No-bakes

I can't remember if I've shared this recipe on the blog before or not. Even so, I've changed the ingredients a bit. I made no-bakes on Sunday afternoons A LOT growing up. They also call them preacher cookies. I believe the story was if you saw the preacher coming up "the hill" and you didn't have any home goodness baked to offer him, you could whip these up and they'd be ready before he got to your house. Sound legit to me :) I like them because I like chocolate, I like sweet stuff, I like oats, enough said. 

Here is the original recipe


1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 T cocoa
Melt those together bringing to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Also, set out the next 3 ingredients along with a piece of wax or parchment paper because you will need to work quickly.

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 t vanilla
3-3 1/2 cups oatmeal

Mix into the boiled mixture. Drop the cookies onto the paper and let cool. The easiest way I've found to do this is 2 teaspoons. As they are cooling make sure you lick the spoons you used and wash the dishes. It's easier clean-up that way.

Since my son can't have dairy right now, I substituted Earth Balance soy free butter and unsweetened almond milk.

  

Recipe

Baked Oatmeal

This isn't the healthiest recipe but it's delicious! It makes so much that we are able to eat it several mornings during the week. That's unless you have 5 hungry girls for a sleep over and an Aunt who stops in and takes some home :)

2 eggs-beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil (or applesauce)
1 cup brown sugar
2 tea baking powder
1 tea salt
1 tea cinnamon
3 cups oatmeal

I just mix mine up in the order listed in the pan that I will be baking it in- less dishes that way :) Then I sprinkle a little sugar on the top (if my daughter requests it).

Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 preheated oven. {Don't be tempted to over bake}This keeps well and is easily reheated.

Yup, She's a giver and a keeper!!!

My daughter has a heart of gold. She is a caring, compassionate little girl who wants to put a smile on every face she comes in contact with. These YUMMY, OH SO YUMMY cookies are just what she ordered up for some people in our church. Bill, who is going through treatment for cancer (throat) and Debbie, who has Lou Gehrig’s frequent our hearts and lips. We are praying for their strength and their families as they face the unknown. God is their guiding light, which no matter what the outcome may be, will be eternally with them. Haily was set on making these cookies for them so they know that she was thinking and praying for them. How sweet is that (you can get a Kleenex now). {She’s a giver and I think I’ll keep her}

It is pure joy that God has given me this child to raise up. I need to constantly be reminded that she is only mine for a while and I need to use that time to train her in the ways of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Freshness

I came home yesterday with fresh brown eggs (co-wokers farm), fresh raw honey (another co-workers F-I-L) and fresh cinnamon apple walnut bread (famers marker). YUMMY! I found a recipe for the bread and will be adapting it to my liking. When I get it just right I will share with all of you. I love buying from locals. Knowing that I could go see where my food was grown (or layed♥) is just...neat!!!

It might be spring but something smells like fall!

The evening started off with a delicious dinner of fish, brown rice, broccoli, and homemade wheat bread. YUM! I am trying to serve a variety of foods and was very proud of dinner tonight. After church, Haily wanted to bake some pumpkin bread. I let her do everything (except lick the entire bowl) from start to finish. I feel it's important for young girls to learn thier way around the kitchen. I certainly benefited from the fact my mom let me "experiment" often. It is baking right now and I will have a taste in the morning with my coffee.