Happy Earth Day world!

I love Earth Day. I really miss being a teacher on this day, more than any other day (including Teacher Appreciation day!) In April we always started on our ecology units in biology class so an Earth day unit just fit in naturally with our state curriculum to cover natural resource cycles. I would always have my kids in all classes (physics - biology) build a dream house that included plans of efficiency. You would be surprised how detailed a 14 year old would be and how much excitement they showed for their house! And with the added knowledge that saving money on your utility bills means you can blow it "toys"...that really got them involved.

Now don't get me wrong...I'm not the tree hugging hippie that for every newspaper I buy, I plant a tree. I leave the tv on when I'm not in the room and I own a gas guzzling SUV. But I still appreciate the beauty found in nature and want to preserve it for my grandchildren to enjoy.

I have been gone (so to speak) from my "home" here in Georgia for nearly years with my husband's stint in the coast guard. Now that I am home and able to see more of the area than just the roads leading between my parents and my in-laws...I can take in all the changes. They have torn down my favorite teenage walking trails that were behind my high school to put up a strip mall with an Italian restaurant, Kinkos, Hallmark and a Starbucks. Even though I'm all about food...I'd much rather enjoy the trails that bring back so many good memories. They have widen many roads in the area taking away the front yards of most homeowners and even a few houses completely. It honestly saddens me to not recognize my surroundings in such familiar places.

So in honor of our environment, I have decided to post a recipe I make with my school kids as we enjoy learning outside for the day. It requires no baking and I get rave reviews from the kids with smiles and messy hands. We just do this in our science room on top of heat plate (which uses less energy than a stove top to boil milk). It's quick and easy. Here it is. Enjoy!

2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Mix cocoa and sugar in a bowl and mix in milk. Bring mixture up to a slow boil adding in butter. Let the mixture boil for two minutes, stirring constantly so the sugar and milk don't over burn/carmelize! Take off heat and mix in the remaining ingredients. Take the mixture in spoonfuls and allow to cool on wax paper. We called these mudpie cookies. YUM!