One of my New Year’s resolutions was to cut down on sugar. Actually, I was trying to go 3 weeks without sugar. This 
is not an easy job, with sugar and corn syrup in so many of our food products, but I was still on Christmas overload when I made this ruling for myself.
Over the holidays I promised my young friends we would “cook” together sometime. With the emphasis on healthy eating for children, even the cookies we decided on had to have reduced sugars and grains. This is the recipe we made:
Apple and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried apple pieces, chopped
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl or 4 cup measuring cup, beat egg with fork; add juice, vegetable oil, and raisins. Mix to blend. In a large bowl, add both types of flour, wheat germ, oatmeal, baking powder, cinnamon, apple pieces, and nuts. Add liquids to dry ingredients. Mix all ingredients well.
Drop batter by teaspoon full onto nonstick cookie sheet or grease regular cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake 7-9 minutes until top springs back when lightly touched. Do no brown! Cool slightly before removing from pan.
I am quite sure you will not miss the sugar taste. The apples, raisins, and nut flavors come through without an overpowering sweetness, as found in many other recipes.
I don’t use any artificial sugar substitutes in any foods, nor do I like anything “diet”. I feel these are not good for our bodies.
Hope you enjoy this recipe which satisfies the sweet tooth in a nutritional way.
To YOUR healthy goals and those of your family’s,
Lee Jackson, CFCS
Food writer and author of two apple cookbooks
http://www.imagesunlimitedpub.com
