apple + oatmeal cookies

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I am not afraid of a sugary cookie. No siree bob. I am reticent to give my toddler sugary cookies, however, because I just don't think she needs that much sugar right now. But cookies are fun, and portable and an excellent snack when they're made with good stuff. So while I'm keeping the double-chocolate chip with butterscotch frosting for the later years, we're making somewhat healthier cookies now. And I'm quite partial to a few from time to time, these ones are pretty good!

They only have half a cup of sugar, and you can use a substitute if you like (natvia is good), or you can use honey or maple syrup, or leave it out entirely. They have a lovely, spicy apple flavour so if your kids (or you) aren't into that, then cut back or leave out for plain oaty apple goodness. They're fine either way.

Oh, and they're almost like a little cookie-sized cake - they're not crispy and crunchy, they're soft and very good for little hands and mouths :)

Ingredients:

1 cup plain flour (wholemeal is good too)

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup rapadura sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 tsp vanilla 

2 small apples, peeled and diced fine (or grated. I like mine chunky)

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients.

2. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

3. Spoon onto greased or lined trays. They don't spread much so you can put them reasonably close to gether. I like to flatten them just a little bit.

4. These have a tendency to burn quite quickly so make sure you take them out on the earlier side to save yourself some black-bottomed heartache. I bake at 180C for 10-15 minutes.

Raspberry and White Chocolate Cookies

In March, I held a giveaway for Veggie Mama's first blogobirthday... and these delicious cookies were the prize for one lucky recipient. What's a birthday without presents?

The problem was, they were really good. Like, really good. And it was very difficult not to eat several one as I was packing them up to be shipped to New South Wales. I couldn't stand it. I had to make another batch. I'm not into sharing food! I'm the kind of person that eats popcorn one kernel at a time, and have to defend my stash from the handful-grabbers... I'm always left with less than a third of the goods after I've shared with another. Plus I just really like food, and want it all to myself!

Now, though, I can share with y'all by giving YOU the recipe and you can make 'em. And I'll go take a nap.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup frozen raspberries

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat your oven to 180C.

2. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. It will be much easier if your butter is softened beforehand. I usually make biscuits at the drop of a hat and have only rock-hard butter. short bursts in the microwave is a winner!

3. Add egg and vanilla.

4. Mix in flour and baking powder. Stir in half the white chocolate chips.

5. Drop tablespoonsful on a tray covered in baking paper. Press in some raspberries and chocolate chips. I do this so they don't break down in the batter and go all squished and turn the batter a weird colour, especially if they're frozen. But you can do it however you like.

6. Bake 15-20 minutes until lightly browned and cool on a wire rack.

7. Post some to me.

Cookie giveaway winner

So, last week I remembered it was actually my blogobirthday or blogoversary or whatever it is while I was in hospital with Veggie Baby.

I thought baking cookies would be a terrifically lovely birthday present to give away to a reader... Blogger decided to have an epic meltdown on the Friday that the competition closed, so I had to extend the time to enter.

I drew the results Sunday night, and thanks to random.org, we have a winner.

Congratulations to Leimaycherry!!

I will email you this week for your address and ship you your delicious cookies post-haste.

Thanks for playing, guys and dolls. Stay tuned for more fun stuff :)

A Veggie Mama Giveaway

Veggie Mama is one year old!

No, not that Veggie Mama. Although it was my birthday recently.

While I was in the hospital welcoming this little poppet:

My little ole blog had its first birthday. It may never forgive me for not heralding this momentous occasion, and will forever be the sullen teenager that says "yeah? well remember that time you forgot my birthday?" and I will have to soothe it with an endless stream of cash from my purse and promises to lend them the car.

Given that the best part about birthdays is the food and the presents, I've decided to combine the two, and give away to one lucky reader a box of cookies, baked by me, as a birthday present.

"Oh... cookies?" you say? "Not an iPad or KitchenAid mixer like the Pioneer Woman?"

Yes, cookies. And I will bake them myself. When, as a new mother, I should be putting my feet up somewhere. Or ASLEEP.

For your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me which you'd prefer - raspberry and white chocolate, or double chocolate chip!

The contest will end at 6pm this Friday, May 13. Unfortunately this is only open to Australian residents, for customs reasons... but I'll think of something for my international lovelies soon!

The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will be notified by email. If you don't get back to me, I WILL EAT YOUR COOKIES!

Happee Birthday Veggie Mama :)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

Once upon a time, I joined a Facebook group called "Raisins, stay the f**k out of my cookies". And I meant it. If I was to eat a cookie, fruit was never welcome. Why fruit when you can have a lovely chocolate chip? Or chip of any other variety? Fruit cookies were for weirdos.

Well, colour me weirdo now, as I have come across a delightful recipe that features none other than the feared raisin.

Given that this pregnancy has seen me turn to the chocolate box or the biscuit barrel far more than I ever have in my life (which isn't saying much), I figured that if I were to eat a biscuit or nine with my tea, it should probably have some kind of goodness in it.

Now I'm not one of those crazies that insist every piece of food that goes into someone's mouth must be healthy. I'm not campaigning for McDonald's to cut their calories and add more salads or to ban all fried foods on Earth. While I agree that there should be more nutritious options available, I understand the idea of food that is bad for you and tastes damn good and hell, you've gotta just enjoy yourself a little every now and then. Which I normally would do. But since I now eat twelve biscuits* a day instead of a year, I would much prefer they not whack me in the face with a ton of sugar and fat and pretty much no goodness whatsoever. Hence the move toward this recipe.

It's crunchy on the outside, the merest hint of chewy in the middle, the raisins are plump and kind of caramelised on the outer edges, and the whole thing has a subtle spice flavour. I'm a fan.

Ingredients:
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup hot water
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F/175C.

2. Soak raisins in hot water.

3. In a large bowl, mix flour, soda, salt and spices. Mix in rolled oats, sugar and nuts.

4. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add oil, vanilla, raisins and water.

5. Pour into dry ingredients and mix well.

6. Roll into balls and place on a baking tray, slightly flattening them as you do so.

7. Bake 10-13 minutes until edges are golden. The longer you bake, the crunchier they get :)


*Exaggeration may or may not have just occurred.

Original recipe here