I feel like I should put out this disclaimer before I write yet another blog involving sweets: in general, we try to eat healthy with lean protein and lots of fresh fruits and veggies, but members of our family do have a pronounced sweet tooth, which we indulge in moderation. If you want to add me to the "bad mother" list, I will give you even more evidence to bolster your case. Many summers ago when our kids were little, I dreamed up the concept of "dessert night". Once a year, I would spend the day preparing only desserts. Now don't get me wrong; I had a well balanced representation of various types of sweets. There was an ice cream dessert, a fruit pie, perhaps a cake or cookies, and I catered to  any other requests that my children might have had. We all sat down at the table like any other evening, but instead of meat and potatoes, the table top was crowded with desserts. We carefully served everyone a plate full, and then, being the dutiful parents that we were, Larry and I chided the kids to "eat all your cake" and "no pie until that ice cream is all finished". I wish you could have heard the laughter around that table; it was all so ridiculous and delicious. Of course we staggered away from dinner feeling rather sick, but by the following summer, there were cries of, "when is dessert night?"

One year, when the kids were teenagers, I assumed they had outgrown this tradition and attempted to get through the summer without dessert night; the mutinous outcries let me know otherwise. Even our foreign children wanted to be sure they got in on the tradition. It may not have been the healthiest habit, but it sure made for some great family times. Recently Chris told me that when he and Tiffany are married, they will have no difficulty sharing bank accounts, but they will definitely need to have their own stashes of chocolate. Tiffany, you are going to fit into this family just fine! 

So here are two recipes for No Bake Cookies. The chocolate version is a very old one; Larry remembers feeling all excited in elementary school when they made these chocolate, fudgy, cookies in the cafeteria for lunch. Lauren learned how to make them when she was 6 years old and loved to make them for her Daddy.

The butterscotch version is very special to me; the recipe was given to me by my sweet fellow foodie friend, the late Elise Payne. I think of her fondly whenever I make these. 

Chocolate No Bake Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 c. evaporated milk (you can also use whole milk instead)

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 c. quick oats

In a saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa, milk and sugar. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously and scraping along the bottom of the pan so the mixture doesn't burn. Remove the pan from the heat and using a wooden spoon, stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until dissolved. Add the quick oats and stir. Spoon by heaping tablespoons onto parchment paper and allow to cool. Makes about 24 cookies.

Butterscotch No Bake Cookies

3/4 c. butter

1/2 c. evaporated milk

2 c. sugar

1 small box instant butterscotch pudding mix

3 1/2 c. quick oats

Combine the butter, evaporated milk and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a full boil, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and whisk in the package of dry pudding mix. Stir until all is dissolved. With a wooden spoon, stir in the quick oats. Let set for about 5 minutes until you are able to drop by heaping tablespoon onto parchment paper. Makes about 2 dozen.