"e-lec-tric-al banana..."

In a fit of a diet-induced need for something homemade and sweet, I decided to make some oatmeal cookies. To mix things up a bit, I decided to tweak my tried and true recipe. In the process, I realized I had made some deliciously easy vegan oatmeal cookies. Now, I am not, nor will I ever be, vegan... but this latest health kick I seem to be on has led me down some vegetarian/vegan paths. Ratatouille, vegan curry dishes... it made me wonder what baked goods I could make without animal products. So after only one (!) trial run, I've decided this recipe is good enough to put on here.

Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup vegetable shortening
6 tsp water
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 ripe banana (mashed)
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
2-3 cups oatmeal
1 cup walnuts, raisins, craisins, or any nuts/dried fruit (optional)

Set oven to 350.

Mix shortening, water, and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Beat until creamy.

Add mashed banana, vanilla to mixture. Beat well. (Some little lumps of mashed banana are ok.)

Sift and beat in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves.

Stir in oatmeal and nuts/dried fruit (if using any.)

Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven.

(You do really have to keep an eye out on at least the first batch, they should start to brown around the edges but still be a little soft in the middle. Wait for them to cool on the cookie sheet a little before you try to get them off with a spatula... when they are warm they tend to break fairly easily.)

So that's it. It even got the thumbs up from Joe! (Although I neglected to tell him they were sans animal product until after he had devoured a few.)

Thankfully, my sous-chef (Marcus) has seemingly overcome his fear of the electric mixer. So hopefully this means more baking adventures in my future.

Now if he'd only get over his fear of my hair-dryer...

-C