Cooking with oatmeal: Oatmeal cookies and no-bakes

This week, we dive head first into the wonderful world of oatmeal.

(Crickets chirping…)

You know what I think about when someone mentions oatmeal? I think about the cartoon, Frosty the Snowman. Remember when the school children first built Frosty and they were trying to pick out a name for him? The little one suggests, ‘Oatmeal.’

That kid was a winner. Excellent choice. Too bad it was vetoed, hence, ‘Frosty.’ Lame.

Oatmeal. I don’t have any stories about it. No, ‘this is how my grandma always cooked it,’ memories; and no, ‘the day that oatmeal saved my life’ biographies. ‘Why oatmeal is the 51st shade of grey…’ Eh, not so much.

Oatmeal is kind of boring. I mean, I cook it, dump some brown sugar on it, some milk and I eat it. Some people church it up, but I’m plain when it comes to my oatmeal. You can cook oatmeal, and you can cook WITH oatmeal. Huge difference, people.

Oatmeal cookies? Now we’re talking. I love cookies. I may have mentioned that a time or two… hundred. There’s nothing more heavenly on a cold winter evening than cuddling up on the couch with a dog (my German Shepherd, to be exact), a fluffy blanket, some comfy clothes and a plate of fresh-from-the-oven oatmeal cookies, and a nice, cold glass of milk.

… Back to reality, Jen.

Sometimes I just don’t have the time to bake a batch of cookies, so I do what any cookie-lover would do: I make a batch of no-bakes.

This is called winning at life (thumbs up).

Go make something awesome,
Jen

Super Awesome Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1-1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups quick oats
• 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until creamy and smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Combine the wet and dry mixtures together until just blended. Mix in the oats, walnuts, chocolate chips and dried fruit. Drop by large spoonfuls onto dry baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes, and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack.

Super Awesome No-Bake Cookies

• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 stick butter (not margarine)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups oats

Place waxed paper on a surface nearby for cooling the cookies. Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, butter, milk, vanilla and salt in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Boil for one minute. Stir in peanut butter until melted, add oats and stir until well combined. Drop by the spoonful onto the wax paper. Allow to cool and enjoy!