We’re enjoying our Canadian long weekend in the Jay home. Soaking up sun, garden time and family togetherness.

Today, I’m taking a break from the computer but I’ll be back on Tuesday with a yummy post! In the meantime, Happy Victoria Day!

A few of you asked about the treats Liam was scooping out in this post so I thought I would share this most simple and delicious recipe.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with it already but whether the recipe is new to you or not it bears repeating. These are one of my favourite goodies to throw together during the warmer months. They take practically no time at all to prepare and the kids love to help out with them.

These aren’t rocket science rather they are a nothing fancy, no frills kind of dessert which never cease to please me…I’d say the only downside is my total lack of self-control around these little nuggets. I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar before breakfast more times than I can count (one more reason this pregnancy thing is working in my favour).

I’m not sure what their official name is – I’ve heard many different titles applied since I first enjoyed them during my childhood. Call them what you will – haystacks, chocolate macaroons, mudpies or frogs I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Here’s what you need for them. These are staples in my house – I hope, for your sake, that they are in yours also.

In a medium sized pot start the butter melting.

Whisk in the cocoa. These two are meant to be together.

Once the butter is melted pour in the milk and sugar. Whisk together and bring to a boil for two minutes. All of my pictures of this step are too blurry – probably because I just couldn’t wait to get to the sampling part of this recipe.

Remove the pan from the heat, pour in the oats, salt and coconut, and stir.

Mmm.

I like to scoop them out onto a baking sheet covered with wax paper (the baking sheet makes them more easily moved from fingers that just can’t wait until they’ve cooled – like mine). They can be lumped onto the wax paper with an ice cream scoop, spoon or fingers. I use ice cream scoops for bite-sized and late-afternoon-mama-needs-a-pick-me-up-sized macaroons.

Don’t worry about pressing them together too much – as they cool they will harden.

Little hands love this job. It’s messy and fingers will need licking.

Let them cool or sample them warm.

No Rocket Science Macaroons

1/2 cup butter

6 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups quick oats

1 cup shredded coconut (I use sweetened because I’ve already cut the sugar down from the original recipe)

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the cocoa. Whisk in the milk and sugar. Bring to a boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and stir in salt, oats and coconut. Drop by tablespoons onto wax paper. Allow to cool and harden before storing in a sealed container.

Do you remember these from your childhood? Have you tried any variations?

Joining with Ginny for another week’s yarn along!

With all the excitement of our book sale finds there has been more time spent reading than knitting over the last few days. Even so, I’ve been making some progress on the elephant I’m knitting for a friend’s babe with this wool along with a newborn hat in this beautiful sock yarn (my specific colour has been discontinued). Both projects required the same size needle so I got a head start on the hat before making a special trip out for a circular needle to use instead. Oh boy, how I prefer bamboo needles to metal…my fingers, shoulders and head all sighed when I traded the metal dpns(double pointed needles) out for the bamboo circular. I’m thinking there will be a second trip out to replace the metal dpns with bamboo before I get too much further on the elephant. My fingers, hands and wrists get rather sore from the extra work of holding on to metal needles. I have mostly bamboo already but not in this small size.

I am most excited to share about our reading this week. I’ve been enjoying The Forgotten Garden on loan from a sweet friend (whose books are all in pristine condition giving me just a little stress at bringing some of them into this house with many curious hands…). I haven’t gotten far but I’m intrigued and enjoying the pace. I have heard warnings that it gets rather slower towards the middle but, to be honest, my favourite books are slow-paced classics so I don’t know if I’ll mind.

The other books shown are book sale finds that had been whisked away to little beds before I managed to snap pics for my previous post. I found a copy of one of the Rupert Annuals for a little friend across the country – the Rupert loving children of this home are making sure we’ve read through it before sending it off. Have you seen these books before? They are so great – we’re very happy this little friend’s mama introduced us to them!

I also found an unabridged, lap-size copy of Swiss Family Robinson. The copy is one in a series (!!) of classics (I missed out on nabbing the copy of Robin Hood). It is illustrated with encyclopaedic-type entries in the margins relevant to the story – info on whelks, mutton and beaver rats for example, along with vocabulary definitions. I love it!

And the last set of books which have seen near constant attention over the last few days are the BOB books I also picked up. Liam has been scream reading them at every opportunity. I’m not sure why his out-loud reading comes out quite so loud but his confidence sure has been boosted to discover he can read “real” books. I love watching children learn to read and enjoy reading! So, so wonderful!

Since I like to leave you with a question I’m curious after my rant about the metal needles what type of needles other knitters prefer to use. Are you firmly attached your bamboo, metal or plastic needles? Or do you use an assortment of different types?

Thanks for coming by! As always it will be nice to wander around other yarn along posts for some knitty and reading inspiration.