No Bake Cookies

This is the first recipe that I ever made on my own. It was actually my first 4-H project too :) Since then, I have not tired of this recipe. It's another one of those recipes that we made a lot growing up and so it just reminds me of my childhood everytime I make it! This would be a great recipe for your kids to help you out with...they will love helping to drop these onto the wax paper and mix in the ingredients. Just be sure to watch their little fingers or you may not have many left on the waxed paper at the end of the day! These would make a great addition to any candy and cookie platter...because while they are techinically called a cookie...couldn't they be considered a candy? I sure think so....

Mmmmmm!

Ingredients...

...1/2 cup milk
...1/2 cup butter
...2 cups sugar
...6 T. cocoa powder
...3 cups oatmeal (uncooked)
...1 heaping spoonful of peanut butter (not pictured)

Directions...

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring milk, butter, cocoa, sugar and peanut butter to a boil. Continue to let boil for 1 minute. After 1 minute of boiling, remove from heat and stir in oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool until hardened.
To see more great holiday recipes, check out the Ultimate Recipe Swap going on over at Life as Mom!

Rice Krispie Treats

Today kicks off my week of Thanksgiving recipes! Every day through Thanksgiving I will be sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, including the turkey! Today's recipe is a pretty simple one, but what family get together doesn't include Rice Krispie treats?

Not that I really have to share this. It's one of those recipes that has been around for so long that it's probably engrained in all of your brains. Your kids ask for them and you can whip up a batch without a second look at some directions. But just in case there's the off chance that someone hasn't ever made these before, or they need a recipe to glance at, here it is. The Orginial Rice Krispie Treats recipe. Plus, it's the holiday season and all, and lots of people will be making these to share with family at get togethers...and maybe leave a plate out for Santa? Because, yes, there are Christmas sprinkles on it. I like to start celebrating early. I think Santa would be appreciative that I start planning for him early ;)

Ingredients...

...1 bag large marshmallows
...6 c. Rice Krispies cereal
...3 T. butter

Directions...

In a large bowl, melt butter and marshmallows in the microwave. Cook for 1 minute increments on high power until completely melted. Stir in Rice Krispies cereal and let cool slightly. Press into a 9x13 pan and let cool completely before cutting and serving.

To see other holiday dishes, check out The Ulitmate Recipe Swap over at Life as Mom!

Popcorn Cake

It's hot here. Really, really hot here. And me being the fr

ugal (crazed?) person that I am...we haven't turned on the air conditioning yet. Yep. We're crazy...

I wanted to make a cake. But that requires turning on the oven...which makes our kitchen feel like a bizzilion and one degrees instead of the normal million degrees :) So I found this recipe, which was really good and required no extra heating of the kitchen...

The Ingredients...

...18 cups popped popcorn
...1 bag marshmallows
...1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
...1/2 bag of chocolate chips

Directions...

Pop popcorn and place in large bowl. Melt butter and marshmallows together and stir into popcorn. Once everything is mixed well, add chocolate chips. Press into greased angel food or bundt cake pan and let cool. Turn onto plate and enjoy!

My Thoughts...

This was a painless, heatless treat...and it was good! It was basically a really giant popcorn ball, but in cake form. I will definetely be making this again...it was delicious!

For more delicious recipes, check out Tasty Tuesday over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam!