Oatmeal Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

     Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season for delicious sweets and baked goods! Cookies make a great easy treat for a holiday party or gift for friends and co-workers.  I got started early this year and began whipping up my first batch of holiday cookies this weekend to share with my co-workers. My favorite oatmeal cookie recipe got a bit of a makeover. To make them a bit more healthy I cut back on some of the fat and sugar and added a couple of my favorite ingredients; pistachios and dried cranberries.

        Pistachios are quickly becoming a staple in my kitchen for a quick healthy snack and an ingredient in baking and savory dishes. They are a tree nut like almonds, cashews and walnuts and are packed with mono-unsaturated fats, protein, vitamins and antioxidants. Did you know that pistachios yeild the most nuts per one ounce sering, you can eat about 49 nuts in comparision to about 23 for almonds, and all for only 160 calories! Pistachios contain a sweet and nutty flavor making them perfect in baked good and sweets. Their green color also make them a great addition to a holiday treat.

      Nothing says Merry Christmas more than these cookies. You can feel good about giving your friends, family, or co-workers something that is both healthy and delicious this holiday season! Happy baking!

Oatmeal Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Makes 18-24 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup craisins
• 1/2 cup pistachios, unshelled and roughly chopped

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine dry ingredients; oats, flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.
3. Combine wet ingredients; oil, applesauce, egg, and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
4. Fold in craisins and pistachios.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Homemade Granola

          I love adding granola to my morning yogurt and favorite baked goods.  But unfortunately, store bought granola is full of added fats and sugars and can be quite costly. So, I decided to start making my own granola, cutting back on the added fat and sugar and of course cost! It is also super easy to make and of course delicious. I have had a lot of people ask me for the recipe, so I thought it was about time to post it!

Homemade Granola
Ingredients

• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• dried fruit (optional)
• nuts/seeds (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a small bowl combine honey, vegetable oil and vanilla.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir.
5. Spread mixture onto large cookie sheet (preferably one with sides)
6. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes.
7. Stir mixture then bake for another 5-10 minutes, until oats are golden brown.
8. Remove granola from oven and let cool on pan to allow granola to harden and create clusters.
9. Once harden remove from pan and mix in dried fruit, nuts and seeds if using.
10. Store in air tight container.

Here are some other fun ways to enjoy granola..
- Enjoy it with low fat milk (remember a serving is only a 1/2 cup!)
- Add it to trail mix, oatmeal, yogurt or your favorite baked good
- Top roasted apples or seasonal fruit with granola for a quick fruit crisp