Nutella Puppy Chow Recipe

As a Midwest lady living on the East Coast for six years I have noticed a variety of difference in food cultures.  Here in New York there is a predominant Italian and Jewish influence versus the Midwest with its more German and Polish influences.  For example, I had never heard of a chicken cutlet before moving to Brooklyn and most of my coworkers seem to cook with them several times a week.  I was also unfamiliar with rice balls, garlic knots, rugelach, rainbow cookies, and a fresh deli sandwich on every corner.  Luckily, my culinary education has been a delicious experience.

Despite my lack of familiarity with many of the common foods out here, there are several foods I grew up eating and enjoying that are equally as foreign to the non-Midwesterners.  For example, every Michigan girl knows that cheesy hash-brown casserole accompanies every ham at family parties and potlucks.  I also grew up with stuffed cabbage and kielbasa & sauerkraut.  And let us not forget Fat Tuesday, or Puczki Day as it is known in Metro Detroit!

One such food I pride myself on introducing to my East Coast family is Puppy Chow, also known as muddy buddies.  Muddy buddies is a stupid name and I will use it no longer.  Cereal mixed with butter, peanut butter, and chocolate, then tossed with powdered sugar is a total Midwest comfort food – fatty, easy, and made of pantry staples.  Best of all, one batch makes enough for a crowd, a large crowd.

With the oven out of commission, it was time for some puppy chow, and why make plain puppy chow when you can toss in a jar of nutella?  Obviously the right choice.  The nutella is a great alternative to peanut butter and adds extra chocolaty goodness, the hazelnut flavor comes through the most when the puppy chow is chilled.  I had to keep the puppy chow in the fridge because of my complete lack of control.

Very soon after making the puppy chow I brought it into work and knew none of it could come home with me.  I also had too much for my coworkers and I to eat at lunch, so I shared with my 8th period class.  (They might be my favorite class out of the 5 I teach, but shhhhhhh, teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites…)  When I told the students what it was called they asked it was meant for dogs.  Once I gave the ingredient list they dived in and left me with tables with powdered sugar finger prints!  Go ahead, cross cultural lines, make puppy chow.