How to make quick brownies: Delicious chocolate in less than two hours!

This is a family recipe spin on a classic favorite, and I've yet to see or taste its like among the many home made and store bought varieties of a little treat commonly called no-bake cookies.

These have been called quick brownies in my family since I was young enough to remember, and they were one of the very first things I learned to cook. The recipe is simple, the end result delicious, but fair warning, it's a very finicky recipe and must be followed carefully, and times followed correctly. The ingredients can be easily burned if mishandled, but if you have cooking experience you shouldn't find this a difficult task, and once you taste them, you'll find it one well worth taking on ;)

This is what you'll need

• One small pan of varying sort, a small glass casserole dish is perfect
• One medium saucepan
• One spoon or spatula, preferably a flexible spatula
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 stick of butter (real butter is important, margarine gives incorrect texture)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• oatmeal to texture (1-2 cups)

The first thing that will make this recipe easier is to have your measure portions of each ingredient ready to use when needed, if you find yourself without enough measuring cups, an easy remedy is to measure the portion out into drinking glasses or bowls to have them at your side and at the ready.

Using the stick of butter or non-stick cooking spray, grease the pan casserole dish or pan that the brownies will go into.

Next place the stick of butter into the saucepan, and melt it on medium heat, removing from heat when fully liquid. Stir in sugar and cocoa and mix all three together until evenly combined.

Add milk and stir until smooth and without lumps.

Cook on medium to medium-high heat until the mixture begins to bubble around the edges. Now here comes the important part, set a timer and cook once the bubbles begin for two minutes, stirring constantly. This is the most tetchy part of the recipe, the timing is important to prevent the mix from burning.

After the two minutes have elapsed, remove from heat, and mix in peanut butter,until evenly churned. The next step is less exact, fortunately :D Slowly stir in oatmeal, a little at a time, stirring after each addition and adding more as needed until the oatmeal begins to not be coated with the chocolate mix, like so.

When it's reached this point, it's ready to go into the casserole dish. Now you can one of two ways to cool them. Cover in plastic wrap and leave in fridge or freezer until they reach a firm, but not hard, consistency. About an hour in the freezer or several in the fridge should do. But let's not forget the most important and delicious part, licking the spoon after you're done. That's something that someone shouldn't go their life without trying at least once ;)

After cooling cut into squares and enjoy the crumbly chocolate goodness :D