Myself As Another

Here’s one of my comfort food recipes from my childhood. Totally representative of the cooking philosophy in our house: simple, fast, cheap, standard cookware, common ingredients, less than healthy. So, it’s perfect for a graduate student. Perfect for a bachelor. Perfect if you’re in a pinch, needing a something to contribute to that dinner invitation to a friend’s house on short notice. Here’s the recipe (thanks to my niece, Taylor Trauman, and my sister-in-law, Sheri Trauman):

Trauman’s Chocolate No-bake Cookies

Bring the following ingredients to a boil:
2 c. sugar
1 stick margarine (eight tablespoons)
½ c. Milk
3 tbls cocoa

Once you get a roiling boil, stir constantly for 90 seconds. Remove from heat. Add these ingredients immediately:
½ c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 ¼ c. Quick Oats

Spoon out dollops onto a pair of cookie sheets covered with non-stick spray or wax-paper. As far as I know, it’s a family recipe, but that doesn’t mean it’s not floating around out there somewhere else on the internet.