Ready or Not #64: No-bake Cookies

Is it just too hot to bake yummy treats? We all know the remedy for that. No, I do not mean just run down to the local bakery. Yes, that can be an option, but only if you run out of a few essential food storage items. My suggestion would be to make Chocolate No-bake cookies. Those are three beautiful words – “Chocolate”, “no-bake” and “cookies.” There are a lot of different items that you can add to this basic recipe like coconut, crushed peanuts, Rice Crispies, or anything else that sounds good, but sometimes the simplest is the best.

Chocolate No-bake Cookies 1 cube margarine or butter Dash of salt ¼ cup cocoa ½ cup peanut butter – smooth or crunchy 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla ½ cup milk 3 cups oatmeal

Bring butter, cocoa, sugar, milk, and salt to a boil for one minute. Take off the heat. Add the peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal. Spoon onto wax paper and let set for about 10 minutes. After it sets up, just sit back, and eat in a nice cool kitchen. In a pinch you could even make this over a fire or emergency stove – does it get any better?

If you look at the above items, you would be surprised at how many things can be made from just these simple items. You can make baked oatmeal cookies, peanut butter bars, oatmeal mush, and peanut butter sandwiches. You can even use the oatmeal to extend your hamburger or meatloaf. And don’t forget the ever-popular oatmeal facial scrubs. There are Chinese dishes that use peanut butter to flavor their sauces. Also, oatmeal and peanut butter are very healthy to eat, and they taste good. I love to eat oatmeal raw in a bowl with milk poured over it with a touch of sugar, or just pour soft yogurt over raw oatmeal with a little bit of fruit and eat it like they do in Europe. So good!

That is how we need to look at our food storage – as versatile. Don’t just stop at the most obvious use for an item; explore all of the different ways that you can use stored ingredients.

Take baking soda for example. You can use it to soothe stomachaches, brush your teeth, use it as a poultice, clean your house, and freshen up your fridge, or bring back stale food.

Cornstarch is another multi-use item. The most obvious use is that of thickening gravies, but you can also use it like a talcum powder. If you have a large makeup brush, a light dusting of cornstarch makes a really good base for your face after you put your makeup concealer on, but before you put on your eye makeup. I have done that for years. It will also help you to freshen up when you want to touch your makeup up a bit.

Remember, food storage should taste good, be useful, and be available – and don’t forget your water (two gallons of water, per person, per day for a two week period.)

Dawn