John Isaac and the Banana Breakfast Cookies

Grampa had to work on Saturday so John and I had the whole day to ourselves . . . we did a puzzle, played with our Lalaloopsy dolls.  Yes, even Gramma has one!
 Mine was purchased to make patterns for all the Grands' dolls, her name is Sunny Side Up!  She is an early rising farm girl and the grandkids love to play with her.  We played with robots, pretended to be robots.  It was such a glorious time just hanging out  . . . making memories together!

I had two ripe bananas sitting on the counter.  I thought, muffins?  No.  Cookies?  Yes!  So John Isaac and I got our aprons on.  I measured, John dumped and stirred and stirred.  We didn't quite have enough banana, so we made up the difference with homemade applesauce.  You can't go wrong with a little homemade applesauce!

 The recipe made 4 dozen cookies.  It wasn't even time for breakfast but between John and his Grampa they polished off a dozen cookies and a couple large glasses of ice cold milk!  I finally had to say, "Stop, I need to get a picture before they're all gone!"

My sister makes a similar cookie she's named "Blaster Cookies".  Jill makes them for her Grands when they are constipated and they really do the trick!
This recipe comes from a book called The Oat and Wheat Bran Health Plan, by Dina R. Jewell and C. Thomas Jewell, M.D.
Here is an exerp from their book titled Why Children Need Bran
Bran has traditionally been the province of the older population, who use it to simply facilitate their digestion.  But studies have show that it's equally important for children--a study at the University of Washington, for instance, indicated that the attacks of appendicitis were cut in half in children who ate bran regularly.  We also know that in childhood the groundwork is laid for atherosclerosis, diverticulitis, and other medical conditions, not to mention bad eating habits.  We've raised three very healthy children on bran and we recommend that as soon as a child is old enough to eat cookie, it should be a bran cookie.

Banana Breakfast Cookies

Makes 4 dozen cookies. Bran per cookie:  1 teaspoon
These large cookies are like yummy little banana cakes.  They make a healthy "on the go", "prepared" breakfast you can confidently serve to your family.
3/4  cup/177ml light olive oil or grapeseed oil 
1      cup/190g brown sugar.    
2      eggs, beaten
1      cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-4 depending on size)
1/2  cup/125ml milk mixed with 1 teaspoon/5ml baking powder.  
1      teaspoon/5ml pure vanilla extract
2  1/2 cups/337g whole wheat flour
1         cup/192g bran (I mix 1 part oat to 1 part bran.)
1/2     cup/170g molasses ( I used 1/3 cup)
1         teaspoon/5ml cinnamon
1  1/2 teaspoons/7.5ml baking soda
1/2     teaspoon/2.5ml salt
1         cup/165g raisins 
1         cup/120g chopped walnuts (my addition)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375F. or 190 Celcius.  Have ready 2 greased cookie sheets.
• Blend oil, sugar, eggs, and bananas.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Drop large tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet
• Bake at 375F. or 190 Celcius for 9 to 10 minutes

John's Sixth Cookie!

John Isaac and Grampa Taking a Spin

It was a wonderful weekend Over at Julie's!

P.S.  I packed a dozen Banana Breakfast Cookies for John to take home, but his Papa and Momma devoured them on their way to church!  Gotta love a cookie that not only tastes great but is good for you too!