let the festivities begin.

Recently, I have been struck with the holiday spirit. It usually doesn’t hit me this early. In fact, I typically roll my eyes at those people who begin decorating and listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But for some reason, this year is different. I have found myself strangely attracted to the holiday isles at stores. I’ve listened to one of my favorite jazz Christmas CDs, and I have everything I need for my holiday baking. What else makes this spark in me so odd is that for the first time since William and I have been married, I am not hosting Thanksgiving at my house. Also, I have decided that with Ayden’s increased mobility, a Christmas tree would not be so smart. Yet, I want to decorate, bake, make the house smell and look like Christmas…

So, this is not traditionally a holiday treat, but over the past couple of years I have made it one. I really only make it once a year…and it’s amazing. I am sure that you make this too…but just in case you’ve never tried it, or you haven’t made it in a while…here’s the recipe. This is the first thing I’m making this season.

Puppy Chow!

9 cups Chex cereal (any combination of varieties)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter/margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Measure cereal into large bowl and set aside. Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Coat the cereal pieces with powdered sugar. (Some recommend doing this inside a 2-gallon plastic storage bag. I find this to be more trouble than it’s worth.) Store your Puppy Chow in an air-tight container in the fridge! Enjoy your new holiday tradition of yumminess!!