Since I have been getting some large amounts of email regarding this subject, here is my mass response back.
Dear CCBP readers who are Twilight fans,
Yes, I do live in Washington state. Yes, that is where the BOOK/MOVIE (read not real life) takes place. Until my readers started asking me about it, I didn’t know it took place in Washington. I don’t do vampires (even if they do sparkle like disco balls in the sunlight), so I have no need to read the books or see the movies.
No, I do not live anywhere near Forks, WA. It is about 4 ½ hours away from me, or longer depending on the ferry schedule. No, I will not go and get you souvenirs for you. No, I will not drive over and meet you while you go on a tour of the town and surrounding areas (though thanks to those who asked). It is a tiny little town that was nothing until the book came about. I am happy that their town is thriving now and that it is receiving an incredible amount of tourism. I am all for that!
Which leaves me with saying, if you are that into Twilight, that you are willing to write me and ask me to drive over and get you stuff (and take photos), just save up and get on a plane and go there yourself.
Sincerely,
Peabody (who lives nowhere near Forks, and does not enjoy Twilight related stuff)
Okay, so you are probably saying to yourself, um, you haven’t posted in awhile and you come back with this crap…or stuff that looks like crap. I know, I know. Birthday month has been a busy month so far, and does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. I leave in a couple days to go visit the parental unit. Nothing like traveling for 7 hours in a tiny Ford Focus with a dog and rabbit. 😉 Oh the joy (I know you are jealous).
I received the book Cookie Swap, which I will do a whole post about in the coming weeks, and saw a recipe that took me back. They were no bake cookies that we made in junior high home ec class. Having no desire to turn on the oven (and with the forecast that is predicted for the next 10 days…I so wont…ugh, the 90’s!), these sounded like a great alternative to me.
Now, no bake is kind of fooling. As you do not bake, you still have to use the stove top for a little bit, but that is so much better than turning on the oven. The book has you using raisins, and my junior high home ec cookbook has you using dried apricots. I used cocoa nibs. Just sounded good at the time.
These are super easy. Fudgy. Good for you (oatmeal). Taste really yummy and are versatile (you could use basically anything in the dried fruit, chocolate chip, nut category). So what I am saying, is don’t let their appearance scare you off.
No Bake Chocolate Fudge-Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup evaporated milk
½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into TBSP size pieces
pinch of salt
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I like Green and Blacks)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups quick cook oats
¾ cup peanut butter (shocking, but I did not use Jif, I used Peanut Butter and Co’s Dark Chocolate Dreams)
¼ cup cocoa nibs
1/3 cup pecans, roasted, chopped
Before you start make sure you have all the ingredients out and measured. This needs to be done because once taken off the heat, they start to firm up quickly.
Prepare two baking pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine sugar, evaporated milk, and unsalted butter. Bring to a rolling boil and stir to make sure butter gets incorporated. Let boil until it reaches 238-240F. Don’t go over, in fact go under is better than over. When you reach desired temperature, remove from heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until combined.
Add peanut butter, vanilla, salt, oats, pecans, and cocoa nibs. Mix until thoroughly combined. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop onto prepared cookie sheets. Press down with your hand or use a glass to help flatten them.
Place in freezer for 15-20 minutes. Store at room temperature for up to a week.
Adopted from Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year by Julia M. Usher and my junior high Home Economics class.
Manggy says
Hm? I don’t think the appearance is scary at all, unless by scary you mean appealing 🙂 I don’t get the requests you get. “Hey, I’m going to LA next month. Want to drive down from San Francisco and meet me?” er.
allison says
We also made them in Home ec here in South africa. Back in the day. These look great and very inspiring! I always loved the texture of them. Soft and chewy. YUM
Rosa says
Those are very tempting! Perfect for the hotter days!
Cheers,
Rosa
Lisa says
(De-lurking) As usual, really like the recipe.
I am not a Twilight fan. I read the reviews and my reaction was “ewww stalker ick Ick ICK!”
There’s a Buffy/Twilight t-shirt on Jinx.com that cracked me up. It says “… and then Buffy staked Edward. The End”
I kinda think I’ve over-snarked the whole Twilight experience. I may have to assign myself the series as penance. *grin*
Tim says
Never even heard of twilight. True Blood, that’s another story.
