A Holiday Treat

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These days, my mornings are pretty repetitive.  Baby alarm goes off anytime between 6:20 and 7:00 AM.  I stumble upstairs and change Henry; we play in his room for a while.  Then, we stumble downstairs (carefully), I make coffee and food, and he has lots of play time.

 

Even my breakfasts are repetitive.  I am obsessed with this combo of eggs, soy chorizo from Trader Joe’s, toast, and coffee.  And some fruit, too.

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Unlike me, the dogs are their most awake in the morning and love to play-fight with each other.  Henry finds it so amusing.  I do, too, because James usually lets Maggie win (he’s got 10 pounds and 5 inches of legs on her).  H squeals and cheers them on.  Fight, fight, fight!

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I may not be capable of fun recipes in the mornings, but I can do it at midnight.  I made this special (and super easy) holiday treat last night.  I’m going to make a big batch for a little dinner party we’re hosting on Saturday. 

 

Peppermint Bark Chex Mix

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Only four ingredients!  My kind of recipe. You could make a second batch with white chocolate and mix them up, too.

 

The special ingredient?  Candy canes, but of course.

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Peppermint Bark Chex Mix

 

Ingredients:

 

  • 3 cups Chex cereal (to make gluten-free, use Corn Chex)
  • 1 large bar 70% dark chocolate (or milk or white – your choice)
  • 5 candy canes
  • 1/2 cup almonds, chopped coarsely

 

Directions:

 

  • Remove candy canes from wrappers.  Place in a large Ziploc bag.  Using a coffee mug, rolling pin, or other heavy object, smash canes into tiny bites.  Set aside 1/5 of the candy canes for sprinkling on top.
  • Combine chopped almonds, 4/5 of candy canes, and Chex in a large bowl.
  • Using a double boiler (or a homemade one), melt chocolate bar.  Stir constantly!
  • When chocolate is melted, pour over Chex mix.  Stir thoroughly.
  • Spread out on cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Sprinkle remaining candy canes on top.
  • Pop in fridge for an hour to cool.  Remove and store in Ziploc bags or sealed tupperware.

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And… I’m off!

{ 25 comments }

 

  • lisa fine December 11, 2012, 9:55 am

    While I’m not a huge peppermint fan, I would totally sub in Heath bar or butterscotch for the candy canes. Anything with chocolate is a go!

  • Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction.com December 11, 2012, 9:55 am

    Yum! Chex and chocolate sounds like a winning combo to me!!

  • Reenie December 11, 2012, 10:14 am

    Cute pics of the pups and Henry. Your breakfast looks good and chex-candy too!

  • AlisonJ December 11, 2012, 10:24 am

    Can you tell me what bread you use for toast? (Maybe Trader Joe’s something?…) It always looks so simple & delicious!

    • Caitlin December 11, 2012, 10:26 am

      Udi’s!

  • Rebecca December 11, 2012, 10:27 am

    Hey, I made something similar to that Chex Mix last night! With white chocolate chips, Crispix, M&Ms, and peanuts, though. It might work with candy canes too… Might have to try that at some point!

  • Corrie Anne December 11, 2012, 10:57 am

    What a fun idea for chex mix! Our dogs fight like that too. They’re bigger though so it’s a little more obnoxious!

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action December 11, 2012, 11:18 am

    I wish I was at home right now so I could make that peppermint chex mix. Definitely being added to my list of things to make ASAP!

  • Laura December 11, 2012, 11:19 am

    You’re breakfasts always look so delicious!
    I was just wondering though… you seem to eat a lot of soy products? Are you ever working about GMOs?

  • Alex @ Raw Recovery December 11, 2012, 11:28 am

    I love chocolate and peppermint. As a kid, my favorite holiday treat was “puppy chow” or “muddy buddies” as some people call them. I’d eat as much as I could get my hands on, which then was obvious because I had powdered sugar all over me 🙂

  • Laura December 11, 2012, 11:50 am

    Totally using your recipe for my holiday party this Saturday!

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More December 11, 2012, 11:52 am

    YES PLEASE!!!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats December 11, 2012, 11:58 am

    That peppermint bark chex mix looks delicious! I love chex mixes/puppy chows, they are addicting!

  • Lisa December 11, 2012, 12:08 pm

    That recipe sounds delicious and simple! I love that kind of treat.

  • Natalie @ Free Range Human December 11, 2012, 12:27 pm

    This looks really great and easy. I love fun holiday recipes!

  • the 3volution of j3nn December 11, 2012, 12:30 pm

    The puppies are so cute standing there wide awake first thing in the morning. Our pupparoo sleeps in until 10:00am!

  • Grace @ Grace Dishes December 11, 2012, 1:01 pm

    I love the idea of chocolate-y peppermint chex mix. Your breakfast combo sounds divine and I can see why you stick with it!

  • Josie December 11, 2012, 3:06 pm

    You make me want to try the soy chorizo!! Your son watching the dogs is so adorable!

  • Erin @ Living Made Healthy December 11, 2012, 4:12 pm

    Yum! I made homemade white chocolate peanut butter cups last night.

  • Susan December 11, 2012, 5:53 pm

    I, personally would not be comfortable with Henry so close to the play-fighting dogs. (no matter how docile they seem). You never know what wil happen. Are those Henry’s clothes they are tugging? If so, his scent is on them. I’d be more careful, because dogs only know their instincts and accidents can happen in a heartbeat.

  • Jenny @ For Your Consideration December 11, 2012, 8:02 pm

    Mmm…that peppermint bark Chex mix looks delish. Must make it!

  • Molly @ happy&healthy December 11, 2012, 10:26 pm

    That looks sooo good, I can’t wait to make it!

  • Angela December 12, 2012, 2:36 am

    That look delicious! Anything peppermint and chocolate, count me in!

  • Becky B. December 12, 2012, 12:10 pm

    careful about consuming too much peppermint- a known supply reducer!
    “Peppermint and spearmint can adversely affect milk supply. Drinking an occasional cup of peppermint tea should not be a problem. You’d have to drink very large amounts daily (think quarts!) to decrease your supply. Altoids and other candies made from peppermint oil are a different story. Mothers who enjoy many of these candies each day have noticed a drop in milk production”
    http://www.milkmakers.com/milk-supply/foods-that-may-affect-milk-supply/

  • Laura December 14, 2012, 10:52 am

    I made this! Although either I didn’t melt this enough or needed to add water to the chocolate (or something) because it didn’t end up covering everything. Sigh. But it was a delicious 1st attempt!

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