Boiled Oatmeal Cookies (Preacher Cookies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar (white, brown or a combination of the two)
• 3 cups oats, dry- sometimes takes a bit more (old fashioned, or quick cooking)
• 1/2 cup milk (evaporated, buttermilk, any kind but I wouldn't use sweetened, condensed. That would be too sweet)
• 2/3 cup cocoa, unsweetened
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup nuts, coarsely chopped (walnuts, pecans, coconut.)

Directions

1. 1

   Put oats in a large bowl.

2. 2

   In a small saucepan over medium heat bring to a full boil: butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. There is a knack to this. Boil them too long, they will be dry and crumbly, too short and they will be runny.

3. 3

   Quickly add peanut butter, salt, vanilla.

4. 4

   Mix liquid into oats. Add more oats as necessary until it has a moist doughy consistency.

5. 5

   Quickly put in buttered cake pan or quickly drop by the teaspoonful onto wax paper. Let them stand at room temperature for one hour.

6. 6

   Variations: Add 1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts, or Coconut. Replace 1/2 the oats with coconut. Use less cocoa and more peanut butter.