Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

At my house, we all have a love for sweets. As time goes by, we are find our waistlines could use a healthier alternative to chocolate chip cookies. My good friend, Amber, begs to differ!

While these are by no means calorie or fat free, they have three components that are far healthier than many others: Dried cranberries, molasses, and rolled oats. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and gather the following ingredients:
                     
                                                                       1 1/4 c. Old Fashioned Oats
                                                                                 3/4 c. Flour
                                                                                 3/4 c. Sugar
                                                                              2 tbsp. Molasses
                                                                        1 Stick of unsalted butter
                                                                           1 tsp. Baking Powder
                                                                             1 tsp. Vanilla
                                                                              1 tsp. Cinnamon
                                                                               1/2 tsp. Salt
                                                                                   1 Egg
                                                                        1 1/4 c. Dried Cranberries



In a medium size bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, salt, oats, and baking powder. Set aside.  In another bowl, beat the butter, sugar, molasses, and vanilla until creamy. Finally, add the egg.

                                                                    

 

 

Add the cranberries and roll into balls. Approximately 1 Tbsp. in size.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 dozen.

These are very filling, but you may want to double the recipe if you are accustomed to making more than a dozen or so.

 

My favorite dried cranberries are the ones I buy at Trader Joes. They are almost double the size of

Craisins and are cheaper, too! 

 

Try these on your toughest critics and see if they like them!

French Onion Soup

 

This has been an extraordinary cold and snowy winter here in Maine, as well as the rest of New England. The first week in April should be the time when we are hauling out the charcoal grill out from the barn! Not this year. So, what am I cooking on this beautiful, brisk spring day? French onion soup!  It's quick, cheap, and easy. Not to mention it releases fine aromas throughout the house. That and a pot of coffee brewing will create your very own café.

  

6 medium onions sliced into long, thin pieces

5 c. Beef Broth

1 Tbsp. Garlic Minced or Chopped doesn't matter

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1 French Baguette

8 ounces Gruyere Cheese Shredded

1/4 c. Red Wine Vinegar

1Tbsp. Thyme

1 Tbsp. Black Pepper

 

In a medium stock pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the sliced onions, garlic, pepper, thyme and cook until golden caramel brown. Deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. At this time , add the beef broth and cook until it reaches a boil. Turn down the heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.

Slice the bread into fairly thick pieces.

Place the soup into crocks or deep bowls. Place the bread on top and finish by adding the shredded cheese. Place under the broiler in the oven on high for 5 minutes.

I bought the Applewood Smoked Gruyere , but you can use cheddar if you can't find it. I also use a low sodium Worcestershire sauce because of the amount the beef broth already contains. I avoid using additional salt in recipes that already call for sodium based ingredients.

Check the broiler after five minutes and take out if the cheese is a bubbly, golden brown.

This is a great meal for any season, but especially warms you on days when its just not hot enough to turn off the furnace!!  My guess for this year in Maine will be June!!  Everything is late!! My husband is finding that out with the delay of sap running from the trees for his hillbilly maple sugar operation! It's flowing now!!

Between the soup cooking inside and the maple syrup cooking outside, our house is a great place to be right now. Hope you enjoy this recipe!