No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies (?)

Happy Hump Day! Another HOT one here today...and tomorrow's going to be even HOTTER!!!! I don't remember the last time I saw a forecast that started with 9's every single day of the week....in JUNE!



On KYW (our local news radio station) today, when talking about the dangers of being outside during this "excessive heat warning," and advising against outdoor activities and workouts....they actually said "If you're dumb enough to workout outside...." you will be risking the possibility of heat stroke, which can lead to long-term paralysis, etc, etc. I really couldn't believe they used that word. I know there's some hard core runners out there, hopefully they get out early AM or later at night when the sun goes down!

Bottom line, keep the exercise INDOORS when it's hot like this. Plenty of fluids (obviously), and if you are thinking about embracing the 100 degree weather and sky high humidity (don't do it), keep it light, and keep a sprinkler handy, and a gallon of ice water to cool you down...maybe even an ice bucket to jump in ;-)

I feel bad for all the people that have NO choice but to WORK outside this week. There's SO much road work and construction going on around here...I've noticed it's not as heavy as usual but they are still out there in their gear. Oye.

Swimming would be the only recommended outdoor exercise in this kind of heat, BE SAFE! My friend asked me to do TRX today at the park...I was like, Ummmm....think I will head to my air conditioned gym....maybe I'm not that hard core...but that's OK. My brain doesn not work in this weather. I really find myself having multiple "brain fart" moments when I am exposed to this kind of heat.

Hmmm....maybe since I DON"T have a dehydrater, I can try some more of Ani's recipes that I can't make???!! Project for tomorrow, possibly. It sure will be hot enough to sun bake ;-)

So, if you ask anyone in my fam...especially my hubby, they will tell you that I'm a kick-ass baker. Not to toot my own horn ;-)

I don't really bake often, but when I do, I have a knack for it. It all started when I was younger and wanted to make "healthier" desserts to bring to family dinners. As the years went on, I have gotten better. The holiday season is my prime baking time..trying to come up with delicious treats that aren't AS guilty as some of the stuff out there..and are definitely better than the store-bought stuff loaded with chemicals and trans fats, etc.

I was psyched to get Ani Phyo's Raw Food Desserts recipe book a couple weeks ago. As I flip through it there's SO much great stuff! However, there were a couple that I didn't have all the ingredients, or utensils to make, for the most part though, they were easy and fairly quick..

The first one that stood out to me was the Oatmeal Raisin cookie recipe. Simple, only a 4 ingredients....great. As per an awesome request from a reader, I am going to try and keep the recipes I post as simple as possible. Time to time, if I try one of the complicated ones, I will share...but reality is, I like to keep it simple.. I don't want to spend too much time prepping, and using all kinds of equipment and ingredients. Ani's book is GREAT for simplicity...I just need to stock up on a few things before I can open it and make anything.

Like I said, I am a pretty good great baker..."UN-baking", however...I haven't really mastered yet. If you were reading when I tried the protein bars (haven't taken another shot at them yet), you know that they didn't turn out how I planned. The same thing happened with these cookies.....at first, as per the recipe.

Maybe you guys can tell me WHAT I'm doing wrong with these dried fruit recipes???

Ani's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

(with Laury's twist)

1 cup raw oats (I used regular oatmeal, not quick oats--which Ani said was fine)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup firmly packed Medjool dates

1/2 cup raisins (I used dried cherries instead)

My other additions

1/2 TBS flax seeds

1/2 TBS Chia Seeds

I followed the directions...but I DID NOT use my Vitamix, The recipe called to use a Food Processor, mine is ANCIENT, so maybe that was the issue? They DID NOT turn out sticky, just crumbly and dry, EXACTLY like the protein bars:

She did not specify, but should I be SOAKING the dates? Or make a date paste? I like the simplicity, and the ingredients in here make the calories low... it's potentially a great lil treat when you have a sweet tooth. Mine just did not look like Ani's did in her pic. Until I messed with them a lil' more:

I thought...Hmmmm....I REALLY want these to work out. SO, all I did was add a TBS and a half of Raw Almond butter to the mix and rolled them out.

If someone has ANY suggestions as to why these are not sticking together without the nut butter, I would great appreciate your input ;-)

Otherwise, here's the final recipe...which is up for revision. They did taste GREAT. I stuck them in the fridge to harden a little more. I have quite a few leftover for dessert tonight, so I'm happy! I would like to master them without the nut butter someday...even though the addition really did make them tasty!

No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup raw or instant (not quick) oats

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup firmly packed Medjool dates

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 TBS flax seeds

1/2 TBS Chia Seeds

1.5-2 TBS Almond Butter

Combine oats & cinnamon in a food processor and process into small pieces. Add dates and process to mix well. Add Cherries and Pulse to mix. Then add the flax and chia seeds and pulse to combine. Place in a  bowl and mix the almond butter through the batter. Roll into balls on parchment paper. Serve, or store in a baggie (I put them in the fridge). ENJOY!

When I figure out the trick to using the dates as the paste...or someone shares it with me..I will let you all know!

Exercise of the Day:

Check out this killer move...I have been LOVING torturing some of my favorite clients with this one. It's been a great addition to my own workout as well. I lose the knee push-up and do a  regular for as long as I can (the knee push ups are just as tough!)...and I try different combos..like do 5 push-ups then 5 burpees....or 2 push-ups, 2 burpees...the toughest is 1 and 1 as shown here:

I like to super set these with some walking lunges (insert evil laugh here) 

;-)

Talk amongst yourselves.....

What's your favorite exercise move lately?

What recipe do you seem to struggle with?

...or are you a better baker vs. cook? 

If you are RAW, what do you think is the most complicated thing about "un-" cooking?
--one would think it were simple....but take it from me, I have some learnign to do...or some gadgets to buy ;-)

HOPEFULLY intense debate doesn't decide to stop working after I get 5 comments and go back to blogger form deleting all of my comments....grrrr. We shall see...thank you all for your patience. I am working on getting help from an IT guy that works with the hubby. Hopefully he can make a smooth transition for me, and forward my domain address to keep it simple for you guys. Will keep you posted!!

Stay cool!!!! 

Lots of Love!

xoxo