I don't know why, but I always feel like adding oatmeal and nuts to my cookies makes them feel more like autumn. These chewy oatmeal cookies are the perfect sweet treat on a fall afternoon. 

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups brown sugar1 cup butter, softened1 tsp vanilla1 egg
2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon lavender salt
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

4 tsp ground flax 

Directions: Mix together ingredients in order listed. Bake for 10 minutes until slightly golden. 

Then go out into the nice fall weather and jump around in a pile of leaves just for the heck of it. Happy Fall!

Would this even be a real food blog if we didn't feature pumpkin chocolate chip bread in the fall? Call me a sucker but I love love love when the pumpkin flavored deserts and treats start making their debut after labor day. This treat just sings cozy on up with me in your socks and long johns and enjoy yourself. This bread has a deep rich flavor of chocolate, pumpkin, and spice. You will probably regret not doubling it so you can freeze yourself a second loaf for next week. Don't say I didn't warn you. 

Ingredients: 

2 eggs

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups brown sugar

1 can pumpkin puree (about a cup and a half) 

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup chocolate chips 

Directions: 

Mix together all of your ingredients in a standard mixer in the order listed above. Pour batter into a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes. 

This is a wonderful recipe to double or triple. You can make loaves for your neighbors and they will probably be so grateful they will rake your leaves for you. 

Enjoy!

Did you ever see the recipe on this blog for our Kitchen Sink Cookies? They are oh so good. I love them because they are packed full of healthy ingredients like omega 3's and lots of protein.  I am such a cookie lover, and these kitchen sink cookies are seriously my favorite. Since I'm a cookie person, I realized that I needed to start baking healthier versions of all of my favorites. This meant, less butter, less sugar, and more healthy ingredients added. Today we are featuring an adapted version of our beloved kitchen sink cookie recipe. I'm simply calling these Healthy Cookies. They are full of healthy ingredients, but also lower in fat and sugar than a traditional cookie. They have several kinds of fruit, flax, and nuts. You can munch on these and actually feel good about it! They will fix your cookie craving and do it in a way that is not completely bad for you. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 mashed banana

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter room temp

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 cup flax

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups rolled oats

2 cups Cornflakes or Branflakes 

1 cup coconut 

1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

1/2 cup raisins 

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. You want them just barely golden on the outside edge. If you use a cookie scoop, you should get about 45 cookies from this recipe. 

You can elevate any desert recipe to holiday proportions by simply adding peppermint oil to your recipe. That trick is never better when used in a dark chocolately brownie. These brownies are rich thick perfection with just a hint of mint to make them merry. 

1 stick butter at room temp
1 cup flour
1/4 cup dutch processed cocoa
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp peppermint oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup chocolate chips
8 ounces dark baking chocolate 
2 tbsp powdered sugar for dusting

Directions: 
Melt your chocolate and butter together in either a double boiler or microwave. Add sugar when mixture is hot and stir to combie. Add eggs, flour, cocoa, baking powder, chocolate chips, and salt. Mix until just combined. Bake at 350 degrees in a 9 inch greased pan for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Dust with powdered sugar for a snow effect. 

May all of your recipes be spiked with something wintery and wonderful this month. Enjoy!