I think those cookies look really good, actually!
Eliana says
I’m all about no-bake confections right now because my apartment has turned into a sweatbox. These look wonderful.
nikki says
I love making no bakes. Screw forks.
VeggieGirl says
Once again, you’ve proven why we’re friends – I LOVE your candidness and sense of humor, haha 😀 And hey, your recipes that go with the stories are always a real treat (pun intended??) as well.
Pigpigscorner says
aww…I happened to love the Twilight saga but not obsessed with it. I just love the books =)
BigSis says
I’m with you on the vampires, sister! I don’t do them either. They creep the heck out of me. Now those cookies…I would do those! They look deep dark and extra chocolaty. I keep reading about chocolate nibs, so I need to break down and try them and stop wondering how they taste in cookies. You have a great trip!
CookiePie says
Those cookies sound delicious! I love no-bake treats in the summer, and I had totally forgotten about cooking in junior high home-ec class until you mentioned it!!.
So funny that people are asking you to go to Forks to get them stuff — what is that about??? I mean, I admit I am a Twilight fan (I’m 38, it’s so sad that I love a book for pre-teens, and yes I saw the movie too, twice) — but that’s my problem!
Nutmeg Nanny says
So while I will admit I do love Twilight I can’t imagine people emailing you about it. How weird that they want you to pick them up souvenirs. Now onto your cookies. They remind me so much of high school cooking. A big plate of no bake cookies and bag of puppy chow (no not the dog food!) and it would feel like HS all over again:)
Dana says
That is hilarious! I live in Seattle too but have never gotten any questions or requests like those. Thankfully! I just read the first book and cannot understand what all the fuss is about…
joey says
Haha! I can’t believe those emails! I would like to meet up to get some of those no bake cookies though…love how dark they look! 😉 Of course it would take me more than four hours though…
Lilis says
I’m not into the whole ‘vampire thing’ either, so I have no desire to read the books or see the movie. I don’t get it.
These cookies remind me of some we used to make when we were kids, except our recipe didn’t have the cocoa nibs or the pecans. Yours look great! I love no bake cookies!
Cricket says
It’s always a mix of excitement and depression when a new post of yours pops up. Exciting because your food makes me want to create/bake/eat even if I’m not in the mood. Depressing because your food makes me want to creat/bake/eat even if I’m not in the mood.
Thanks for clarifying the Twilight issue. 🙂
Jovian says
If you want a compelling series about vampires, read the “Cirque Du Freak” series, where the vampires (as far as vampires go) are realistic, have limits, and are so much like real people, you forget what they are. Though it’s a young adult series, Cirque Du Freak is not for the faint-hearted. So naturally, when “Twilight” made its appearance, I was less than impressed with these adolescent, moody characters, and the whiny Bella. (I don’t like the series, can you tell?)
On the other hand, those cookies are calling my name! They look so, so tasty 😀
Kristin says
lol. I have several times had out-of-state friends ask me if I’ve been to Forks. My response, “Yes, but I blinked and missed it.” (at first, not being into vampires myself, I didn’t know why they were asking, or how they even knew Forks existed)
I still find it funny that it has become a popular destination, being as it is out in the middle of nowhere.
On the other hand, thank you. I’ve been needing a cookie recipe that is new and different. -yum!
Erin says
I liked the first Twilight book, but I am struggling to get through the last one. It’s just not doing it for me, but I’m determined to finish it. These cookies look delicious. I made something very similar right after we moved when I wanted to have dessert, but didn’t have all my kitchen stuff ready to bake.
veron says
Like the true blood vampires more, but I think the next twilight looks more interesting than the first movie.
Julia M Usher says
Thanks for posting my recipe and mentioning my book – so very much appreciated!! Peabody is right, everyone. These cookies are very yummy and versatile. Just be sure not to overload them with too many goodies; they need a certain amount of gooey stuff relative to mix-ins to keep them bound together and creamy-smooth.
For all you cookie lovers out there, you can find more great cookie recipes in my book Cookie Swap. It’s on Amazon now and will be in booksellers everywhere on August 1.
Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/lptqjy
Joanna says
Guess you just have to laugh at how rude some people can be.
