No-Bake Cookies

I LOVE these cookies! They are super fast and quite tasty. Chocolate peanut butter goodness! I also love that I can make them in the summer without making my kitchen feel like an oven.

 1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3- 3 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp. vanilla Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 1 minute.  Stir in the next 3 ingredients.   Drop onto wax/foil/parchment paper. Let cool until set.  Yep, it's that easy :-)

These are some of my favorite cookies!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

While in Washington I got an ice cream maker and put it to use as soon as we got home. This was the first batch of ice cream I made, and it turned out great! It was inspired by Tillamook's chocolate peanut butter. It's a chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirled into it. It's one of my favorite flavors!

 1 cup whole milk1/2 cup granulated sugar8 oz your favorite chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet, but use whatever you like)2 cups heavy cream, well chilled1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup peanut butter (give or take... it depends on how peanut butter-y you want it)  Heat the milk until it is just bubbling around the edges.  In a blender or food processor pulse to process the sugar and the chocolate until very finely chopped.   Add the hot milk; process until well blended and smooth.  Transfer to a medium bowl and let the chocolate mixture cool completely (I put it in the fridge).  Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla to taste. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer.   Pour mixture into ice cream machine and churn for 25-30 minutes.   Once done, take out mixture and swirl peanut butter throughout ice cream. Place in freezer for a few hours to harden. Enjoy!