Zana's Top of the Stove Cookies

First of all, if you come into my kitchen when I'm cooking, you may become part of my blog.  Just saying. 

This afternoon, I am making one of my favorite little stove top cookies.  Not fancy, but everyone loves them.  I got the recipe from a lovely lady named, Zana, who I worked with years ago.  We would make things to share at work.  Her's was always, and I mean always, the best. 

Zana's Stove Top Cookies

2 c. sugar

3 T. unsweetened powdered cocoa

1 stick butter

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 t. vanilla

3 c. quick oats

Put sugar and butter in a large saucepan.  Cut up the butter with a spoon and add it to the saucepan.  Add milk and cocoa.  Stir til sugar is wet and bring to medium high heat.  Stir every few minutes.  Bring to a full rolling boil.  Cook it at a full rolling boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Add peanut butter and stir until it is no longer in a lump in the pan and fully incorporates into the mixture.  Add vanilla and oats.  Stir briskly until it is combined well.  

Spread sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper on the counter.  Drop spoonfuls onto the paper.   It's ready to eat once cooled.

Those crazy Osbornes.  They are everywhere.

As I was saying, drop teaspoons onto paper and cool and eat. Work quickly.  It sets up as it cools and becomes more difficult to shape if it cools before you are done or if you are like interrupted by others like. 

By the way, a rolling boil means it is boiling across the full surface and can not be stirred down to make it stop boiling.

Once they are cool, store them in plastic or Tupperware.

Remember to put the Tupperware in the dishwasher first. 

Almost forgot:  This post was linked to the Hearth and Soul Blog Hop.  Click this link to go there.
http://frugalcrunchychristy.blogspot.com/2010/12/hearth-and-soul-blog-hop-vol-26.html

And also Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop.
http://weloveiowa.blogspot.com/2010/12/tasty-tuesdays-bloghop-santa-fe-soup.html

And culinary bliss
http://culinarybliss.blogspot.com/2010/12/simple-lives-thursday-21.html

Pumpkin Cookies to Take to School

First things first.  Happy Birthday to my little sister, Melinda Bennett.  She is not the same person as Melynda who comments regularly here.  Hi, Melynda!  Actually, I'd say hi, Melinda, but I haven't gotten my little sister very interested in computers.  Last time I asked her, she hadn't yet visited.

Why is it so hard to take a picture of a fire in the fireplace?  Well, you'll have to take my word for it. 

Next, are we ever really thankful enough?  Today, I'm more than usually thankful for a warm house and a full pantry.  The washing machine is swishing away getting our clothes clean for the coming week.  What a lucky girl I am.  Remember to take a moment and be grateful for what you have, whatever that is.  Things could be worse.  Gratitude is something very powerful and essential in our lives and getting more scarce in the secular and materialistic world we live in.

On that happy note, Husband is busy playing with his new DVD player.  And by the way, when did DVD players need to be hooked up to the internet and where was I when this happened?  And what is Blue Ray, again?  Seems like only yesterday when Dad was recording the season fanale of Dallas for Mom, because she has a class that night and she didn't know how to time delay the video tape machine.  Yes, children, that was before DVD players were conceived of or imagined.

Now to the important stuff:  My assignment for this afternoon is to make pumpkin cookies with Step Granddaughter that she can take to a school event tomorrow.  Another thing to be thankful for.  I've found a canned pumpkin that says it is packaged in Corvallis, OR, which is near were I was born, so local enough for me.  I've seen it at Freddies and Safeway. 

Oh, and here is my inspiration for this.  http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2010/11/pumpkin-spice-thumbprints-and-csn.html


Pumpkin Cookies
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. packed bown sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 c. rolled oats
1 t. baking powder
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 c.  AP flour
1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
Some where around 40 Hersey's Kisses, one for each cookie
Melted chocolate for drizzling.

In one bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients.  In another bowl, combine the next 6 ingredients.  Add one bowl to the other and stir to combine.  Preheat the over to 350 degrees.  Drop teaspoons full on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray.  Bake for 12 minutes.

Straight out of the oven I pressed a Hersey's Kiss into each cookie and drizzeled with a little chocolate syrup.  Okay, so this was more fun for me than her.  But she humored me.  And we got cookies to take to her event.  She ate enough that she won't want her dinner.  Hope I'm not in trouble again.

Remember that the details count for something.

Rice Krispie Treats

My grandmother used to make them, a lot. I've eaten my weight in them. I have to laugh when I see them for sale in the store. They have them in Starbucks.

There are exactly 3 ingredients in Rice Krispie Treats. Rice Krispie Cereal. Marshmallows. Butter. That's all. All on the stove top. No baking. Google it if you want the recipe. The simplest things are the best.

My grandmother made the recipe on the box, then usually spread something on top. If you take plain old Toll House chocolate chips and melt them, they make a good thing. Or butterscotch chips. Or half and half of each. Then, they came out with white chocolate chips. Goodness. Do you know how many things you can put in melted white chocolate chips that tastes good? Strawberry jam, maple syrup, rum. Oh, don't get me started.

It is the simplest things that are the best. And buying them shrink wrapped in individual servings is just not the same.

Cocoa Crinkles

We babysat the little kids so that the big kids could have a night out last night. Hailey and I made Cocoa Crinkles, one of the first little cookies we made with our Mom. I still have the recipe written in child like cursive which I assume is my own. My mom made us write out recipes, a habit I've kept to today. I'd like to give Hailey some of the good things my mom gave me without the OCD.

Cocoa Crinkles
1/2 softened Butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. unsweetend cocoa
1/4 t salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until light & fluffy. Add flour. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. The dough will be stiff. Make 1" balls. Roll balls in powered sugar just before baking. Spray cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 at 35 degrees.