Oatmeal Cookies after a 3 mile power walk

Yes, I had to put the word power in the walk. We all know there's a walk and then there's the power walk. Ok... on to the goods...

I thought I would share our staple cookie recipe. Although I do want to warn you. I try to change ingredients where I can to make our menu as healthy as possible. So, if your palate is spoiled for the taste of things only found in a 'drive-thru' dinner, then this recipe will probably disappoint. However, my kids love them! There's probably more I could do to this recipe, but this is as far as I go. The measurements are not exact as I tend to throw some things in without measuring. A big no-no in the science of baking. So, I apologize.

1 small container (4 oz.) of no sugar added applesauce

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 c. milk (we use rice milk)

3/4 c. of organic sucanat (dehydrated cane juice)

3/4 c. flour (we use brown rice flour or gluten free all-purpose)

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Cinnamon to taste

3 cups uncooked Oats

I also add about 1/4 c. mini choc-chips. Gasp!! Well, what's a cookie without something 'junk-food-ish' in it, right? You can add whatever you want... raisins, nuts, etc...

Mix wet ingredients. Add mixed dry ingredients. Spoon onto baking sheet. (I cover my pans with parchment paper since I'm not a fan of Teflon nor aluminum touching my food. You may think it's weird. I think it's perfectly normal. ;) Bake 12-15 minutes @ 350 degrees. Makes roughly 30 cookies.

It's been my experience that anything baked with applesauce instead of oil tends to taste best fresh from the oven! This recipe may not win a bake-off, but I don't care so long as my girls think it wins the prize!

I touched on the fact that I have picky eaters. Well my Gracie takes the cake! She had a horrible gag reflex every time she put salad in her mouth. Long story short, I kept trying... to exhaustion. FINALLY, this week Gracie confessed that she liked salad and wanted seconds. They had to revive Mama up off the floor!!

Now, just a little side note on the 30x5. I've been doing well and can feel a difference. We actually cleaned out part of our garage, making room for a couple of exercise pieces. The idea that we even cleaned out part of our garage is exercise in and of itself. If I had taken pics of the 'before', you would have agreed with me I'm sure!!

Here's Jasmine (our lab/whippet mix) on our way home from our 3 miles at the park. Seriously. She sits like a human... thus the stares and smiles. She loves her walks, but always tries to talk me out of the 3rd mile. Really. She starts walking toward the car after the second mile giving me her best big-puppy-brown-eyed look. Granted, it's hard enough to talk myself into it most of the time! Mama can't slow down. She's on a roll.

"Girls, can you keep it down in the back seat? I'm tired! Don't test me. I will eat your shoes."