Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow

Hi there everyone!

This stuff is like crack, it's so addictive. I'm so glad I gave away almost all of it before I let myself dig in too much because I could have eaten the entire 1/2 batch I made! Now I've made Puppy Chow (a.k.a. Muddy Buddies, etc.) on here before, and this really just has a few tweaks. Let me show you the photos, then the recipe- it's super easy, and super yummy!

Your super-simple arsenal of ingredients- cereal, white chocolate, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and optional cinnamon chips!

Melt your white chocolate on low power in the microwave, then stir in 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

And here you are ready to assemble- Chex, cinnamon chips, white chocolate mix, and sugar and cinnamon in a ziploc for coating!

Add the cinnamon chips to the cereal, then toss with the white chocolate. Pour into the bag with the powdered sugar and cinnamon.

And here's what it looks like when it's just finished- yum!

Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow
-1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) white chocolate chips
-2 teaspoons + 1 teaspoon cinnamon
-7-8 cups Chex cereal (I used Chocolate Chex to mix it up!)
-1 cup confectioner’s sugar
-1/2 cup cinnamon chips (optional)
Measure cereal into a large bowl (and cinnamon chips if using).
Measure your confectioner’s sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into a gallon zip-bag.
Melt white chocolate and stir in 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Toss gently and thoroughly with cereal.
Pour cereal into bag with confectioner’s sugar. Shake gently but well.
Store airtight, removing excess confectioner’s sugar.

Your finished Puppy Chow- tastes like snickerdoodles, and is totally addictive- plan on rationing this!

Savor it!
love, rue

"Golden Grahams" Bars

Hi there everyone!

OMG. These are SO GOOD. I would like to go downstairs right now and get one to eat while I write this, but it might ruin my dinner :)
So I basically got this idea from those cereal treat bars they sell in gas stations, as the "Golden Grahams" one is one of the few things I ever get at a gas station on a road trip somewhere. I knew I wouldn't be able to duplicate their product without a chemically stabilized binder to mix in chocolate pieces without their being any heat and then the bars still set- not in the real world! So this is my best so far- and seriously, they are super super easy and you should make them ASAP and maybe consider a half batch if you're alone, haha. Let's go!

Your super-simple arsenal: cereal, butter, marshmallows, and butterscotch and chocolate chips.

Melt and mix your marshmallows and butter, then get ready to add the rest of your ingredients...

...And mix well! It doesn't look to pretty right now, but no matter.

Press into a greased pan. (I have it pressed into about 2/3 of this pan because I was already using my 8x8 and I didn't want a whole batch in the house with me!) So really, use whatever works. Chill, then drizzle if you want to (I think it's great!), and chill again.

"Golden Grahams" Bars
-3 tablespoons butter
-50 large marshmallows
-6 cup Golden Grahams or similar cereal
-1/2 cup chocolate chips
-1/2 cup butterscotch chips
-3-5 tablespoons chocolate chips for optional chocolate drizzle
Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl.
Add marshmallows and microwave until all are nice and puffy and soft. Stir well.
Add in the cereal, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, and stir well.
Press into a greased 9x13’’ pan. Chill.
Optional: Melt optional chocolate for drizzle in 20-30 second increments in the microwave, then drizzle over the top. Chill again.
Enjoy!

Your finished bars- marshmallow, butterscotch, chocolate, Golden Grahams- seriously, how could this be bad? And the best part is there's no baking and it only takes about 10 minutes for all of the work!

Savor it!
love, rue

Mint Chocolate Cookie Bark

Hey there!

This recipe is super easy and perfect for the middle of summer- no baking involved! It's a bark recipe, so you can probably imagine where I might be going already, but let me just throw this idea out your way and see how you like it, or if you have any of your own ideas on how to add to this or make it better (I'm thinking a peanut butter chocolate version next time...). Let's go!

Your very simple arsenal- sandwich cookies, pretzels, nuts, M&Ms, chocolate chips, and salt.

Mix together your sandwich cookies, pretzels, M&Ms, and nuts on a greased or paper-lined baking sheet.

Melt your chocolate in small intervals until smooth and very liquidy.

Pour and smooth the chocolate over the other ingredients, then crack salt over it, if using.

Here's your bark after chilling in the fridge for a few hours- fully hardened.

Now break into basically whatever size pieces you'd like to eat, and enjoy!

Mint Chocolate Cookie Bark
-12 (or so) mint sandwich cookies (like Oreos), crushed/cut up
-1 cup broken pretzels, or chocolate covered pretzels
-1/2 cup mint M&Ms
-1/2 cup nuts, chopped (I used almonds - yum!)
-1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet & milk chocolate — use what you like!)
-roughly ground sea salt for sprinkling (optional)
Lay the cookies, pretzels, M&Ms, and nuts out on a greased or wax-paper (or parchment) lined cookie pan.
Meanwhile, melt your chocolate in 30 second intervals in the microwave until nice and liquidy.
Pour/smooth chocolate over the pan full of bark ingredients while still very melted- I let my chocolate cool a few seconds too long before pouring and so mine isn’t super smooth.
Crack your sea salt over the top, if you desire.
Place pan in the refrigerator until hardened.
Break into about two-bite-size pieces, and enjoy this easy and delish treat!
Store in the refrigerator, in an airtight container.

And here's your finished bark- ready to be eaten or given away to someone who deserves it- or both!

Savor it!
love, rue

Coffee Cake Muffins

Hi everybody-

These are pretty darn yummy. I don't often have sour cream on hand, but I happened to so I seized the opportunity to bake these. I love having them in muffin/cupcake form instead of a whole cake because it's easier to portion out and control what you're eating (especially if you live alone!)- that in mind, use whatever pan/pans are suitable for your occasion. Let me just show you-

Here are all of your ingredients- not complicated at all!

Mix together your topping ingredients- butter, sugar, nuts.

Here's your topping all made- set aside until you're done with the batter.

Mix sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla.

Add in your dry ingredients, mix well.

And add in the sour cream alternately, mixing well.

Your finished batter and topping- simple!

Here's the muffins half-done - half of the batter is in the bottom of the papers, and then I put half of the topping on.

And here are the muffins with the rest of the batter and topping done and ready for the oven!

 

Coffee Cake Muffins
-3 tablespoons butter, softened/melted
-1/2 cup chopped nuts of your choice (I used walnuts)
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-3/4 cup white sugar
-1/4 cup vegetable/canola oil
-1/4 cup applesauce
-3 eggs
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-2 cups flour
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 cup sour cream
Mix butter, nuts, and brown sugar together. Set aside.
Beat the white sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.
Add in 1/2 of the dry ingredients, mix well. Add 1/2 of the sour cream, mix well. Then mix in the second halves of each.
Layer 1/2 the batter, then 1/2 the topping, then the other 1/2 batter, then the last 1/2 of topping in whatever kind of greased (or paper lined) pan you are using (I made muffins- works great!).
Bake at 350 F for 18-20 minutes for muffins, about 50 minutes for a bundt pan.

Your finished coffee cafe muffins- delish, and an easy snack to take anywhere!

Savor it!
love, rue