week9: cookies

another new recipe this month based on one i found in CL. the CL version is called chocolate cherry heart smart cookies, but i wanted to bake something right away and i didn't have cherries or chocolate in the house (believe it or not) so i subbed cranberries and almonds. these are delicious!

Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Cookies

1/3 c. all purpose flour
1/3 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tbs. unsalted butter
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. dried cranberries
1 tsp. vanilla (or almond) extract
1 egg, beaten
1/3 c. slivered almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine first five ingredients (flour through salt) in large mixing bowl and whisk together.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan on low heat. Remove from heat, add brown sugar and stir until smooth.
4. Add sugar mixture to flour mixture and beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. (At this stage, my batter did NOT look at all like cookie batter, but I pressed forward and everything turned out great. So don't panic.)
5. Add cranberries, vanilla/almond extract and egg; beat until combined. Stir in almonds.
6. Drop tablespoons onto cookie sheets (use cooking spray or silicone baking mats).
7. Bake at 350 for 12 mins. Cool on sheets for 3 mins, then remove from sheets and cool completely.

Makes 30 cookies. The original version (with cherries and chocolate) has 94 calories per cookie and only 3.2 g fat. It also has 1.5 g protein and 1.3 g fiber.