Page 20 - Inspire Health March/April 2017

• discover Oatmeal
Raisin Cookies

INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS

• ½ cup unsweetened • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray
applesauce* baking sheet with cooking spray.

• 1 cup brown sugar • Blend applesauce (or butter), sugar, egg,
• 1 egg (see substitutes) vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
• ½ Tbsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. baking powder • Add flour.
• ½ tsp. cinnamon • Gently fold in raisins and oats.
• 1 pinch salt • Drop in rounded spoonfuls and bake
• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 cup raisins 12-15 minutes, depending on size.
• 1 ½ c. rolled oats • Cool completely.

* The recipe calls for 1 stick (½ c.) butter but I
substituted applesauce. Reluctant? Trade out only half
the butter.

EggsAltAellr-nNaattivueraslto Then, I picked four egg alternatives: olive oil,
chia seeds, pumpkin purée, and nut butter.
By Michele Robert Poche Here’s how it went.

Allergies, cholesterol, That’s what I thought until I took OLIVE
salmonella, lifestyle … there on this eggs-ceptional challenge. OIL
are many reasons a person There are literally dozens of
may elect to remove eggs alternatives for eggs. Because they Usage: Pour from bottle
from his diet, but it’s not offer many different properties Ratio: ¼ c. = 1 egg
always easy. Eggs are a staple (cohesion, moisture, leavening), the Cost: $5/bottle
in the production of many substitute you use may depend Regular supermarket: Yes
dishes and baked goods. So largely on your recipe. I opted to
finding a substitute would be make cookies. (My family just loves CHIA
tricky, right? my “food experiment” articles.) SEEDS

If your brown sugar has hardened into a solid Usage: Soak 1 Tbsp. seeds in 2 Tbsp. water
mass, place it in a baking dish covered with a wet for 3 minutes
paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds or bake Ratio: 1 Tbsp. = 1 egg
in a 300 degrees F oven for 5 minutes. Keep it soft Cost: $15.99/lb.
Regular supermarket: Unlikely
for future use by storing it with a slice of bread.
PUMPKIN
PURÈE

Usage: Scoop from can (or homemade)
Ratio: 1/3 c. = 1 egg
Cost: $2/can
Regular supermarket: Yes

NUT
BUTTER

Usage: Scoop from jar
Ratio: 3 Tbsp. = 1 egg
Cost: $2.50/jar
Regular supermarket: Yes

Which was best? Honestly, they all performed well and the
results were pretty consistent. The olive oil was easiest to use but
yielded the least flavor. The chia seeds created a chewier cookie
with more of a granola bar texture. And the pumpkin and nut butter
were the fan favorites with the most (somewhat discernible) flavor.

Now, I just need to figure out what to do with the six dozen
cookies that remain. Sigh.

20 INSPIRE HEALTH March · April 2017