Oatmeal, Pear & Date Cookies

I was in the mood for something sweet yet a bit healthy.  Hmmm…oatmeal cookies seemed like a good place to start.  Once I decided on oatmeal it was a matter of what else to put in them.  No plump golden raisins in the pantry but what I did find were sticky sweet dates.  I love dates.  When I lived in the California desert many moons ago, going to the date farms for fresh dates was a real treat.  My favorite part of that trip was ordering a date shake.  OMG!  Sweet, rich and sinfully delicious.  In fact last time I visited the desert in 2010 I was able to visit one of the farms and believe me I enjoyed every last  slurp of an icy cold date shake.  When the temps are soaring above 110F nothing tastes quite as refreshing as a cold, creamy, fresh made date shake, or chocolate, strawberry or banana for that matter.

So it was decided oatmeal, honey and dates.  I was liking this idea when I noticed a couple of ripe pears just waiting to be devoured.  Perfect!  Oatmeal, honey, dates and pears in the cookies.  Sounds healthy enough for me.  Honey we know is a great natural sweetener.  A small amount of brown sugar is also added to the cookie.  I used pecan oil as it is low in saturated fats with a balance of fatty acids that may help reduce LDL cholesterol.  It also gives a slightly nutty flavor to the cookie.

I want you to know these cookies are mild in flavor.  The sweet, creaminess of the pears works well with the chewy bits of dates dotting the cookies.  They come out of the oven very soft and chewy.  If you like a crunchier cookie just leave a few out on a plate overnight and they will get a bit of crunch.  Either way, delicious and healthy with a glass of ice-cold organic milk.

Coming soon a recipe for Honey, Ginger & Garlic Roasted Chicken!

Enjoy!

OATMEAL, PEAR & DATE COOKIES

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped, peeled pear (I used Bartlett)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup pecan oil
1/3 cup organic milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375*F.  In a medium bowl combine oats, fours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Stir to mix well.  Stir in dates and pears.

In a large bowl combine egg, honey, oil, and milk.  Stir into dry ingredients until a smooth batter forms.

Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto un-greased baking sheets leaving 2″ between.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Transfer cookies to a cooling rack.