These cookies are one of Bud's favorite.  I usually only make them at Christmas.  It is a recipe that his mom and sister used to make for him.  They are super easy to do.

Unbaked Coconut Date Ball Cookies

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, combine the eggs sugar and dates. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Mix in crispy rice cereal. Butter hands and roll the mixture into walnut sized balls. Roll the balls in coconut. Serve.

Check out the other great recipes at And Baby Makes Five.

Monster Cookie Bars

At our house everyone LOVES monster cookies, especially Bud. I however, do not like to make cookies. Oh, I like to make them at Christmas since it is tradition, but I just am not patient enough to stand around and keep track of tray after tray. It seems like I burn at least one pan as I forget they are in the oven. And I never quite know when to take them out.

Anyway, one day last week my colleague, Frank, brought some wonderful Monster Cookie Bars to the lounge to share. Now Frank is a single guy and he said they were very easy, so I thought, "Hmmm, easy for me to bake, and my family will love them!" Frank shared the recipe which I promptly lost. After a google search I found one that seemed pretty similar, so I tried them. I took them with us this weekend and everyone loved them. They looked like this:

And the recipe is soooo easy, even Frank can make them! Thanks, Frank!

Ingredients:	1/2 C Butter 1 C Sugar 1 C Brown Sugar 1 1/2 C Peanut butter 3 Eggs 1 tsp vanilla 2 tsp baking soda 4 1/2 C Oatmeal 1C M&M 3/4 C Choc Chips
Directions:	Mix first 7 ingredients together then add oatmeal, m&m's and chips. Put into greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

(You may notice some white chocolate chips in mine that I just threw in. I love white chocolate chips and the girls noticed their addition to the recipe too.)