Chocolate No Bake Cookies Recipe - when the sweet tooth hits!

This is an old recipe that I have had since I was in Third Grade.  I can remember this being the first cookie I had ever made, and the teacher bringing in her electric burner and pot while we made them in class.

Here it is in all its glory!  Ha!  I am taking these to my son's friend's house for a playdate today.  So easy and fast to whip up and you usually have the ingredients already on hand!  Love that!  My 6 year old helped, until I added the peanut butter (he is not a fan).  Posted below is the grown up version of the recipe.

Chocolate No Bake Cookies

1 stick butter
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups oats

Measure oats into large bowl. Rip off a piece of Wax Paper and put it out on the counter. Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, milk, and salt in pot. Stirring constantly, heat over medium until mixture begins to boil. Boil for 4 minutes. Turn off stove, and add peanut butter. Stir until completely combined. Add vanilla, and stir again.
Stir in oats until oats and chocolate mixture is combined.

Spoon out onto wax paper. Let cool completely.  I used a small cookie scoop to spoon out the mixture.  Half of this recipe makes PLENTY of cookies!  Even enough to share!

Halloween Cookies!

All things are "spooky crazy" here at our house this weekend!  With 3 different parties to attend and goodies to bring, yesterday was filled with baking, icing and dipping!  Here are a few "treats" that I made.

When at Target the other day, I saw the candy corn kisses and thought I would make cookies with them.  I ended up using this recipe for Candy Corn Kiss Cookies.  They turned out great!!

Next up is the "Witches Hats" cookies, or wizard hats (what is a female wizard?) for my daughter's Harry Potter Book Party, for her class.  She took the Candy Corn Kiss cookies as well.  You can find the directions here for these.  I lucked out at the grocery store -- publix had the fudge stripe cookies B1G1 free! 

Then finally I made these Oreo Cookie Pops.  Just melt your candy melts in the microwave, dip the end of the stick into it and insert it inside the cookie.  Let it harden a bit, then procede with your dipping!

I added a little oil to thin it out.  Once you dip your cookies, lay them on a sheet of waxed paper and decorate with sprinkles.  I did put them in the fridge a bit to harden up the chocolate.  And here you go!

All treats and no tricks!  Happy Halloween!  Or as my youngest will say... 

"Trick or Treat, Wash my Feet, Give me something good to eat!!"

Linked to:  Tatertots and Jello
                         Under the Table and Dreaming
                 Today's Creative Blog
        Hope Studios

Homemade Applesauce in the Crock Pot

I have been in the mood to make homemade applesauce, ever since Ryan's teacher made it in class for Johnny Appleseed Day a few weeks ago!  She added a box of red hots to the apples, but my kids don't really like cinnamon in their applesauce, so I went by this recipe below.  Have I mentioned how much I love my old Crock Pot?  It is the best device ever!  You can freeze this in freezer bags, or cook it longer and make apple butter to can!  I think I will try that next.

Homemade Applesauce

8 medium-sized Gala apples, peeled, cored, quartered, and sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup water or apple juice

Place all of the apple pieces in a large bowl and stir in sugar and ground cinnamon. Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of a large crockpot (slow cooker) and add the apple mixture. Cover, turn the crockpot setting to Low, and cook for about 8 hours (or on High for 5 hours), stirring occasionally.  Blend until smooth or mash for a more chunky type of sauce.  Serve warm or room temperature.

Makes approximately 4 cups of applesauce.

Linked to Tatertots and Jello and Hope Studios

Mexican Flag Cake

This cake was for my daughter's spanish class.  I actually got the order wrong - it is suppose to be green first, then white, then red!  It was delicious they said, regardless.  I made the emblem out of dark melting chocolate (the wilton candy wafers).  Next time to note:  Cooking time for cakes in aluminum pans is much longer than the box requires...and for RED icing color, make sure you buy a large container of red gel colorant!  You'll need it!