By Anne Badanes, The Pajama Company Holiday Editor

Have you ever noticed how people resemble their dog? A lean neighbor with long spindly legs is accompanied on her morning runs by a greyhound. My size zero athletic trainer has a new three legged Chihuahua puppy that she named Trinity. Tiny Trinity began as a rescue pup but now hops up the stairs oblivious to her missing leg. We had an English Cocker Spaniel with unruly hair who ate anything in sight and escaped from the house to socialize in the neighborhood cul de sac. I fear he took after me.

I was constantly apologizing to my neighbors for his wandering spirit and his obsession with their compost pile. At Christmas time, I attempted to make peace by giving them yummy bags of homemade Puppy Chow, a fun and sweet gift for dog lovers and those whom your dog may “love”.  It is super simple to make and easy for kids to help make!

Ingredients:

1 stick of margarine

½ cup of peanut butter

6 ounce bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

1 box of Crispix or Rice Chex

2-3 cups of powdered sugar

A LARGE Brown Paper bag from the grocery store

Melt the margarine, peanut butter and chips in a large pan on top of the stove. Stir it regularly so it doesn’t burn. Take if off the stove top and pour the box of cereal into the mixture. Mix with a spoon to coat the cereal with the chocolaty mixture. Meanwhile, put the confectioners’ sugar into the paper bag. Pour the coated cereal into the paper bag and shake it around gently. The sugar will stick onto the coated cereal.

You can serve this tasty snack in a big bowl immediately or store it in a sealed container. I put about a cup of it in a small cellophane bag and tie a bow on it for my neighbors. Even though our dog died several years ago, puppy chow is part of my annual baking. My neighbors still love getting it.

As for my athletic trainer, I am buying her pajamas with dogs on it. She prefers sleep to sweets.