Norene's Best Oatmeal Cookies

Norene's Best Oatmeal Cookies
From Norene's Healthy Kitchen

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 10-12 minutes
Makes 3 dozen or so

Ingredients:
½ cup canola oil
1 large egg (or 2 egg whites)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ cup rolled oats (preferably large flake)
¼ cup wheat germ
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/3 cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts (this time I used pecans)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade (or large bowl using an electric mixer) beat the oil, eggs (egg whites), sugars, water and vanilla about 1 minute. Add the flour, rolled oats, wheat germ, baking soda, cinnamon & salt. Process just until combined.

3. If you are using a food processor to this point, transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the fruit, chocolate chips and nuts (or whatever you fancy) with a rubber spatula.

4. I use a small ice-cream scoop, but you can use a soup spoon to drop the batter onto the prepared cookie sheets.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden.

Norene says they freeze well for up to 4 months. They didn’t last 2 days on my counter!