Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

 I get really excited about Fall, because it means beautiful foliage, and pumpkin everything.  So, the other day I had this streak of brilliance and decided I needed to make non-dairy pumpkin yogurt.  While in theory, it was an awesome idea, I failed epically.  But upon my culinary defeat, I had an extra cup of pumpkin to use and alas these cookies were born, and far from a culinary defeat they were.  Plus, who doesn't love the notion of eating a cookie (or four) for breakfast--and at only about 50 calories a cookie, you totally can.

Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies

I have a confession.  I am a cookie discriminator.  When someone brings cookies to an event, or you get a plate for Christmas, or any other situation arises where a variety of cookies is available, I would altogether pass on a cookie than eat an oatmeal raisin cookie.  There is something about raisins in a cookie that just makes me kind of sad.  (Or it may just be the raisins that make me sad... Benny & Joon, anyone?)  Anyhow, the point is, when you cover said humiliated grapes in dark chocolate, the whole cookie is transformed.  And now incredibly delicious.  I made these cookies quite a while ago, and realized I didn't blog them.  So when I saw Raisinets on sale at the grocery I decided I needed to make them again, just to blog them... not at all because they are incredibly tasty or anything....

Mango Blueberry Muffins with Coconut Streusel

If I was a character in a comic strip, I think I would be The Midnight Baker.  (If 2am Baker had a better ring to it, that title may be more accurate...)  My superhero costume would be my ruffly apron, and I would combat evil with my spatula.  It will be great.  Anyhow, this title is appropriate because when I get bored past 9 o'clock, I bake.  And baking leads to eating, so good thing these mini muffins are pretty healthy.  They boast whole wheat flour, oats, limited fats, AND they are bursting with juicy mangoes and succulent blueberries.

The Eli Cookie: Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Anyone watch the Bachelorette?  I cringe with embarrassment to admit that I occasionally catch an episode, but I do.  Usually, I think the show is utterly ridiculous, and I laugh the whole way through, but this last episode, Emily totally stole one of my dating techniques!  Cookie making!  I make killer chocolate chip cookies. So, once a guy has tried them and gotten hooked, I (if interested) casually invite him to make cookies with me if he wants the recipe.  Then, I can evaluate if he is kitchen-competent, able to follow instruction, and simply if he's fun to be with.  It's a perfect scenario.  Except then a certain boy came along, experienced my chocolate chip cookies, and instead of deciding they were the greatest cookie ever and wanting the recipe, he brought up these cookies his mom used to make.  And what did I do?  Get offended  I made those cookies for him.  ALL BY MYSELF.  I now coin them "The Eli Cookie", because never before have I baked a boy one of his family recipes.  I knew there was something different about this boy.