...that is the question.
So, The Deputy says to me..."You know the fire department Christmas party is tomorrow and I'm going to need something for the potluck and the baked goods swap at the end, right?"
"Uh, nope."
And yes...he's not only The Deputy, but he's also a fire fighter...for 2 different stations. He can't help himself...it's a compulsion to but himself in harms way for the good of another. I should be proud, but really I want to slap him in the back of the head and be like..."ARE YOU NUTS???"
And so it came to pass that I had to bake. Oh, the tragedy...the horror...OH! No-Bake Cookies!
I had just discussed with my Mother that these were in fact on the list of cookies for this little Christmas project and today was the perfect day to pull them out and use them.
And...who doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter? Seriously.
I've only made No-Bakes a couple of times and it's safe to say that they're pretty fool proof. (Now, that's coming from the girl who screwed up Rice Krispies Treats...yes...that's right. I screwed up Rice Krispie Treats. It wasn't easy...but trust me when I say, don't use butter. The Deputy still likes to use this as ammo.)
The best part was that I when I sent The Deputy grocery shopping the other day I had put "cheap peanut butter" on the list, so I even had THAT on hand for these. (As far as the rest of the ingredients, I always have oatmeal, cocoa, and shortening hanging around.)
Now, you may be wondering why the peanut butter needed to be cheap. You may be asking yourself..."Self, wouldn't really expensive peanut butter yield a yummier cookie?"
Nope. Expensive peanut butter doesn't have nearly the same amount of peanut oil as the cheap stuff. Part of the reason it's expensive is because it's been more processed to make it smoother and cleaner. (This does not take into account the expensive raw-organic peanut butter that you can buy at fru-fru organic co-ops...but if you want to use $8 peanut butter, you go right ahead and knock yourself out.)
So, get out your cheap peanut butter and get to no baking!
No Oven Required Cookies
5 Tbs Cocoa
1 3/4 Cups of White Sugar
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter -- the cheaper the better!
3 Cups of Oatmeal -- Old Fashioned or Quick, doesn't matter.
Before starting, decide if you want to make cookies or bars. If making bars, prepare a pan by buttering it and setting it aside. If making cookies, lay out parchment or wax paper on your counters to receive the cookies.
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat combine the cocoa, sugar, shortening, and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally, and boil for 2 minutes.
Remove the sauce pan from heat and add the vanilla, peanut butter, and oatmeal. I find it easiest to add them in that order to make sure everything is mixed together properly.
Now, if you're making bars, pour into your prepared pan and spread out evenly and leave them alone to cool. (Note the - "leave the alone"...but good luck.)
If you're making cookies, drop by teaspoon fulls (I used a small cookie scoop.) onto your prepared counters and allow to cool. They don't take a very long time to cool, once you're putting the last of the cookies out, the first ones should be nearly done cooling.
I packaged these up into a cute little snowman box and will send them to a new home later tonight.
So, The Deputy says to me..."You know the fire department Christmas party is tomorrow and I'm going to need something for the potluck and the baked goods swap at the end, right?"
"Uh, nope."
And yes...he's not only The Deputy, but he's also a fire fighter...for 2 different stations. He can't help himself...it's a compulsion to but himself in harms way for the good of another. I should be proud, but really I want to slap him in the back of the head and be like..."ARE YOU NUTS???"
And so it came to pass that I had to bake. Oh, the tragedy...the horror...OH! No-Bake Cookies!
I had just discussed with my Mother that these were in fact on the list of cookies for this little Christmas project and today was the perfect day to pull them out and use them.
And...who doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter? Seriously.
I've only made No-Bakes a couple of times and it's safe to say that they're pretty fool proof. (Now, that's coming from the girl who screwed up Rice Krispies Treats...yes...that's right. I screwed up Rice Krispie Treats. It wasn't easy...but trust me when I say, don't use butter. The Deputy still likes to use this as ammo.)
The best part was that I when I sent The Deputy grocery shopping the other day I had put "cheap peanut butter" on the list, so I even had THAT on hand for these. (As far as the rest of the ingredients, I always have oatmeal, cocoa, and shortening hanging around.)
Now, you may be wondering why the peanut butter needed to be cheap. You may be asking yourself..."Self, wouldn't really expensive peanut butter yield a yummier cookie?"
Nope. Expensive peanut butter doesn't have nearly the same amount of peanut oil as the cheap stuff. Part of the reason it's expensive is because it's been more processed to make it smoother and cleaner. (This does not take into account the expensive raw-organic peanut butter that you can buy at fru-fru organic co-ops...but if you want to use $8 peanut butter, you go right ahead and knock yourself out.)
So, get out your cheap peanut butter and get to no baking!
No Oven Required Cookies
5 Tbs Cocoa
1 3/4 Cups of White Sugar
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter -- the cheaper the better!
3 Cups of Oatmeal -- Old Fashioned or Quick, doesn't matter.
Before starting, decide if you want to make cookies or bars. If making bars, prepare a pan by buttering it and setting it aside. If making cookies, lay out parchment or wax paper on your counters to receive the cookies.
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat combine the cocoa, sugar, shortening, and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally, and boil for 2 minutes.
Remove the sauce pan from heat and add the vanilla, peanut butter, and oatmeal. I find it easiest to add them in that order to make sure everything is mixed together properly.
Now, if you're making bars, pour into your prepared pan and spread out evenly and leave them alone to cool. (Note the - "leave the alone"...but good luck.)
If you're making cookies, drop by teaspoon fulls (I used a small cookie scoop.) onto your prepared counters and allow to cool. They don't take a very long time to cool, once you're putting the last of the cookies out, the first ones should be nearly done cooling.
I packaged these up into a cute little snowman box and will send them to a new home later tonight.