Michelle shared an Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with 6 ingredients in the South Arm Older Adults Community Kitchen.

We made the cookies with extra ingredients like vanilla, ground cinnamon and baking powder to add more flavour and rise to the cookies.

Michelle brought up the issue of the new threat to health is sugar. She told us that she generally reduces the amount of sugar in her baking by half especially for those recipes that have other sweet ingredients like banana, dates, etc in it.

Ingredients

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) softened butter
• 1 cup sugar, preferably dark brown sugar (we used 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (or 1 cup quick oats as quick oats absorb more moisture than rolled oats)
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla (optional)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder (optional)
• kosher salt (optional)

Source: BakerBettie.com

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This is another recipe from mintgreenapron.blogspot.com which Minoo shared in the South Arm Multicultural Community Kitchen.

The Orange ginger Crinkle Cookies have a distinct flavour from the molasses. According to Minoo, molasses is a good source of iron. Pregnant women and vegetarian who miss out iron from red meat can benefit from eating food made with molasses.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar (plus additional for rolling)
• 3 tablespoons neutral flavoured oil like grapeseed oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest (or 1 teaspoon natural orange flavouring)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Source: mintgreenapron.blogspot.com who adapted the recipe from The Joy of Cooking: All About Cookies

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This is another shortbread cookies made in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.

This Swedish Dream Cookies are flavoured with almond extract and with added flaked coconut.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (more if you like almond flavour)
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Source: this recipe is adapted from epicurius.com

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These Gina’s Perfect Shortbread is easy to work with. You can make them as balls or roll it out with rolling pin and cut into desired shapes. The chocolate chips act as a guide for how thick they could be.

This shortbread isn’t overly sweet and the few chocolate chips add a little sweetness.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour, sifted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (preferred)

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This Banana Bread Cookies recipe is adapted from a recipe that came with ziploc containers.

This Banana Bread Cookies are like muffin tops. They are great for the lunchbox.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk and 2 tablespoons vinegar or 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3 medium ripe bananas
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour (half whole wheat and half unbleached works well)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup oats

You can use frozen bananas in this recipe. Just defrost overnight in the fridge or zap in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

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Another new addition to the South Arm Christmas Craft Fair baked goods sale is Crackled Gingersnaps.

If you like a thicker, more chewy cookie, leave it in a small ball; you don’t have to press it down with the bottom of a cup.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar for coating

Makes 18 to 20 cookies

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To round up the pseudo Italian menu, Michelle shared an Italian Almond Meringue Cookie recipe in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.

These Ricciarelli are chewy and sweet. If you like it more crispy, add the flour which we omitted.

Ingredients

• 2 cups ground almonds or almond flour
• 3 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 orange, zested
• 2 tablespoons flour, optional
• few drops of almond extract
• icing sugar for dusting

Source: Michelle

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Rula, a volunteer in the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors shared a recipe which her kids love. It’s Pumpkin Spice Cookies.

The glaze on these Pumpkin Spice Cookies makes a sweet treat.

Here are some notes from Michelle about pumpkin flesh:

• the bright orange colour is due to carotenoids, which fight free radicals
• rich source of Vitamin A which is good for the immune system and eyes
• high in Vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, potassium and zinc
• regular pumpkin consumption may have an anti-inflammatory effect, protect from joint inflammation and arthritis

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Source: from grouprecipes.com

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For desert, Colleen prepared a breakfast cookies recipe. Well, there is no Mexican flavours in this recipe.

The Oat and Fruit Breakfast Cookies are high in fiber just like the Jicama Salad and Black Bean Soup with Citrus Fruit. It is soft and chewy. This is a wholesome cookie that can occasionally take the place of a real breakfast.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (ignore if you use salted butter)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup grated peeled apples
• 2 1/3 cups rolled oats or quick cooking oats
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/3 cup currants

Currants, also known as Zante currants come from Black Corinth grapes (sometimes called Champagne grapes). Like raisins, they have a significant amount of fiber, iron and potassium.

Source: via Colleen

Yield 16 large cookies

P/S: the kitchen doubled the recipe

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