Vanilla Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Well, we have now done 5 variations of the original cookie recipe from OUR COOKIE NATION series, and this is the final one. The original recipe is the Indiana-Easy No Bake Cookies .
These are simple cookies to make, and are a great last minute go to when you suddenly need or want a fast treat.

Vanilla Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter 

2/3 c. milk

1 (3.4 oz.) box instant vanilla flavor pudding mix

3 1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large pan, mix together the sugar, butter and the milk. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add in the pudding mix, oats and vanilla. Let stand 5 minutes. Drop by tablespoon onto wax paper and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

These cookies were the favorites with my dad and husband.

Try our other variations:
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
Pumpkin Spiced No Bake Cookies
Oreo Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Recipe source: AllRecipes.com

Oatmeal Oreo No Bake Cookies

These are lovely.  I think of the 5 different variations of the original recipe, this one is my favorite.
In the series Our Cookie Nation, we recently made the favorite cookie for the state of Indiana-Easy No Bake Cookies, and I was inspired to try different varieties of flavors.
How can you go wrong with Oreo's? Not possible.

Oatmeal Oreo No Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter 

2/3 c. milk

1 (3.9 oz.) box instant Oreo flavor pudding mix

2 1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1 c. crushed Oreo cookies (including center cream)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large pan, mix together the sugar, butter and the milk. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add in the pudding mix, crushed Oreo's, oats and vanilla. Let stand 5 minutes.

Drop by tablespoon onto waxed paper, and allow to cool completely.  Enjoy! Store in an air tight container.

The only down side I could to see with these cookies is the color.  They seemed a little gray to me, but my 2 adult kids mentioned "crazy" when I asked them about it.  Hmmm... 

Try our other variations:

Easy Chocolate No Bake Cookies

Pumpkin Spiced No Bake Cookies

Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Vanilla Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Recipe Source: allrecipes.com

Crockpot Refried Beans

This was a recipe I was pretty anxious to try.  I love refried beans, and always make a pig of myself at any restaurant that serves them, but I have never, ever attempted to make them on  my own.
You all know my love of crock pot cooking, so this recipe had major appeal.
And the result of my attempt? I loved them. I mean I LOVED them, and they were a big hit with the rest of the fam too.

Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans

1-2 medium onions, peeled and quartered

2 c. dry pinto beans, rinsed

1/2 a fresh jalapeno or other hot pepper, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

one large pinch ground cumin

6 c. Water

In the bottom of a 5-6 qt. slow cooker, place the quartered onions (I broke the onion sections up and left an onion just halved to put on top of the beans).
Combine all ingredients and pour into the crock pot.

Cook on low for 8 hours, or overnight if desired.
Remove the bigger onion chunks, and drain the left over liquid into a bowl. Save the juice to use to make the mashed beans the right consistency for your tastes.
Mash the bean mix with a potato masher, adding reserved liquid a little at a time until your happy with them (I used all of the reserved liquid by the time I was happy).

Done!!!

I omitted the fresh jalapeno pepper, and used a couple of tablespoons of canned, diced jalapeno peppers instead.  I'm such a sissy when it comes to spicy stuff, and I think the next time I make these, I will substitute canned diced green chilies instead!

Note: This recipe makes a lot of beans. We had left overs for days, (we made burritos, hot bean dip, layered bean dip, quesadilla's, tostada's, taco's, and whatever  else we could think of) so if you have a smaller family you may want to cut the recipe in half.  However my girlfriend made this recipe and froze her extra's and said they freeze great!

Recipe adapted from: 100daysofrealfood.com

Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Here is another variation of the Indiana No Bake Cookies recipe from OUR COOKIE NATION  series we are doing...

Easy Coconut Oatmeal

 No Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter

2/3 c. milk

1 (3.4 oz) box instant coconut flavor pudding mix

2 1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1 c. sweetened shredded coconut

1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a large pan, mix together the sugar, butter and the milk.  Bring to a boil.  Boil 2 minutes.  Turn off the heat, add in the pudding mix, oats, coconut and vanilla.  Let stand 5 minutes.
Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper, allow to cool completely and enjoy!  Store in airtight container.

