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Abby Amelia Meck and Jesahel Cantarell wedding

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Danielle Simonson and John Dane engagement

If you’re looking for a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day but want something a little more unique than chocolate covered strawberries (are you sure?), try this muddy buddy recipe with a pink twist. It’s a good treat for the classroom, office or couch with your sweatheart.

Muddy buddies, maybe known better as puppy chow, is peanut butter chocolate covered Chex, sweetened even more with powdered sugar and M&amp;Ms.

All you need are 9 cups of Chex or similar cereal, 1 cup of chocolate to melt, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. You can add in as many or as few M&amp;Ms as you’d like.

You’ll notice in some of the pictures, there are white chocolate chips as part of the ingredients and then, in other photos, there are milk chocolate chips. My plan was to melt the white chocolate then add pink and red food coloring for a festive look, but the first attempt at melted white chocolate burned. I ran out of white chocolate and had to improvise with what I had left. If you try the white chocolate, I recommend keeping the heat very low and keeping a close eye on it.

When the chocolate is melted, add creamy peanut butter and mix until blended. Add a few drops of red or pink food coloring.

I separated my cereal because I wanted to have different color portions. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mix over the cereal and coat well.

Place the cereal in a plastic Ziploc bag and add part of the powdered sugar. Mix it up until the pieces aren’t sticking together.

Repeat the entire process with the remaining ingredients.

Let the mix cool, add in M&amp;Ms or other candy and enjoy.

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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_beforpretty.jpg" />
<div class="neCaption">Make sure the powdered sugar coats the cereal well enough to prevent clumping.</div>
</div>
<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_beforpretty.jpgMake sure the powdered sugar coats the cereal well enough to prevent clumping. Sarah Haase | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_chocmix.jpg" />
<div class="neCaption">Coat the cereal with the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_chocmix.jpgCoat the cereal with the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture. Sarah Haase | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_ingredients.jpg" />
<div class="neCaption">A few simple ingredients are all that are needed for a fun and flirty treat.</div>
</div>
<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_ingredients.jpgA few simple ingredients are all that are needed for a fun and flirty treat. Sarah Haase | Times Leader</div>
<div class="neFile">

<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_meltedchocpb.jpg" />
<div class="neCaption">Melt the chocolate on low heat and combine peanut butter. If you’re using white chocolate, be careful it doesn’t burn.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_meltedchocpb.jpgMelt the chocolate on low heat and combine peanut butter. If you’re using white chocolate, be careful it doesn’t burn. Sarah Haase | Times Leader</div>
<div class="neFile">

<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_muddybuddy.jpg" />
<div class="neCaption">These Valentine’s Day muddy buddies are good looking and good tasting.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_muddybuddy.jpgThese Valentine’s Day muddy buddies are good looking and good tasting. Sarah Haase | Times Leader</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">Chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar turns cereal into something delicious</div>
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&nbsp;

By Sarah Haase

shaase@www.timesleader.com

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<strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>

9 cups Chex mix or other square cereal

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

A few drops of red or pink food coloring

<strong>PROCEDURE</strong>

Melt chocolate and peanut butter over low heat. Once melted, pour over cereal and coat well. Put the coated cereal in a plastic bag and add powdered sugar. Make sure the sugar coats all the cereal. It will begin to separate and not stay clumped together as the sugar sticks to the chocolate. Add some M&amp;Ms or other festive candy to the mix and serve to your valentine.

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Test Kitchen: A fun and flirty treat for Valentine’s Day