyes

This holiday season I made two batches of buckeyes.  Joy really, really wanted to help me make them, so together we made the first batch.

The first time around I used Skippy Natural peanutbutter.  FAIL  The dough was way to soft and drippy.  I tried adding more butter, more sugar, but they never quite worked right.  With the next batch I used regular, off brand peanut butter.  Worked GREAT!  Just a tip, in case you might use natural peanut butter. 

Ingredients:

4 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

6 cups powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla

4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 Tablespoons shortening

In a large mixing bowl, beat peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until well mixed.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Roll into small buckeye sized balls (About 1 inch in diameter)  Place on wax paper lined cookie sheets. Chill in the freezer for several hours, until very firm.

 Melt together the shortening and chocolate chips until smooth, being careful not to burn the chocolate.  Stick a toothpick into each ball, and careful dip into the melted chocolate, leaving just a small, round opening at the top, to resemble a buckeye.  Freeze until chocolate is completely set.  Store in the freezer or refrigerator.  Makes about 12 dozen.  (If you make them bigger around you will get less.  Or if you hand out samples frequently, as I did, you will get less :)
Store in fridge or freezer.

Peppermint Patties
I made these peppermint patties with three of my younger siblings, Joy, Laurel, and Levi.  We had a lot of fun!  

 Ingredients: 

• 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 9 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract  (The original recipe calls for 1 tsp. but I think 2 would be better)
• 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet OR dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate
• 3 Tablespoons, and 1 teaspoon shortening

In a mixer, beat cream cheese and peppermint extract until smooth.  Slowly beat in the powdered sugar.  The dough will be very stiff.  Between two pieces of parchment paper, roll out a portion of the dough until it is about about 1/4 inch thick. (I used an actual peppermint patty to decide the thickness.)  Continue this until all the dough is used.  (Wrap the remaining dough in plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.)  Use a small cup (a medicine cup works well) and cut out small circles.

Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Freeze for 1/2 hour.  Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the semi-sweet or dark chocolate chocolate chips and 3 Tablespoons shortening.  Stir constantly until smooth; remove from heat immediately.  Drop frozen patties in chocolate one at a time, and scoop them out with a fork.  Tap gently to remove excess chocolate.  Place back on parchment paper.  Chill.  To decorate, melt 1 teaspoon shortening with 1/4 cup very dark chocolate until smooth.  Drizzle on top of candies.  Store in the refrigerator.  Makes about 6 dozen patties.

~Samantha