Recipe(tried): Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies (Providence Gas Company, 1970's)

Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies or "Chocolate Surprise Clusters" as the recipe reads.

Donna, I KNEW I had this recipe, knew it was on a little slip of paper, knew where it came from, knew how old it was...only thing I DIDN'T know, was which folder of clippings it was in! Of course, after I went through piles of recipes without luck I remembered that I has stashed some clippings in a recipe organizer...of course, there it was. Why didn't I start looking there?

This recipe was included in my gas bill from the Providence Gas company during the awful energy crisis of '73/'74. The emphasis on everying was to conserve energy everywhere...the malls didn't even have Christmas lights that year. Hence the no-bake feature. I liked it because it was something my children could help make...and they LOVED the cookies. Probably much more than you cared to hear, but when a recipe has a history I think it is more interesting.

CHOCOLATE SURPRISE CLUSTERS

1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 quick oats, uncooked (not old-fashioned, or instant)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine chips, evaporated milk and sugar; heat on low until chips are melted and well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix together well.

Drop by teaspoon on baking sheets. Allow to stand until firm, or refrigerate.

Makes about 7 dozen