Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

INGREDIENTS
Boiling water
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, spooned and leveled
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup apple butter
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)


DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, add the raisins and cover with boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes. Once plumped, drain the raisins and set aside to cool completely.


2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and arrange racks in the lower and upper thirds.


3. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.


4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the apple butter, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until just combined; stir in the oats and raisins.


5. Using a rounded tablespoon, drop the cookies onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart (12 per sheet). Bake until the cookies are no longer wet-looking in the center, 14 to 16 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.


Copyright 2010 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved


Nutritional analysis per serving of 3 cookies


Calories 228; Total Fat 6g (Sat Fat 3g, Mono Fat 1g, Poly Fat 0g); Protein 4g; Carb 41g; Fiber 3g; Cholesterol 38mg; Sodium 145mg


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Crunchy Bran French Toast

Ingredients

8 slices whole-grain bread

4 tablespoons light cream cheese

4 teaspoons low-sugar orange marmalade

2 large eggs plus 2 egg whites

Zest and juice of 1 orange

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups bran flakes cereal

1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (optional)

Directions

Spread 4 bread slices with 1 tablespoon cream cheese each; spread the other 4 slices with 1 teaspoon marmalade each. Combine to make 4 sandwiches.

Whisk the whole eggs, egg whites, orange zest and juice, and vanilla in a shallow bowl. Place the bran flakes in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or your hands. Pour the crumbs onto a plate. Dip both sides of each sandwich in the egg mixture, then in the crumbs, gently pressing the crumbs onto the bread.

Heat 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add the sandwiches in batches and cook until the outsides are golden and the insides are melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Add more oil and butter, if needed.)

Slice the French toast sandwiches into triangles. Let cool before serving to little ones, as the cream cheese can get quite hot. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and the kids won't even ask for syrup!

Photograph by Ngoc Minh Ngo

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French Toast

Sugarless Cake

Sugarless Cake Ingredients

1 c. dates, chopped
1 c. prunes, chopped
1 c. raisins
1 c. cold water
1 stick margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. plain flour
1 c. nuts, chopped
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla

Sugarless Cake Preparation

Boil dates and prunes in the one cup of water for 3 minutes; add margarine and raisins and let cool. Mix flour, soda, salt, eggs, nuts, spices and vanilla. Add to fruit mixture. Stir to blend. Pour into baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

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Low-Fat Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup agave nectar or packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 2 12-ounce cans fat-free
• evaporated milk
• 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Directions

Whisk the agave nectar, cornstarch and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot. Whisk in the evaporated milk and egg whites until well combined. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla.

Transfer 1 cup of the mixture to a medium bowl. Add the white chocolate chips and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and stir until the chips melt. Add the cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate chips to the remaining pudding and stir until the chips melt.

Divide the chocolate pudding among dishes and top with the vanilla pudding. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. Chop some chocolate chips to sprinkle on top.

Per serving: Calories 228; Fat 3 g (Saturated 2 g); Cholesterol 2 mg; Sodium 214 mg; Carbohydrate 38 g; Fiber 1 g; Protein 10 g

Photograph by Kate Sears

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Healthy Chocolate Pudding