As for the baking part – it has been unusually cool here in the Midwest this summer so I actually feel like baking for once with all the great summer fruits that are appearing. I usually just go to the farmer’s market and sigh in frustration but not this year!
I have to admit I was never that big a fan of the no-bake fudge cookies you described – and I remember them well. However, with some really good quality chocolate and your additions I may have to give them a try – especially if our weather turns hot.
Katrina says
I just made similar no bake cookies this morning. They are so good and yet so bad! 😉 Yours look great.
Katrina says
Oh, and I love that you call them parental units! I had a roommate who referred to her parents as that and I always thought it was funny! I’ve never heard anyone else call them that until now! 😉
Melinda says
Please, please come and pick me up at the airport, Pea. Bring some gluten free cookies.
I am waiting.
Mrs. L says
Since we just got back from a road trip from Seattle, good friends had us over for dinner last night to pick our brains about places to stop, things to do. The wife kept saying “did you go to Fork? We’re going to Fork” or something of the sort. I didn’t hear Fork. I heard other words. She explained it was because of Twilight. My husband still looked confused before I told him not to worry, he’d never get the reference (no, we never went near Fork nor have either of us read the books or seen the movies!)
jasmine says
Would you be offended if I said I laughed at your intro? I feel your pain–but not about vampires. Yes, my name really is Jasmine. Yes, I’ve seen the movie. No, it’s not in my top 10,923,482,057.209,348,023,487.34 films of all time. Please don’t tell me you’ve named your child, dog or hamster after the character, I really don’t want to know. Also, please don’t tell me I’ve mispelled my name–what your friends christened their poor and unwitting child with isn’t creative, it’s illiterate. Really.
j
pita says
your post cracked me up. my daughter loves twilight. i’m letting her have a party when the new movie comes out and all, but i would never ask someone to run over to forks and get some souvenirs. that is just nuts.
cookies look yummy. peanutbutter and co’s maple peanutbutter is great in peanutbutter cookies. love their peanutbutters.
Mary says
No way…..twilight fans are a fascinating group….Since you are in Washington, can you pick me up some coffee at starbucks and new software at microsoft too?
Clover says
Yum, I love no-bake cookies, I’ll have to try your variation. I made about seventy billion of these for my brother’s wedding. The only place I had to spoon them out was in the sun room of the house we were visiting. Yeah, “sun room” wasn’t real useful for them firming up appropriately, but it all worked out in the end. Thanks for the recipe, and the Twilight mockery. I am SO SICK of vampires– every hot book out there right now is chock full of ’em.
Elle says
Totally out of it…didn’t even know that there was a Forks, WA…guess you can guess how into vampires I am 🙂
Those cookies take me back! You can also add crispy Chinese noodles and then they look like nests…sort of 🙂
Hope you have a good trip. Will be in Seattle Thurs through Mon, but helping K move, so no time to visit…even if you were home.
Hugs & enjoy the trip!
brilynn says
You get the most bizarre emails… you must have some sort of subliminal messages posted in your sidebar that just draws the weirdos in…
Jess says
I hear ya. I wish this pre-teen Twilight thing would go away. I saw Harry Potter last weekend and a trailer for the next Twilight movie was there and you’d have though The theatre was a rave for a few minutes with all the screaming…bizarre.
I saw something on tv a few nights ago that the residents of that town are miserable with the kids going there. They were a small logging town and now all these tourists are there. They just want to be left alone.
And um, sorry but Brad Pitt makes a way better vampire than whats-his-face. No one lost their mind when Interview With a Vampire came out- oh wait, cause that was scary vampires that kill people (like they’re supposed to!) Not pretty ones that just wanna fall in love 🙂
Nicole says
I don’t think you can take a ferry to Forks, can you? I camped somewhere in that area when I was a kid and have been no where close since then! I read Twilight (since I”m a librarian and I figure it’s my duty to know what people are reading) and I’m not a fan. I do see why teens like it.
I love a no-bake cookie. I certainly need those these days when it is 90 degrees and we have no A/C. Sometimes I don’t like the Seattle area for that very reason.
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
Then how ‘bot just lunch, no vampires allowed. I’ll have to pass on the car with the dog and the bunny.
