Get Out Your Oats!

 Oats can used to make a plethora of good-for-us foods. Other than eating warm oatmeal on a cool day, one of my favorite ways to get my oats is with these Big Breakfast Cookies. They are great for a ready-made breakfast, snack or lunch extra. My grandkids actually think they are dessert because they are yummy!

BIG BREAKFAST COOKIES - Makes 12 big or 16 smaller

1 cup applesauce

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups oats

2 mashed bananas

⅓ cup raisins, craisins, any dried fruit or chocolate chips

¼ cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla in a large bowl. Add oats, bananas, raisins and nuts, (if using) and stir. Let sit 10 minutes. 

While you are waiting, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. An easy trick to making your parchment paper not curl up is to wad it up (like you used to make paper balls to throw in the trash can like a basketball!) and then flatten it back out. Voila!

After 10 minutes, drop by spoonfuls onto your prepared pan and flatten a little. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Cool on a rack. Enjoy! These also freeze well. Microwave to warm.

When you have emptied an oat container, recycle it. Not in your recycling bin yet, but help your child make a drum.

You can cover it with construction paper. Have your child help measure and cut the paper. You can attach with glue or tape. They can add paint, glitter, pom pons, or stickers. Whatever you have on hand. Turn on some music and let your kids beat on their drums with their hands or chopsticks. To get a good laugh out of them, dance along!