Stir Crazy

Today is day 4 of being cooped up inside with Ms Alyse. She still feels rotten and her cough doesn't seem to be getting much better. My baby was diagnosed with pneumonia on Tuesday. She has not been her funny, happy self since since Friday of last week. I thought she might have been feeling better yesterday and went so far as to call work and tell them I could come in today, but as the evening wore on her cough once again became deep, and each breathe she took came with it's own snap, crackle or pop.

By morning I was up, showering early hoping for improvement, anticipating a new day and different scenery for us both. Instead I was greeted with a little munch-kin who coughs so hard and so long that she makes herself sick. My heart always feels heavy when this little of mine feels bad.

Sooo lemons to lemonade and all that, today we will make cookies. No bakes I think, some thing a bit chocolaty and quick and wholesome to sweeten that lemonade. I love how easy and quick these cookies are to make, did you know they were called "preachers cookies" in days past because you might be able to catch a glimpse of the preacher at the bottom of your land making his way to your house and still have time to whip up these cookies before he got to your door? Funny little factoid huh? The last time I made these I ran out of regular oatmeal and added several of those little packets of raisin & spice instant oatmeal, oh baby, was that ever good. Even better than the original recipe I think!

Just in case you might like to try them out someday here is the recipe

Preachers Cookies

1 stick butter

2 cups sugar

3 Table spoons unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (heaping) creamy peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups oatmeal*

*I use 1 cup of regular quick oats and 2 cups of Raisin and spice packets, yum!

Place butter, sugar, cocoa, evaporated milk, salt and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan. Melt butter and combine all other ingredients until they are well blended. Boil mixture for two minutes. Remove from heat. Stir peanut butter in mixture until it is melted. Add vanilla and oatmeal. Stir until combined. Working quickly before it hardens place by the spoon full on waxed paper. Wait until cookies have hardened to move.