Do you ever associate certain foods or recipes with a particular person?  I know I do.

Maybe it is a recipe that no one else can touch.  I have that type of food association with potato salad. No matter where, when or with who… if I am enjoying potato salad somewhere, I am not quite fully enjoying because unless it was made by my grandma, Meema, well there is no comparison. No one can touch her potato salad recipe.

Maybe it is recipe that you can rely on that person to make for every special occasion. My mom’s cheesy potatoes make their debut at every holiday meal.  She really has no choice. It is one of her specialties that us kids just love. I feel sorry for her that she will never be able to venture out with other dishes, because it is expected that when we sit down to eat, her cheesy potatoes will be on that table.

Maybe it is a recipe that you associate with a memory. You know, an item that takes you back to a certain place.  For me, Puppy Chow hits home in this category and reminds me of my paternal grandmother. Known to us grandkids and to many as TuTu.

Unique name for a grandmother, huh? We think so too, but you know we would have it no other way. The story goes that when I was a baby I referred to her as Grandma… that was until she traveled to Hawaii to visit her sister and brother-in-law who lived on the island. There she heard little girls saying “TuTu.” She eventually inquired and learned that “TuTu” is the most common used named to refer to one’s grandmother. It stuck. She liked it and when she returned from her trip she quite simply stated that she would be called TuTu. So, there you have it!

I can’t quite remember the exact moment I had Puppy Chow, but I know it was with TuTu. In fact, when I sit here and write this and think back I just keep thinking of me as a child in her kitchen reaching my hands up onto the counter and pulling down a tupperware container full of this sweet treat.

I am sure I am not the only one who knows her that associates this food with her. It has made its fair share of debuts at family gatherings and picnics. This is not a recipe she created, in fact the recipe exists out there under many names, but as sweet as this dessert is so too are the memories I also have of her.  To me, anytime I hear or enjoy Puppy Chow I know I will think of my TuTu. And, as I make it… I smile at the wonderful memories this simple recipe has given me.

PUPPY CHOW:

• 8 Cups of Rice Chex Cereal
• 1 Stick of Butter
• 1 24 oz. Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter
• 2 1/2 Cups of Powdered Sugar

Measure out the cereal adding 4 cups to a large mixing bowl and reserving the remaining 4 cups to the side. Cut up the stick of butter into three sections for easy melting. Add the butter, bag of semi-sweet morsels and peanut butter to a sauce pan and stir until combined on low heat. Be sure to stir and pay attention to the melting. You do not want to burn the chocolate.  Once melted add to the rice cereal in the mixing bowl and stir lightly. Add the remaining 4 cups of cereal that were reserved to the side and combine ingredients. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to a gallon bag and pour half of the cereal mixture into the bag, seal and shake.  Continue to add the powdered sugar and cereal mixture to the bag, seal and shake until all ingredients are combined.  I add powdered sugar and the cereal mixture in batches as I find it is easier to coat vs. combining all ingredients at once.

You may think I am thanking you for checking out the Blog, which I am, but also consider Puppy Chow as a gift!  After returning to work from Maternity Leave, I plan on thanking my office for all of their assistance while I was away.  Just package the Puppy Chow in a container. Here I used tupperware, baker’s ribbon and a gift tag.

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