One of my absolute favorite baby, toddler and family cookbooks is Nourished Beginnings by Renee Kohley. She has created brilliantly simple whole food recipes that work well with busy schedules and hungry families. As we travel through this new year with resolutions and intentions set to make our lives a little better, be sure to include Renee’s Ultimate Breakfast Cookie recipe below.
Breakfast cookies are a healthy make-ahead meal that can be frozen for quick grab-and-go nutrition. They work perfectly for breakfast once warmed or thawed the night before. However, their best quality is reserved for the place they take in a lunchbox. On the busy days when everyone is rushing to get out the door and lunch is looking measly, breakfast cookies can be pulled from the freezer and popped into lunch boxes to be thawed just in time to eat.
These cookies come out chewy and filling. They also provide a great balance of fuel, providing carbohydrate and nutrient dense protein and fats. A balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats makes for a complete meal and helps to balance blood sugars for longer satiety. They can also be adapted for those who suffer from food allergies.
For the local aspect in these winter months when Northern California fruits and veggies are sparse, look for Bob’s Red Mill aluminum-free baking powder. Bob’s Red Mill (http://www.bobsredmill.com) was started in Shasta County and while their products are available in nearly every grocery store you can still pop into Moore’s Flour Mill in Redding to purchase directly.
The recipe below is very adaptable. You can see Renee’s notes in the ingredient list offering many swaps for items you might have on hand. I swapped the white rice flour for sprouted spelt flour and the almonds for pecans because that is what I had on hand and the cookies turned out great. These bake like a cookie but since they are quite filling and aren’t loaded with added sugars I wasn’t tempted to eat the whole batch. They are perfectly satisfying. Try them out and proceed into the new year with one more trick up your sleeve to healthily fueling yourself and your family.
The Ultimate Breakfast Cookie
- 2-3 bananas mashed or 1 cup applesauce
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup tapioca flour
- ¼ cup white rice flour (If you are grain free, use ¼ cup blanched almond flour or another ¼ cup tapioca flour)
- ½ cup peanut butter (or almond butter or sun butter)
- ½ cup almonds, crushed (or another nut. If you are nut-free, use sunflower seeds)
- • ¾ cup shredded coconut
- • ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit – whatever you have!)
- • 2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Combine with a spatula.
Roll into balls and flatten into discs onto baking sheet. (These cookies don’t flatten out in the oven, so make them about the size you want.) Bake 15 minutes.
(http://www.raisinggenerationnourished.com)
Localicious is a monthly column celebrating food in the North State. If you would like to suggest a food-related business or organization, email us at localicious@northstateparent.com.
Posted in: Localicious
Comment Policy: All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain relevant. Personal attacks, profanity, and aggressive behavior are not allowed. No spam, advertising, or promoting of products/services. Please, only use your real name and limit the amount of links submitted in your comment.
You Might Also Like...
Localicious: Sweet Cottage “Pie Lady” Serves Up Slices Of Handmade Goodness
Street vendors have become ubiquitous here in the upper North State; we’ve got our share of taco trucks, hot dog vendors, fresh bread, and even Italian food. One vendor that […]
Localicious: A Closer Look Into School Gardens
Over the last decade of working with children in school gardens I have learned that when children are involved in the process of growing food, they will eat just about […]
Localicious: Food That Bonds The Family Together – Bringing Back Dinner Table Discussion
Sitting down to a home-cooked meal prepared by Mom sounds more fantasy than reality these days. Imagine the ham just out of the oven and the potatoes seasoned to perfection, […]
Localicious: Celebrating The History & Traditions Of Cinco De Mayo
Most of us are familiar with the Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo. Many celebrate it annually with their favorite Mexican cuisine, margaritas, and maybe even a piñata. Do we understand […]