Jeannette's Chocolate Covered "Grasshoppers"

In less than a week, it will be two months since my mom's passing. It has been a difficult time, but I think my dad phrased it the best - you learn to "adapt." He and my mom were married for over 55 years.

While looking through two of my mom's recipe boxes today, I came across a recipe for Chocolate Covered Grasshoppers. The name certainly sounds intriguing, doesn't it?!?!?! I always thought Chocolate Covered Grasshoppers had some form of mint in it. A quick Internet search though, brought up "real" grasshoppers covered in chocolate. Um, no, I don't think so! The recipe is from my mom's friend Jeannette, who I always remember living near Miami, Florida. She has five children, all relatively close in age. I met most, if not all of her children at one time or another. I think the youngest was my age. Anyways, I can just imagine Jeannette in her hot kitchen in Florida with her children making these. They are no-bake/drop cookies, so you don't need to heat up the oven! These cookies are really yummy!!

Thanks mom for saving this recipe and for instilling my love for baking and cooking, which I have had for a really, really long time!

Ingredients

6 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup milk
4 cups "quick" oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large saucepan, put the cocoa, white sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a large spoon until it becomes a smooth consistency. When it hits a "rolling" boil, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the oatmeal and vanilla extract. Stir until all of the oatmeal is covered with the chocolate mixture. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper or parchment paper. I was able to get 32 "grasshoppers" making them that size, if you prefer teaspoonfuls, then it will make more! Chill in the fridge for a minimum of one hour. Store covered in the fridge. *I'm still trying to figure out why they are called "grasshoppers." They certainly don't look or taste like a "grasshopper" to me, not that I know what a grasshopper tastes like!!!

Strawberry and Watermelon Popsicles

Have you ever heard of a cookbook called, "The Sneaky Chef?" It is written by a gal that likes to "sneak" healthy foods into meals. A "white puree" consists of cauliflower and zucchini and it is incorporated into things like mac and cheese and lasagna. A "purple puree" is spinach and blueberries mixed together and put into brownies, pancakes and tacos. You kind of get the idea..... I have a much easier way to get someone to eat something they are not interested in eating - put it into a blender and make it into a popsicle!!! Lauren LOVES watermelon and strawberries, so she ate these willingly. Dominic on the other hand, turned his nose up at the watermelon. He flat out refused to eat it. This "sneaky" mom put some watermelon and strawberries into the blender yesterday afternoon, poured them into the popsicle mold and they were frozen and ready to eat after dinner. Dominic had no clue that I had "snuck" the watermelon into the popsicle when he ate it last night. Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to do!!!

2 cups strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed

In a blender, put the strawberries and watermelon and puree until you get the consistency you want (I put a 1/2 cup of each fruit at a time into the blender). When I tried to put it ALL in the blender, it was too much and the blender clogged up! Pour into a popsicle mold (made for four)  and freeze for a minimum of eight hours.

There will be just enough leftover mixture to put into a glass and drink (the hubby was the happy recipient of that yesterday). Enjoy!