Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Every day when Athena and Samantha come home from school, they immediately start searching the house for food and asking for their "after school snack". To me it's important that my kids enjoy the kitchen and the things we are able to create in the kitchen, including snacks. I want them to learn that it is possible for you to make your own stuff using ingredients instead of depending on the store for everything. Consequently, I don't purchase a lot of pre-made snack food. I try to have things on hand for the kids to eat that I have made. This week's treat - Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. :) This is one that Nathan takes a lot of pleasure in helping me with. It is his job to stir and to tell me when there are bubbles (when it's starting to bubble). So, I just told him, "I'm making chocolate cookies and I need your help!" and he came running.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. shortening

2 T. cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. oatmeal

Put sugar, milk, salt, shortening, and cocoa into a saucepan and cook on medium heat until it comes to a boil. Boil for 8 - 10 minutes on medium heat. Remove from heat and add vanilla and oatmeal. STIR FAST. Drop onto a sheet of wax paper (or foil if you run out of wax).

My first several times making these I had problems with the cookies not setting up as they cooled or setting up too quickly for me to get out of the pan. Make sure you have your wax paper set out before you start cooking the cookies. Then, once the vanilla and oatmeal is mixed in, spoon them quickly onto the wax paper and let them cool. You might have to play around with the cooking time depending on your stove.

Jeremy wishes like everything I would put peanut butter in these, but I prefer them without. In fact, I think he wishes I would put peanut butter in pretty much EVERYTHING! No go. His fix? Swipe his cookie with a big knife full of peanut butter and eat. I like the way the cookie dissolves in my mouth when I bite into it. I find these cookies very addicting.