This recipe does not have white table sugar. The sugar in the coconut and cocoa bar will bring a natural sweetness. The nuts add texture and generate a feeling of fullness. 85% cocoa (Lindt is excellent) is high in antioxidants, low in sugar and carbohydrates and helps increase HDL cholesterol.
Coconut contains medium-chain triglycerides which are quickly absorbed and turned into fast energy, not stored as fat. Medium-chain triglycerides induce a full feeling (satiety) and have a fat-burning effect.
Multi purpose baking mix, barley flour or whole wheat pastry flour also works fine in this recipe. Oat or barley flour have the most postive influence on cholesterol metabolism.
Yes, you can Enjoy Cookies without Gaining Weight However, this type of cookie needs to be baked at home. The ingredients in the cookie recipes presented on this page are low glycemic. The sweet taste comes from applesauce, pineapple, coconut or cocoa. The oat bran content slows gastric emptying, digestion and absorption. Oat bran (like barley) also increases the breakdown of cholesterol, and reduces the absorption of cholesterol and fat. Wheat germ, the flaxseed and the nut content nurtures the body tissues in healthy oils. A Saturday afternoon baking cookies that nurture heart health and help maintain a healthy weight through out the week is very very relaxing. Sharing a few of these nurturing cookies with a neighbor, or co-worker . . . even better. Replacing high glycemic foods with low glycemic foods helps moderate blood sugar. High blood sugar (insulin spikes) contributes to stored body fat (weight gain) and causes LDL cholesterol to become polluted (oxidized). Oxidized LDL cholesterol interferes with the formation and activity of nitric oxide: an artery protecting, artery relaxing molecule. Oxidized LDL cholesterol also contributes to arterial inflammation, arterial plaque development and plaque instability. |
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Golden Oat Squares (an afternoon snack)
1/2 cup freshly ground peanut butter
1 1/4 cup whole oats (quick cook)
1/4 cup light brown sugar (not packed)
4 tablespoons unsweetned applesauce
1/2 cup baking mix (or self rising flour)
4 tablespoons untoasted wheat germ
1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries
Cream peanut butter and applesauce with spoon. Mix dry ingredients, and fruit bits, slowly add to peanut butter and applesauce mixture. Pour into 8x8 parchment lined (or foil) baking pan, slightly press down with spoon. Do not press down hard, the oat square is to be soft and cake like. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to over bake. When still warm cut into two inch squares. Oat square has an intense peanut butter taste.
Oat Bran and Pineapple Breakfast Cookie
one 7oz package oat bran muffin mix
4 tablespoons oat bran (hot cereal)
4 tablespoons unsweetned applesauce
3 tablespoons butter softened
2 tablespoons milled flaxseed
1/3 cup canned chunk pineapple
2 oz pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts
Drain pineapple, chop into small pieces, set aside. With a spoon cream together butter and applesauce, set aside. Mix oat bran muffin mix, oat bran, nuts and flaxseed. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold in pineapple. Be careful not over mix or cookie will be flat.
Preheat oven 350 degree, drop full tablespoon onto non stick cookie sheet. Bake about 15-18 minutes, until tops are golden. Creates ten, 2" fluffy, soft cake like breakfast cookies.
Milled flaxseed is flaxseed that has been ground to a fine powder. Milled flaxseed is very pure and is an inexpensive plant source of cell nourshing omega 3 essential fatty acids.