Kool-Aid, cookies and more

Dear Mom’s Corner
You gave a web-site one time with recipes for Kool-aid.  I’ve misplaced it, could you print it again, please?
Thanks,
–LHG
Dear LHG,
Sure, it’s http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/2001/ka_recipes.html.  There’s many great recipes there. Here’s another site http://www.aaa-recipes.com/koolaid/koolaid.html This site has some unusual recipes like Koolaid jelly and Scratch and Sniff Water Colors.
Thanks for reading my column!
–Michelle

Dear Mom’s Corner,
When did Labor Day start?
–Amy
Dear Amy,
One of  my  children asked me that, too. It started in the 1800s because companies didn’t have to give their workers any time off.  Labor Unions worked to create a holiday at the end of the summer so workers could have a day to spend with their families. By the way labor unions, are kind of like clubs that people who do the same kind of work join then they can all work together to make the company where they work treat them better.
I explained later the government took up the fight and made it a national holiday in 1894.  Just FYI,  the U. S. Department of Labor now states:  “It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”
After I explained all of this to the child who asked one of my other children (one who is old enough to know better and just being a smart aleck) says, “Oh really, I thought it was called  ‘Labor Day’ because you tried to work us to death.”  No, not really! Good grief!
Thanks for reading my column.
Michelle,
In one of your articles you mentioned a “No Bake Cookie” recipe. Could you share that?
Thanks.
–WP
Dear WP,
Sure, it’s one of my favorites.  Be very careful to watch your boiling time.  That’s the secret to getting the cookies to come out right.  If you boil them too long, they will be hard.  If you don’t boil them long enough,  they will be gooey.
In a medium size pot add:  2 cups sugar; 1/2 cup milk; 1 stick real butter;  Stir this mixture and put on stove on medium heat after butter melts add : 4 Tbsp. + 1 tsp cocoa.  When mixture reaches a full boil begin timing for 1 1/2 minutes.  Remove from heat add:  1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup of smooth or crunchy peanut butter; 3 cups quick cooking oats.  Mix well. Pour into any type of pan.  The smaller the pan the thicker the cookie.  My kids love these as an after-school snack.
If you have a question or comment please email it to: moms-corner@juno.com.