By School shopping. Josie needs clothes. Tyler and Justin need senior-year supplies (not much). Amber needs apartment things. I spent four days running errands. My 46-year-old feet are tired.
Drove Tuesday, a short Lincoln run.
Book two at 63,500 words.
Saturday we moved Amber to her Kearney apartment. Dave drove the pickup with her stuff. I followed in the Taurus with Amber. We set up her kitchen, her bedroom, the living room. Lindsay was already there with her own things. Their apartment is a good size, bright, on the second floor of an older building. We hung pictures. We filled the fridge. Amber said at the end, "Mom. This feels like home." I said, "Baby. Good." Dave hugged her. We drove home. Josie had stayed with Gayle.
Tyler and Justin start senior year Wednesday. Josie starts 8th grade. The last summer is over. The last year of high school for two of my boys is starting. I am not ready. I am ready. I am both.
After four days of running errands, setting up Amber’s apartment, and watching two boys gear up for their last first day of senior year, I needed something I could throw together fast — something that felt like a celebration without requiring anything more from my tired feet. Puppy Chow has been a back-to-school staple in our house forever; the kids have loved it since they were little, and somehow it still feels exactly right when everything is changing all at once. I made a big batch the night we got home from Kearney, and we sat around the kitchen table and ate it by the handful, and for a little while nobody had to be ready or not ready for anything.
Puppy Chow (a.k.a. “Muddy Buddies”)
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 5 min | Total Time: 25 min (including cooling) | Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 9 cups rice or corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Measure the cereal. Pour 9 cups of Chex cereal into a very large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Melt the coating. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until completely smooth — about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes total. Do not overheat.
- Add vanilla. Stir the vanilla extract into the melted chocolate mixture until fully incorporated.
- Coat the cereal. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and gently fold with a spatula until every piece is evenly coated.
- Add the powdered sugar. Transfer the coated cereal to a large zip-top bag or a container with a tight-fitting lid. Add the powdered sugar, seal, and shake vigorously until all pieces are well coated and no wet spots remain.
- Cool and set. Spread the finished Puppy Chow in a single layer on a sheet of wax paper or a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let it cool at room temperature for 15 minutes until the coating is set. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 285 | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Carbs: 40g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 210mg