Oatmeal Cookies

A nice, full of spice, oatmeal cookie that is easy, quick, yummy, and dairy free. Don't skip the walnuts, I think they are key to the yummyness.

1 cup unbleached or whole-wheat pastry flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar or other sweetener

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 tsp. vanilla extract

11/2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup fortified soy or rice milk

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional


Preheat oven to 350 F.

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in large bowl.
In separate bowl, mix sugar, oil, molasses, and vanilla until smooth. Add flour mixture, rolled oats, milk, raisins, and walnuts. Mix well.

Drop rounded tablespoonsful of cookie dough onto an oil-sprayed cookie sheet (DO OIL OR BUTTER COOKIE SHEETS!), about 2 inches apart. Bake until light brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store in airtight container.

Makes 30 cookies

Creamy Cauliflower Mac

Instead of using high-fat butter and cream, Bittman makes his healthier mac and cheese with pureed cauliflower, chicken stock, and a moderate amount of cheese.

2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 bay leaves
1 cauliflower, cored and cut into large pieces
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 cup grated cheese (such as sharp cheddar, Gruyere, or Emmental, or a combination)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup whole-grain bread crumbs

Heat oven to 400° F. Boil a pot of salted water.

In a saucepan, warm stock and bay leaves on medium-low heat for five minutes; turn off heat.

Cook cauliflower in boiling water for 25 minutes. Put cauliflower in a food processor.

Cook pasta in boiling water for five minutes. Drain and rinse to cool; put pasta in a greased, nine-inch square baking dish.

Process cauliflower with stock (discard bay leaves), cheese, oil, mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, working in batches.

Pour sauce over pasta, toss, and spread evenly in dish. Top with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake 20 minutes. Serves four.