Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These have been a favorite since childhood. They are so delicious and, when made right, can rival any of my top treats. They are so addicting and the more you make them...the better you get at making them.

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1 cube butter (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2-3 cups quick oats
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Prepare some wax paper on your counter. In a large saucepan (I use my large pot actually so that I can just pull it off of the stove and add the oats to the same pan...less dishes!) heat sugar, butter, milk & cocoa until boiling. As soon as this mixture has reached a rolling boil (not before) time for one minute. Meanwhile, have a bowl of really cold water next to the stove. At one minute, drip a couple of drops of the hot chocolatey mixture into the bowl and see if it has reached soft ball stage. If you have timed correctly, this step isn't necessary. But I still do it just to be sure...if you don't boil long enough your cookies will not set up. If you boil too long, they will be dry & crumbly and gross.) Remove from heat and quickly stir in your peanut butter. Then add your oats. I do not use a full 3 cups. I use around 2 1/2. When there are too many oats in there, the cookies are obnoxiously chewy instead of melting in your mouth. After you stir in the oats, finally add the vanilla.

Drop by spoonfulls onto wax paper-making sure to leave lots of yummy residue in the pan, which you will eat in a moment...this is my favorite part of making these cookies. My reward, if you will. Cool until they are set up. Enjoy these delicious confections.