No Bake Cookies + A Lovely Day

Arrrrgh, I am so upset I left my camera at home! Guys, today was so unexpectedly exciting! A few weeks back I bought a ticket to attend a lecture on Chinese cooking by Julie O'Neill of Shananigan's Blog. Julie's son and daughter and law live in China, so she has visited many times and has wonderful insight on the importance of food in Chinese family life. After desperately searching for a printer on campus to print off my ticket before hopping on a bus into town (This was a surprisingly difficult task. Also, way to save things til the last minute, Rebecca), I arrived at Cooks Academy. Wistfulness swept over me as I looked over the well stocked demonstration kitchen. I hadn't been able to afford the cooking class on my college student budget, but I was thankful that I at least could go to the lecture. 

In other news...here's me being silly on a hill.

 Imagine my surprise and pure elation when I found out that somehow, the cooking class and lecture has been combined, and I was going to get to make some Sichuan food! I couldn't stop smiling, and I kid you not, I was almost shaking with excitement. Call me crazy if you want, haha. I spent the next few hours in a spicy, ginger scented heaven, learning proper knife skills and attempting to make nicely pleated dumplings (and mostly failing. Hey, it's an art I haven't get mastered).  One of the dishes we prepared is called Fish Fragrant Pork Shreds, and man, was it delicious. Fish fragrant does not mean smells like fish, by the way. I believe it's referring to a way to season fish. Anyway, here's Julie's take on the recipe, for those of you who would like to make it at home ^_^ I feel like I gained so much today, both in new skills and in insight about myself. I still have so much to learn and should never think too highly of myself, because there's always room for improvement.

So, the post I had planned pales in comparison to my exciting day. But I made some cookies yesterday that have many names, but one of them is possibly the most disgusting/amusing name I have ever heard for a food since Kitty Litter Cake (UGH.) - Gorilla Poops. Try and say that with a straight face. Imagine the possibilities for awkward misunderstandings with a name like Gorilla Poops! "Hey, I'm starving, I could go for some Gorilla Poops right about now", or "My mom makes the best Gorilla Poops!". Anyway, these are incredibly easy to make and not at all pooplike, I swear. 

So maybe there's a slight resemblance?

No Bake Cookies, or if you prefer, Gorilla Poops
from Six Sisters' Stuff

Mix and bring to a boil:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 T butter or shortening
- 2 T cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
Cook for one minute

Take off burner and add:
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)

Mix well until peanut butter is dissolved.

Quickly add 2 cups of quick uncooked oatmeal and mix. Drop from spoon onto wax or foil paper. Let cool before eating.