Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies

My son and I love these cookies. It is based on this recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod, a beautiful and inspiring blog. I like to substitute apple sauce for oils, so this is how I make them. We made a batch this morning, using some tired zucchini I found on clearance at Kroger (I make a point of seeing what's on $0.99 produce clearance whenever I go. There are some great deals to be found!). Today I added white chips as well as semi-sweet chocolate ones; it was a nice change. I don't like zucchini in general, but in baked goods it is magical, and makes us think that we are eating "healthy."

Ingredients: 1 cup unbleached self rising flour (I like White Lily) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup applesauce (or 1 single serve cup) 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup shredded zucchini (More works as well. Today I used 3 small zucchinis; about 1 1/2 cups) 2 cups old fashioned oats 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (Dark chocolate chips are lovely; toss in extra white chips if you like them!) 1 cup walnut pieces (or almonds, pecans, whatever nuts you have)

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray baking sheets with nonstick spray. 2. Beat together sugars, eggs, vanilla, and applesauce. 3. Add flour and oats until well mixed. Stir in zucchini, chips, coconut, and nuts until combined. 4. Drop cookie dough by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheet. 5. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden around the edges and set. (Increasing the amount of zucchini may extend baking time to 15-20 minutes.) 6. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Granola Bars

I am on a quest for a tasty and nutritious breakfast bar that I can eat on the go. These are adapted from Verbena's Recipezaar offering, using what I have on hand. I have made these before, using up some old instant organic cranberry oatmeal. They were nasty but I ate them anyway and vowed not to use ingredients I would not eat by themselves anymore. Today's batch includes:

2 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned)
1/2 cup Kashi flake cereal
1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1 teaspoon ginger, ground
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup oil (neutral flavor like sunflower)
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses (optional)
1 cup grated apple
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried chopped apricots
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients (including oats) and whisk together until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients until well blended.
4. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and blend gently until well moistened. Add any of the suggested additions now (see Step 7). Mixture should be moist but not too wet. If it seems too dry and crumbly, add a little more applesauce (by the spoonful).
5. Line a 9in x 13in pan with wax paper and press mixture into pan.
6. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Cut into bars while warm, but let cool completely before removing from pan.
7. Suggested additions (add up to 2 cups of any of the following): chocolate chips, raisins (soaked in hot water for 10 minutes then drained), unsweetened shredded coconut, sunflower seeds (unsalted), pumpkin seeds (unsalted), dried fruit (like chopped apricots, cranberries), chopped toasted nuts.