Cholesterol-Lowering Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are good for your heart! Just remember, these treats are 100 calories a piece, so indulge only occasionally and limit your portions! The oats in this recipe provide cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber; other ingredients provide heart-healthy beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin E, magnesium and other trace minerals.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Dry ingredients:
2 ½ c. old-fashioned oats
½ c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. lightly-packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
½ c. raisins, cranberries or other dried fruit
½ c. chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds or shredded coconut

Wet ingredients:
¼ c. canola oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 ½ tsp. vanilla, almond, coconut or orange extract
½ c. water

•    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
•    Chop nuts and fruits.
•    In a bowl, mix dry ingredients together. Add nuts and fruit and toss lightly to coat.
•    In a separate large bowl, mix wet ingredients together.
•    Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stir to wet all ingredients. Let sit for five minutes, stir briefly.
•    Drop by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet coated with no-stick spray. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.     

Nutritional Information per Serving (one cookie): 103 calories, 1.9 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 4.8 g fat (.4 g saturated), 8.8 mg cholesterol, 1.5 g fiber, 106 mg sodium.