Receta Breakfast Cookies...Delicious, Filling AND Healthy!
The mister has taken to wearing shorts and a sweatshirt on the weekend around the manse. This is a disturbing sight. It's not that he has bad legs, on the contrary, they're quite nice and toned, however they are fluorescent in their whiteness. But that's not what's disturbing...it's JANUARY and it's COLD and he's wearing shorts! That can only mean one thing - his brain is not getting enough oxygen, allowing him to think clearly...cold weather = long pants. I believe that's just one of the equations/questions used to evaluate men with dementia, am I right or am I right? Maybe I wouldn't be so concerned if he just wore his shorts INSIDE but he wears them OUTSIDE, in the yard, causing our neighbors to don sunglasses as he struts to the mail box and back...and not only that, he's worn them to the hardware store, grocery store and the post office! He's gone out in PUBLIC in them! Now, here in the Northwest it's commonplace to see Tree Huggers wearing shorts (from Eddie Bauer) with wool socks (from REI) and sandals (handmade from hemp) but that's their way of making a statement...I'm-a-salmon-loving-spotted owl-protecting-granola-eating-Nirvana-listening-Greenpeace-door-knocking-hiker-biker-EPA-vegan-soy-latte-drinkin'-Microsoftie! Hear me Roar! What kind of statement does a Redskins sweatshirt, khaki golf shorts and Converse All-Star-High Tops with white socks make on an OLD MAN?!? No offense intended to any shorts-wearing-wool-sock-hemp-sandal folks out there...I'm with you in spirit!
If I called these Breakfast Fiber Bars you wouldn't make them, let alone eat them. If I called them Breakfast Protein Bars, you'd say, "been there, done that." Calling them Breakfast Cookies allows for a certain illusion...chocolate chips, toasted nuts, chewy, sweet coconut...all those things that make cookies taste so great...and guess what? THESE have all of that AND MORE! Orange zest is the underlying flavor, it's fresh and unexpected! Two of these cookies are a complete breakfast - at least, if you think of a breakfast that fills you up and makes you happy - plus each cookie has about 100 calories, making them a great snack as well...and here's the good part, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals thanks to Wheat Germ (it'll cure what ails you) and Bran Buds (it'll make you reg-lar)! But don't make the mistake of thinking they're granola cookies...because they taste much better than anything ganola-y... even if they are HEALTHY and GOOD FOR YOU! If you eat too many you just might break out your shorts, socks and sandals so go easy at first!
I've been making these Breakfast Cookies for years - all of my friends and family have had them and have loved them. You're not going to stuff four in your face before you realize you've eaten four, like you might if you were eating Oreos or Tollhouse Cookies...these are dense and chewy and substantial...which is why they are the perfect on the go food for breakfast or snack...give these a try, I think you'll love them!
Breakfast Cookies - Pots and Pins
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 cup flour
- 4 cups rolled oats (do not use instant)
- 1/4 cup wheat germ
- 1/4 All Bran (Bran Buds) crushed
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Coating:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread pecans on small baking sheet and bake in oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until lightly brown and fragrant. Remove and allow to cool. Keep oven on. Place All Bran in a Zip-lock style bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar and mix until smooth. Add in eggs, vanilla and orange rind and beat on low speed until well blended. Stir in flour and mix thoroughly. Add oats, wheat germ, crushed All Bran and blend well. Fold in coconut, cooled pecans and chocolate chips. (If you want to add more chocolate chips you can, but to keep the calorie count down I only add a few - just enough to make me think I'm eating a real cookie! You could also add raisins or Craisins, instead of chocolate chips.)
Make the coating: In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon.
Scoop dough into balls, about 2-inches in diameter, and roll in cinnamon sugar coating. Place on cookie sheet and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass. Cookies should be about 1/2-inch thick. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and let sit for a few minutes before placing on wire racks to cool. Makes 4 dozen cookies.