Unbaked Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Rob's cousin Caroline was recently saved by having one of her favorite recipes on her blog - she forgot to bring it to the lake but was able to find it online instead.  Brilliant!

This past weekend, the day before the movers arrived, we had friends over for a BBQ and game day before we all leave Newport.  These cookies are definitely my go-to recipe when I don't have enough time to do a "real" dessert.  My favorite cookies of all time are the classic Toll House Chocolate Chip, which I'm sure I'll post later (when I get my recipe box back in San Diego).  But until then:

2 c. sugar
6 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 c. oatmeal

Stir together sugar and cocoa in saucepan.  Add milk and butter.  Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.  Add vanilla and oatmeal.  Beat (~30-60 seconds) and drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper.  Makes ~3 dozen.

That's it!  No baking.  No chilling.  Healthy (sort of).  And they are delicious!

Note: I don't recommend doubling the recipe because the mixture may cool in the saucepan before a double batch can be spooned onto the wax paper.  It's a quick enough recipe, though, that you could do it twice in much less time than one batch of baked cookies.

All packed

That's it.  All our stuff is on a van and we won't see it again until June 1 at the earliest.  Despite the fact that this is our longest move (both in distance and time), our first move with Esther on our own (we had LOTS of [wonderful] help for the move with her in October), and that our stuff will go from truck to van to storage to van to house, I am feeling more comfortable about this move than any other.  Perhaps it's just ignorance.  Perhaps I haven't given it much thought because I've been house-hunting and taking care of [and playing with] Esther.  Or perhaps the Lord is protecting and strengthening me before I even realize I need protection and strength.  Or perhaps it's because Rob has done all of the work; he gets credit for getting and keeping the Navy moving machine going.

The drive is planned and could be a nightmare with a 7-month old who only wants to roll around on the floor but who will instead be strapped into her carseat for 3-8 hours a day.  But it could also will be a tremendous blessing as we will get to see friends and family on east coast and the midwest one last time before heading across the country for [hopefully] 3+ years.  (Our track record says that if we state our plan definitively then it will definitely not work out that way.)  Thinking mostly about the blessing part is keeping me from getting stressed about the move.  Ask me how I'm feeling when I get to Iowa after 5 days of driving and 2 nights in hotels with just me and Esther. :)