Recipe Source: Allrecipes.com
Try our other variations:
Pumpkin Spiced No Bake Cookies
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
Vanilla Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
Oatmeal Oreo No Bake Cookies

3-Ingredient Chocolate Cake

I found a recipe on Pinterest that I have been dying to try.  I mean, it has 3 ingredients!
That alone caught my interest, but then I saw the recipe was for chocolate cake-yum.
I can do this!


I gave it a try, and we really liked it!  The cake is very moist, a little denser in texture than a regular cake, and a bit more "brownie" like.  However I thought the chocolate flavor was a bit richer and more delicious than plain old cake.

Low Fat Chocolate/Yogurt Cake!

1 (18.25 oz.) package chocolate cake mix

(I used Devils chocolate flavor, but I'm sure any flavor will work)

1 c. fat-free plain Greek Yogurt

1 c. water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together the cake mix and yogurt.  Add the 1 c. water.  Mix well, until lumps are mostly gone.
Pour the batter into a 9 x 13 baking dish that has been lightly coated with non-stick spray. 
Bake according to package instructions, but be sure to test for done-ness before removing-insert a toothpick near the center of the cake, remove and see if the toothpick has come out clean.  If not, continue to bake a few minutes more, and repeat the test.
Cool completely, cut into serving pieces and enjoy!

 We didn't even add frosting to the cake, it was lovely just as was.
 Recipe Source: Spark Recipes

GRILLED CHEESE FOR GROWN-UP'S

This Recipe is so delicious!

My family are big fans of grilled cheese sandwiches, and this recipe is our favorite.

GROWN UP GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES

4-oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. mayonnaise

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. seasoning salt

Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise together until smooth.  Add garlic powder and seasoning salt. Stir in the grated cheeses.

Spread 1/3 c. mix onto a slice of bread (sourdough is awesome), then place a second slice of bread on top.

Butter the outside of each bread slice, then fry on a griddle

over medium heat.

Let stand 2 min. before slicing.

Makes approx. 5-6 sandwiches.

Store unused mix in the fridge. It keeps well up to 1 week.

 For the ultimate comfort meal try our recipe for Creamy Tomato Soup. Exquisite combination!

Chocolate Mousse Bars

{Update:  I decided to revisit this recipe after making it for a gathering of friends...
This time I have pictures (although not good ones), so I thought I would re-post this with some updates...} 


Originally posted in January 2011.
I found this recipe at the Website of our local TV station.

When I made it I fell in love!

I was going to take a few pictures to go along with this recipe, but the family ate them up before I could locate my camera!

A true sign of a great bar dessert.

Chocolate Mousse Bars

1 pkg. (8 squares) Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided

1/2 c. Sugar

1/4 c. Flour

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk, divided

4 eggs

1 (3.9 oz.) pkg. instant chocolate pudding

1-1/2 c. frozen whipped topping, thawed

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Melt 6 chocolate squares as directed on package.

 Mix with sugar, flour, 1/4 c. condensed milk and eggs until well blended. Pour into 9-inch square pan that has been lightly coated with cooking spray.

(awesome new tip, courtesy http://www.friedalovesbread.com/ place your baking dish inside your dishwasher, spray with the non-stick spray-no clean up! I do this now regularly, and I even set my baking dish on top of the dirty dishes in the washer, then I just quickly wipe the bottom of my dish!)


Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean(Do not over bake.) Cool completely.
Beat dry pudding mix and remaining condensed milk with an electric mixer for 2 min. Stir in whipped topping; then spread over dessert.

Melt remaining chocolate squares; drizzle over pudding layer. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, and store in the fridge (if there are any left).

(I forgot to drizzle the chocolate on before I cut the dessert, so I hurried to do it afterwords...not too pretty, but still delicious!)