Last year, she didn't much care for the stuff. This year, Alexis is a lean, mean Puppy Chow eating machine. In less than 24 hours, the kid has joined forces with her dad to consume an entire batch of the stuff. That would be NINE CUPS.

If that doesn't define Christmas Crazy, I don't know what does. So, without further ado, the recipe for Puppy Chow. I suggest you hide it from my kid.

Puppy Chow
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (the real stuff--that imitation crud is for sissies)
9 cups Crispix cereal
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Place the powdered sugar in a large paper bag and set aside.

Combine the peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips in a large pot and melt over medium/low heat. Stir constantly. Once fully melted, remove from heat and add vanilla. Stir. Pour the cereal in the pot and use a rubber spatula to gently stir the mixture until the cereal is fully coated with the chocolate mixture.

Pour the cereal mixture into the paper bag with the powdered sugar, close the bag tightly, and shake. Shake some more. And shake some more. You're done when the cereal is fully coated and looks a little bit like Purina Puppy Chow.

Now guard the stuff under lock and key. Really.

Psst . . . Go visit Rachel's place for more fantastic recipes.