oatmeal cookies with dates, cranberries and walnuts

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup organic spelt flour
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup solid non-hydrogenated (earth balance or spectrum brand) vegetable shortening, room temperature
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup organic natural brown sugar
1/4 cup organic grade b maple syrup
2 large organic eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups organic multi-grain oats
1/4 cup raisins naturally dried
1/4 cup dried blueberries no preservatives
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F.
combine flours thu sea salt in a medium bowl.

beat butter, vegetable shortening, unsweetened applesauce and brown sugar in mixer until fluffy.
beat in maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla.
slowly and on low add flour mixture until combined.
add in oats, raisins, dried blueberries,dates, and walnuts.
drop by heaping tbls onto baking sheet and bake about 10 minutes. cool

meyer lemon and ginger madelines

i was recently given a big ol batch of beautiful meyer lemons. they are my favorite. the flesh is thinner and the taste is more floral and fragrant and much juicer than ordinary lemons. i finally got around to using them this morning.

madelines are so light and delicate. lemon is a perfect flavor for them and the added spice of finely minced crystallized ginger makes the flavor have an even better zing to it.

i used almond meal and wow did that make this stand out even more. almond meal is a great addition to baked goods and can be bought already ground up at trader joes.

little foodie gave them his usual horray..perhaps only 1 thumb up this time though. if it seems like this kid will eat anything....he will, but some things are met with more ferver than others.

madelines molds are easy to find but if you don't have one feel free to use a muffin tin instead.




enjoy!

2 lg organic eggs
1/2 cup organic powdered sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup unbleached organic all purpose flour
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 lg meyer lemon, zested and minced and juiced
2 tbl finely minced crystallized ginger
sliced, toasted almonds
preheat oven to 375F.

in a mixer beat eggs and sift in powdered sugar; add butter and beat until combined.

on low, blend in almond meal, flour, baking powder, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla. fold in ginger.
cover the bowl with a towel and let sit for 1 hour to let the flavors really meld..beleive me...don't miss this step!
stir batter then fill about 3/4 the way up in madeline mold. sprinkle with almonds. bake 10 mins. cool.