These cookies look super yummy, extra rich with chocolate.
Tammy says
Can’t wait to try the recipe!
It is crazy. I live in Port Angeles, Washington just a short hour from Forks.
It makes our daily paper almost daily with tidbits about Twilight. It has brought visitors to our area which is really needed.
Forks isn’t huge at all and unless you are in to Twilight, you’d probably never go there.
But,they have an awesome hamburger restaurant.
We have businesses locally trying to cash in on the craze.
Weird!
Madam Chow says
You had me laughing so hard, I almost forgot what the recipe was about. As usual, I am amazed at what people say to you. And delighted by your response!
Lang says
Ever seen the vampire bat at Woodland Park Zoo? Pretty cool. Day & Night exhibit. Not sure how it feels about no-bake cookies. Mostly just hangs around upside-down.
Lynn says
oooo no-bake! i was just wondering what to do in this humidity. icky icky japanese summer humidity….*shudder*
thank you! 😀
and, i’ve read twilight, and i’m rather sad to say i am hooked…just on the books though, and despite the writing style and whiny characters. It’s weird that people should ask you to do all of that though. But i must admit, you’ve got guts ;D go Peabody!
Lynn says
Oh, yes, no-bakes take me back to jr. high. I love substituting cacao nibs for raisins – excellent call!
So, that would be a “no” on a lunch date in Forks? (he he he)
Avi says
Mmm… oats, fudge, and peanut butter rolled into one?
If I may ask (not about anything Twilight-related!), where did you buy the glass featured in the picture? I’m nearing the end of undergraduate and moving into an apartment for the first time this fall and am in the process of making a master list of what to buy. The category that has constantly been amended is the kitchen/baking section, heh.
Peabody says
Avi- that is actually a shot glass. I can’t remember if it is from Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrel or Sur la Table.
Hannah says
No-bake cookies are so perfect for this awful, humid weather! Especially with PB and Co peanut butter… Mmm, my favorite!
Julie says
So…would you drive to Forks to see if Edward is really there? j/k
Seriously, I think these cookies would change his diet!
katie says
I watched twilight…didn’t quite get what all the hype was about. Maybe I should’ve read the book? And seriously??? people are traveling to where the movie was filmed…are they searching for vampires?? I guess I just have WAY too many other things to occupy my time!
My mom used to make a yummy no bake cookie similar to these but they didn’t have peanut butter. I think peanut butter will make them x tra good 🙂
RobynK says
YUM–it’s been so hot here in the Seattle area lately so a no-bake cookie is perfect. This does bring back old memories, I think we made something similar back in the school days. Thank you for this post!
Lori says
whoa- I am not a Twilight fan, And I won’t ask you anything about Forks. Promise.
I will say this though, I need to make these for my kids. They would go crazy over them,
Jen Yu says
That is a little sad about those people who are so obsessed with fiction that they um… can’t make the distinction between real life and – fiction. wtf? Well love, nice call on the cookies. I have to pick one too (and most of them aren’t my type of cookies…) I really do prefer simple cookies!
Steph says
Wow, I’m obsessed with Twilight, but I would never think that people would actually email you about taking pictures of the town or mail them souvenirs..haha. I think most of the filming takes place in other rainy and cold areas anyway.
Twilight fans can be a little crazy.. I hope your inbox doesn’t get full of mean emails because the director for the third film had his twitter acct shut down after he said something bad about the film.
Your cookies look really good and perfect for those days when it’s too hot to turn the oven on.
p.l. says
Not into Twilight at all but just had to let you know that I’m so happy you’re still blogging. 🙂
Allison says
LMAO! I just found your blog and LOVE your letter to Twilight fans. I am a staunch opponoent of the series and find it funny people actually made those requests of you.
The cookies look fabulous though. I’ll have look for the cookbook you got the recipe from. One can never have too many books decided to just cookie recipes.
Janet says
I tried to make these and all I ended up with was a big crumbly mess in my kitchen. What a terrible recipe and a waste of time.
Peabody says
Janet- sorry they crumbled. Most likely the temperature boiled over 240F. If so that will cause it to crumble. 🙁
Martha says
What are cocoa nibs? May I replace them with chocolate chips?