Mudballs!

You know those cookies that look like poo?  Here, let me show you:

My family calls them "mudballs."  I have no idea who started that name or when it came into being, but I like it.  I think it's the best name for chocolate no-bake cookies.  It's less of a hassle to say, and that's what those cookies look like, right?  Balls of mud!  (Let's keep it clean, folks . . .)

Anyway, I was searching for the perfect mudball recipe several months ago, and I stumbled across Food.com.  It really offers the best recipe for these cookies.  I think what makes it so great is the low boiling time and extra vanilla extract.  Here, try it!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa 
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter*
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 -3 1/2 cups dry quick-cooking oats 

Directions

1. Add the first four ingredients into a sauce pan.
2. Bring to a rolling boil and hold for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add peanut butter into the hot mixture and stir until melted.
5. Add in vanilla.
6. Mix in the oats and drop by tablespoons onto wax paper.*
7. Let cool until set.

*Some notes:  The author of this recipe noted that chunky peanut butter tends to make these cookies dry and crumbly; I agree.  Also, I don't know exactly why, but I like to drop my cookies onto aluminum foil.  I don't think it really matters, though . . .