oatmeal banana cookies

I think fall food is my favorite. So good. 

So, here is the first of many great recipes. 

Oatmeal Banana Cookies

1 ripe banana

2 Tbs peanut butter

1 Tbs oil

2 Tbs honey

1 cup oats

1/2 cup nuts

Mush banana and add all ingredients. Stir until evenly mixed. 

Bake at 350F for about 10 minutes.

They might be a little crumbly, so let them cool on the baking sheet. 

Makes about 9 cookies

Enjoy with a cup of tea for an easy breakfast or snack

peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Peanut butter is one of my favorite flavors, and combined with chocolate just makes it amazing! 

2 1/2 cup flour (I used ground oats)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter

1 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 cup chocolate chips 

Mix dry ingredients and then stir in wet ones and chocolate chips. Drop by spoon onto baking sheets at least  an inch apart. They spread out quite a bit so don't put them too close to the edge! Bake at 375 F for 7-9 minutes and then enjoy the warm gooey goodness! 

favorite cookies

I've found it, the perfect cookie recipe! It is pretty much straight out of Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.
Ranger Cookies
1 14 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup butter-melted
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups whole oats
1/2 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips

Simply mix all ingredients and put onto a cookie sheet. It may be difficult to make them stay together because of the oats, pressing them into balls worked best for me. Bake in a 375 F oven for 8-12 minutes and enjoy!

I love the coconut and chocolate combination. Raisins or other "chips" would be good too. I know you aren't supposed to eat the dough, but I always do, and this may be my favorite! The baked cookies actually tasted very similar to the dough which was a very pleasant surprise!

gingersnaps

Time for more cookies! I really like food filled with different flavors and spices, so gingersnaps are one of my very favorites. I based the recipe off of the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, and tweaked it a little.

1 1/4 cup oat flour (grind up oats in blender)
1 cup white flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger (I didn't measure out the spices, so these are estimates)
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice

Mix all ingredients together then shape and put onto baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake in 375 F. oven for 8-10 minutes.

Pretty easy, and the result are some delicious cookies! They seem like they'd be good with a glass of milk (if I liked it!). The recipe also said to roll the dough in balls then roll in sugar, but I guess I was so excited for them to be done that I forgot that step! Oat flour gives the cookies a nice texture and doesn't change the taste too much. Usually when making food with spices, I just add a whole bunch more than called for because I like to taste it all. The original recipe called for about half of what is in this one, so if you want to play it safe, just add less. Hope you enjoy!

lemon cookies

Some of my favorite things are cookies. There are so many ways to get creative and it's hard to completely ruin them. They are also really quick and easy. We have had lots of lemons lately and I wanted to try something new, so lemon cookies it was! I used a recipe for sugar cookies cutouts from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book and then changed it up a bit. Here's the resulting recipe:

2/3 cup butter
1 cup oat flour (I just grind up whole oats in the blender)
1 cup white flour
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt (I have always wondered how that little of salt does anything, but I guess it must have a purpose)
about 1 tsp lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 350 F
Mix ingredients in order, stirring after each addition till thoroughly combined
Form balls and put onto a baking sheet about 1 inch apart (they spread out pretty far)
Bake for 7-10 minutes

These cookies turned out great! They are definitely better the next day as the lemon flavor comes out more. There is just the right amount of sweetness and the hint of lemon is refreshing and not too sour. They would be absolutely delicious with some frosting or icing, maybe next time.
I am a bit of a health nut (I get it from my mom :), so I like substituting healthier ingredients. Using oats is super easy and it doesn't change the taste much, although it is hard to get the same consistency.
Sorry I didn't get pictures this time, treats don't last long in this house!