Cookie Sunday

Sundays here at the park are my - not work as hard as the rest of the week - days. 

Not that I don't work, but because I work a 7 day week, I find I need at least one day to take it a little more easy. It is a good choice because most campers feel that way also. 

Our check out time here at the park is 11:00 am. During the week this rule is pretty much followed by all. But come Sunday we notice that a few more campers seem to dawdle. I can't say I blame them though - most only have to drive a few hours to get home. They want to stay and enjoy the park for a few more hours and we say - go right ahead! We just ask them to please ensure that their site is clean and their tags are pulled when they leave - most are happy to comply.

Since there were no campers here at Skihist last night I decided to take the day off. (Day - not night - I still have to do my rounds tonight.)

I try to get baking done on Sundays for us to enjoy for the rest of the week. Some times this is just a dream of mine and sometimes it ACTUALLY happens.

Today was the day for COOKIES! 

Now there are cookies and there are cookies. I'm not going to say that there are not better more tastier cookies then the ones I made today and will share with you, but this one is a compromise between health and taste. In fact, this recipe is the only cookie recipe I have been making for a while now since we all enjoy them. I hope you do too!

Grainy, Seedy Cookies

(adapted from Parents Canada magazine)

Packed with the same ingredients as granola, these chewy cookies contain fibre, protein and vitamins and healthy fats from the nuts, seeds and canola oil. 

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

1/4 cup           butter, softened

1//4 cup          canola oil

1/2 cup           packed dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp.           cinnamon

1                    egg

1 tsp.             vanilla

3/4 cup          all purpose or whole wheat flour (*I use 1/4 c ww and 1/2 c all purp)

1 1/2 cups     old fashioned oats

1/2 tsp.          baking soda

1/2 tsp.          salt

1/2 - 1 cup    sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax, wheat germ, nuts (I add about 1/4         cup of each)

1/2 cup         raisins or other dried fruit (we skip these in favour of dark chocolate)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

I am sure you all know how the cookie making process goes but since I was doing it anyway I thought I would show you step by step pictures, it gives you something to look at anyway.

In a large bowl beat the butter, oil, brown sugar and cinnamon until creamy.

Beat in the egg and vanilla.

I cut up my pumpkin seeds a little. 

By the way - I buy my seeds in bulk. I used to be a bit leery of bulk bins but I have come to terms since I like to save money. Andrea from Frugally Sustainable (one of my most favourite blogs) has a great article on buying in bulk. If you sign up to her newsletter you can download it for free.

Add the flour, oats, baking soda and salt and stir until almost combined; add the seeds, nuts, fruit and chocolate and stir until just blended.

The only chocolate allowed in our house is DARK chocolate. I used to hate it but the health benefits brought me around. Now that it is the only one I eat I LOVE it. In the USA we buy Lindt or Ghirardelli which we can buy for at most $2.48 at Walmart. Here at home they are well into the $3 range so we buy the LARGE extra dark President's Choice bar from Superstore or Extra foods. On the last shopping trip they were on sale - 2 for $3.99 each!

Cut the chocolate up - who needs baking chocolate chips? not I.

Looking good!

Drop large blobs on an ungreased baking sheet (I use parchment paper) and bake for 12 - 14 minutes; until set around the edges but still soft in the middle.

Ok - so watch your cookies. I have never cooked them for more then 9 to 10 minutes - not sure if our oven is hotter or what but if I gave them the suggested time we'd be eating burnt cookies!

Ahhh the result.

Of course Cassia was waiting in the wings for the cookies to be done! The great thing about them is I don't have to worry about Cassia eating them - an easy way to get great stuff into kidlets. If that's all she'll eat for breakfast - a few of these and a smoothy - I'm ok with that.

We have a NEW little guy who found our feeder! Another great shot by Derek.

Cassia and I even had time after the cookie making for a picnic outside!

So, to know me is to know that I love cooking and baking. What I love even MORE then cooking and baking is READING about cooking and baking. One of my favourite hobbies is reading recipes - books and on the internet - it doesn't matter a bit to me that I may never make the recipe. 

However, I do try.

I guess that's why I believe that pinterest was created just for me - I have a ton of recipes already pinned! So many recipes so little time.

With that in mind, and with great optimism that I'll be cooking and baking the summer away, I have decided to make Sunday's here at the a life made simple blog - recipe day. Each Sunday I will share with you one of my favourite recipes, or perhaps even one I am trying for the first time, we can see how it turns out together!

Happy cookie baking - and eating!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Hmmmm, I'm not sure if I have ever linked the village of Lytton. Well if I have or I haven't - here it is. Lytton is just south of us and our go to place for emergency groceries and most importantly - the library. Boy am I glad to be back to going to the library regularly - usually once a week!

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