Do certain foods evoke memories for you?

This recipe has a funny story. I helped my step mom Pam make these no bake cookies for us to snack on for a week-long trip we were taking. They were easy to make and very yummy. We did long legs of driving every few days, so yes; we all were snacking on these all the time during the trip. Pam thought it was a good thing DOUBLE the recipe to ensure we had enough of the treats to eat that week. Not only were they snacks or dessert but we were eating them as breakfast to save time in the morning. By the end of the trip we were renaming them cow pies (while making a face) and just not eating them with any zeal anymore because we had become just sick of them.

My advice is to NOT double the recipe BUT DO make them for a special event where many people will be eating them, so you will enjoy them and not get sick of them like we did. This trip was over 20 years ago (I wasn't even teaching yet!) and I still have not made them since until today.

Why? It's been that long that I have forgotten how they taste....so it's time for....

Pam's Raggedy Robins

2 cups white sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter or margarine, unsalted
1/2-cup chunky peanut butter
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2-cup milk


Directions:

1. Cover baking sheets with wax paper and set aside.

2. Combine sugar and cocoa in a large saucepan. Stir in milk, butter and peanut butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts and mixture is combined, about 5-20 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Stir in the vanilla, oats and nuts, and mix thoroughly. Take a teaspoon and scoop out a spoonful of the mixture; drop the spoonful onto the waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. Place in the refrigerator until the cookies are cooled and set. Store the cookies in an airtight container.

But they were really good but I recommend NOT eating them all day long for several days in a row....LOL

As I remember these....they were on the flat side like cow pies. I am not sure why mine stayed firm after I put them down with a mini ice cream disher. I also don't remember ours having any nuts in them back them. So perhaps the addition of nuts here made them keep their shape after they were scooped.

To ensure no replay of raggedy robin revulsion I've been bagging up these yummies for my 'snow bound' neighbors. Afterall, they aren't teachers with days off from work like me....so they don't have all this time to cook as I do.

Chewy, nutty and chocolatey. Who doesn't love a no bake treat?

Enjoy!