raw oatmeal cookies

I've mentioned before that I am trying to eat a whole lot healthier.  Lots of whole foods, veggies, whole grains and the like.  I've been checking out vegan recipes like nobody's business, and I even picked up a raw cookbook to see what that was all about.  I'm finding that my tastes are changing, and I'm really excited to be learning more about nutrition and ingredients.

For a girl who survived college on diet Pepsi, "garlic balls" (bits of cooked dough slathered in oil and garlic) and top ramen noodles with jarred spaghetti sauce, this is a big deal.

Now my mom was the original earth mother.  I still remember going to the co-op and buying carob chips, and I didn't taste sour cream or a slurpee until I was 18 years old.  I think I had to rebel against the healthy upbringing, but I am now appreciating the lessons she was teaching us way back then.

This cookie recipe would have been one she would have appreciated back in the day.  Heck, she would probably enjoy it now since she has mostly cut out sugar and gluten.  (Mom - you should try these!) I borrowed the recipe from Greener Eating.

Photo borrowed from Greener Living

 Raw Oatmeal Cookies

• 1.5 to 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 c. pitted dates, chopped
• 1 c. raisins or dried cranberries
• 1 tsp. cinammon

Place oats in glass bowl with cinnamon, stir together until mixed.

Chop dates into a semi-fine mush. (I used my Vita-mix - had to get the speed up to 6 or 7 before they stopped bouncing around enough to actually chop.)

Add dates to oatmeal mixture

Add raisins or cranberries.  I also threw in some walnuts because I didn't quite have 1 cup of cranberries.

Oil your hands with coconut oil, water, or cooking spray and mash together (might take a while).

Once the mixture is a dough like consistency, form them into golf ball size rounds and flatten them into a cookie - or leave them as round little balls. It all tastes the same.

What you end up with is a surprisingly tasty bite of oatmeal and raisin that is sweet enough to satisfy even the worst sugar craving.  The dates are sweet without having too strong a flavor, and the cinnamon helps evoke the cookie dough feeling.  A really yummy way to feel like you are indulging without really eating anything too bad for you. Enjoy!

And now for a little bit of useless information:
I was curious about what the difference between regular rolled oats and instant oats was all about.  Turns out, they are processed the same way, but instant oats are thinner and/or smaller so they cook faster.  That's it - they are both equally healthy.  Steel cut oats, on the hand, are a whole other story...