Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Welcome to my new blog! I was inspired by a great friend to begin sharing recipes through this blog format. Some of the recipes you find on this site will be 'tried and true' favorites, while others will be new recipes that I have found to share with my family. With a picky toddler at home, I am always looking for new things to try that will give my little one the nutrition and calories that he needs-- without becoming a short-order cook at every mealtime. :)

This first recipe falls into the 'tried and true' category. I remember both my mother and my grandmother making these cookies when we were little. They are a quick, no-bake recipe made from ingredients that are most often on hand in the pantry. The one thing to keep in mind with this one is that while they do come together quickly, they can also be a finicky cookie. You can make them the exact same way each time, but sometimes they firm up very quickly and sometimes they need some refrigerator time in order to keep their shape. They are simple and my little one loved them! This particular batch was made while my mother was visiting, and working on them together certainly brought back a lot of great memories. I look forward to making them together with my little ones in the future!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

pinch of salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

3 cups quick oats

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

powdered sugar

Combine sugar, cocoa, butter, milk, and salt in a 3 quart saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil until thickened--about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the quick oats and vanilla. Mix well. Drop by heaping teaspoon-full onto wax paper. Let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.