The last post was about selling books so I think it’s okay this time to discuss cookie baking. Actually, this is about not baking cookies. Last month I visited Flagstaff, a cool little town even though it’s in Arizona (haha), and popped in to Macy’s Coffee Shop downtown, which I highly recommend if you’re ever there. In Macy’s, I came upon a relic of my childhood: a chocolate no-bake cookie! I had totally forgotten about these cookies, but one bite brought back a flood of memories…mostly of the sweet purgatory between when I was too cool to ride my 10-speed but not yet old enough to drive; a time in the early 1980s when I was probably devouring oldies but goodies such as Are You There God ? It’s Me. Margaret. I know these gems are not quite Proust’s madeleines but they are mine, so to speak. I went online and tried to find the recipe for my no-bake non-madeleines. The first recipe I tried was awful, but this one is pretty much it…

Victoria’s No-Bake Cookies That Are Nowhere Near Madeleines But Are Still Good

1 3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

4 Tablespoons cocoa (unsweetened)

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 cups quick-cook oats

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter and cocoa. Bring to a rolling boil and then continue to cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oats and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened. Devour while reading vintage Judy Blume.