How I bake cookies the healthy way

Keep in mind that when I say 'healthy', it only means how they say what is healthy at the present. I have been a half-health-food nut for more than 30 years and just when I get something a point of habit to help us be healthy, we read or hear how that has changed. So, I keep plugging along trying to do my best to do right by us. These are ways I do things, it does not mean it is the best way. It is up to you to determine what your family needs.

So ... when I bake cookies these are some of the things I do:

Cookie recipes usually call for 1 t. vanilla added in with the liquid ingredients. I have nothing against it, but the price. I won’t buy imitation vanilla and the other cost too much. I did not have it once, and found out the cookies taste just as well. So, unless I have it on hand, I don’t bother using it.

I use half the amount of sugar a recipe calls for in all my cookies. I figure all the other items I add in add sweetening to the recipe and it helps us stay healthier by not eating so much sugar. Less weight gain. Less money spent, also! I tried honey and other substitutes, but half the sugar is easiest.

When not using egg yolks, I use one more egg white than the eggs the recipe calls for. I throw the yolks away. It bothered me at first. But, I also throw peach pits away because they are not good to eat.

I use 2/3 unbleached flour and 1/3 whole wheat flour that I mix baking powder in to make my own self-rising flour.

I use one of those cookie dough scoopers. We like a little larger cookie.

Tropical Oatmeal Cookies

The recipe below, but I added chopped walnuts, dried pineapple cut into bits, coconut, and tiny chocolate chips. I call them my Tropical Oatmeal Cookies.

Oatmeal Cookies

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

1/3 c. soft butter (not melted)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. raw sugar
3 egg whites
1 ½ c. self rising flour
2 ½ c. quick oatmeal, uncooked
½ c ground flax seed

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter, oil, and sugars until creamy. Add egg whites and continue beating. Add flour. Mix. Stir in the flax seed. Add oatmeal, a cup at a time, and stir with spoon. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls***** onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

Note:
I added chopped walnuts and dark chocolate chips to this recipe.

This morning, I picked up one of my books 'Stories for the Romantic Heart' and opened it to a page containing this writing.

The Beauty of Love by: Author Unknown

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and a girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"

And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."

Steve and I are amazed when we see couples walking along ... with their hands so close, but not holding each other's. Now, I know that maybe there are reasons ... we just hope the reasons are good enough to miss out on that special sweetness. We sure look forward to still holding hands when we are old and wrinkled.


I found it at inspirationalstories.com Their post said it is in also... A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul.