There’s a delicious one! 
I think I may have done it! I created a tasty, vegan, bean-based oatmeal raisin cookie! Oh, yes, I did! 
These cookies turned out SO GREAT! Mal even liked them and he had no idea that chickpeas were thrown into the mix. He’s a tough critic when it comes to baked goods. He hates the healthy-tasting ones!
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Makes 6
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup chickpeas
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cinnamon to taste
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor/mixer
- Coat baking sheet with non-stick spray
- Use a tablespoon to scoop batter onto baking sheet and then flatten with bottom of a spoon
- Bake for 18-20 minutes
- Allow to cool before serving
Dinner
I’m so glad that Mal finished off the Lasagna-Style Baked Ziti because I am so sick of eating it. 
Again, tonight, I ate leftovers + salad. The salad was excellent– mostly due to the fresh arugula– but the Baked Ziti was just plain boring by day #3. Usually, I am okay with eating leftovers for multiple days in a row, but this meal just wasn’t doing it for me.
Oh, well. I ate it anyway.
Ask Me Anything
I’m only doing 1 or 2 more Ask Me Anything posts, so ask your questions now or forever hold your peace!
Do you ever get cravings for fast food? When is the last time you ate fast food?
No, I don’t crave fast food. The last time I ate it was when I waited over an hour to try the new Sonic in the area– which, if you’re curious, wasn’t worth the wait.
I love your healthy-eating approach to eating sweets. However, I am better off avoiding sweets because just one taste is likely to send me on a sweets binge! Any suggestions as to how to enjoy sweets occasionally but not binge as I am often tempted to?
Oh, boy. I struggle with this too. But, I’ve found that not having sweets is the house really makes a difference. If it’s not in the house, I can’t eat it. This also helps me get more creative with my sweet snacks, like the sliced banana + agave nectar + walnuts that I ate last night. If I’m in a situation where there are unlimited sweets, I make a pact with myself to enjoy a certain amount and then STOP. For instance, at a family get-together, I will allow myself 3 cookies and then STOP myself. I just need to make sure to establish that number BEFORE the event even starts. It’s much more difficult if I’ve already eaten a cookie or two.
What was a typical day of eating/working out like for you when you were initially losing your 20+lbs?
A typical day when I was losing weight was pretty much the same as it is today. I still eat between 1,800 – 2,200 calories per day and exercise 4-5 times a week. I made a lifestyle change instead of going on a diet, so it wasn’t really a before and after thing for me. But, before I lost weight, my habits were much different. I ate more and exercised less, so I weighed more than I do now.
I was SO interested in going to the Healthy Living Summit! Are there any other conferences of its kind that you would recommend?
Here are a couple of foodie events that I’ve attended with my recaps:
Foodbuzz Festival
BlogHer Food
I’m also attending the big BlogHer conference (for the first time) this summer, and I know a bunch of bloggers that are attending FitBloggin next month. I’m sure there are plenty more out there, so if you know of some, please leave a comment.
You mentioned body pump in your post today– where do you take the class?
You can find Body Pump in your area by using Les Mills’ Class Locator.
How much money do you make a month from just blogging? I’ve asked several other bloggers in the Ask Me Anything and no one has responded yet!
I make $1 million! 
Would you rather be a man or a woman (if you could chose from birth, not asking if you would want to be one now, of course)?
Definitely a woman. I’m not super girly, but I like all things related to being a female. And, guys are just gross!
—
Off to the wine tasting!
P.S. American Idol is live tonight!
{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }
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Definitely making those cookies. Muchas Gracias Tina!
Great tips on the sweet snacks, I’m the same way! I need to set a limit before or I will go crazy….
LOL I make a cool $2 mil a month
Great looking recipe!
One million new readers per month you mean?? hehehe Wouldn’t it be cool if one could become a millionaire for eating and taking pictures of their favorite foods?!?! Hmmm I’m sure Rachel Ray is up there.
Tina, you’re totally getting there. I already see the recipe book deals coming in… hehhehe
Cookies with no eggs or sugar! That is allowable in my ‘no sweets for 40 days’ pact. I bet the ziti got better as the days went on, but I hear ya about not eating the same thing for 3 days, it gets old no matter how good it is!
My baking experiment for the evening didn’t pan out so this might be plan B.
Those cookies could also be gluten free if you used gluten free oats/oat flour! Hooray for gluten free vegan cookies!
Fab cookie idea, I definetly want to make them! I love that everyone is including chickpeas in their baking now, it’s brilliant
so imaginative!
Have a great wine tasting, don’t get too drunk
Those cookies look fantabulous! Ah, I have so many of your recipes bookmarked for when I get home in a few months’ time! (Funnily enough, I bought two cans of chickpeas over a week ago so as to do more budget-friendly eating while travelling… except I’m yet to find a can opener. Sigh. They’re taking up space in my tiny suitcase and I can’t eat them!)
Are you going to BlogHer Food? I loved your reviews from last year and registered for this yr. Hoping to get chosen to volunteer at BlogHer in NYC!
That man/woman question made me crack up! People really ask some interesting stuff.
I must try these cookies! I love chickpeas and cookies, so it sounds like a match made in heaven!
That recipe looks great!
Seems like you´ve created the healthiest and yummiest cookie ever!
Haha
Have a great night!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
Aww yes!! I wanna try these cookies. Glad you perfected the recipe
Chickpeas in baked goods is secretly delish!
I think I make close to a million on mine to.. 7 people commenting really just takes you to new places! hahaha
Love those cookies- nervous to add chickpeas, but I’ll go with it!
Some interesting Ask Anything questions today : ) Your cookies are genius…but I would have to add chocolate to satisfy me taste buds. Enjoy your wine tasting!
That looks like a great cookie recipe, can’t wait to try it!
Yum, yum, yum!
I love wine tastings — heading to one this week just outside of Sydney. Love those Aussie wines!
i’m the same way with leftovers…the second day is almost as good as the first, but day 3 and I’m done…all interest is gone!
love the cookie recipe, i might need to make them for breakfast
Funny questions. I would love to make $1 million a month! I am quitting my job today to start working on my blog full time!
I love your idea on making up a number of sweets you can eat before a party and stopping there. I am going to try that next time!!
Those cookies look amazing girl!
I love this: “I made a lifestyle change instead of going on a diet, so it wasn’t really a before and after thing for me.” I feel like the majority of Americans just don’t understand this. Or, rather, don’t want it to accept that it’s the best way to lose weight. Everyone wants a quick fix…a diet…something they can go “on” and “off.”
Brilliant, Tina.
Also brilliant: the million dollar answer. Hahaha. Well played.
umm so I am definitely making these!! I don’t own brown sugar or else I would run into the kitchen right now and make em! If I put chocolate chips my boy could be tricked into eating a healthy cookie!
I keep seeing people with their chickpea baked goods…I need to give it a try!! These look great!
Have a great time at your wine tasting!
Tina, do you do any strength training aside from the Body Pump? You look AMAZING and have such sculpted arms!
I know BP works your whole body, but i definitely believe in the “heavy weights, fewer reps” ideology for gaining muscle/sculpting/shredding/whatever, so I’m curious as to your thoughts (or anyone else who tries it). If that’s what is giving you such great results, I’ll believe it!
i’d rather be a woman too. yay us.
I hope that you have a fantastic time at your wine tasting. It’s always hard to fool a man into eating healthy cookies so they must be good!
Are you going to regular BlogHer or BlogHer Food? I’m going to the regular (August) one and I am so excited!
Nobody answered because it’s rude to ask how much money someone makes. Would you ask your dog’s vet or the manager at the Banana Republic how much she makes. It’s called “Ask Anything,” not be rude and socially inappropriate.
Ahhh thank goodness for that cookie recipe! During my Lent “vegan challenge” I’ve been missing sweets!!
I never even get the chance to eat leftovers. For example, I made a veggie, cheese and rice casserole for dinner. I was envisioning how tasty it would be as a burrito until the husband called to ask if there were any leftovers from dinner.
I hope this doesn’t create duplicate comment, but my previous one seems to have disappeared. I
I never get leftovers because the husband always eats them. As I was dreaming of my leftovers tonight he called to ask if there were any leftovers for him to eat.
I love when cookie recipes (or any healthy baking in general) turns out great! It always makes me feel better about eating my treats when I know they’re filled with food ingredients.
Chickpeas in cookies? Interesting…that’s a must try!!! I don’t make as much as you blogging….I only make a half million. Oh well.
NOT gonna lie..i would like an ESTIMATE of how much you make. but you know what? screw the money, I would love to have all those yummy samples sent to me! I love the “ask me anything”…sad to see it end!
Good job on the cookies
I’m always impressed when people can just make baking experiments from scratch!
I feel ya on leftovers…I love them for a few days. But after a while I need variety
Oh those cookies look so good. I must admit I’d add mini chocolate chips since I’m not a raisin eater. Thanks for sharing another tasty creation!!
Congrats on finally creating your cookies. Successfully completing a baking project is the best feeling (especially a healthy one so you don’t feel as guilty eating the results).
Those cookies sound great! Love it when you try something out in the kitchen and it actually has GOOD results!!
Congrats on your cookies
* I definitely am going to try these cookies out 
but use chocolate chips (I’m not really a raisin fan) 
maybe even craisins) Hope you have a wonderful night!
Mmmm I could eat Baked Ziti for a week straight if need be.. It’s my fav, but with lots of fresh mozz!!
I have all the ingredients for those cookies! Maybe I’ll see if they can past my husbands’s watchful taste buds too ;> Your dinner salad looks so pretty!!
Those cookies look delicious, and I love the recipe for just 6 cookies!
I’m the same way – I don’t keep anything in the house that would be too tempting (i.e. soda and sweets). It works, and then it’s more of a treat when I’m out somewhere and DO have it, rather than a regular thing.
Good tip!
Love that the recipe only makes 6 cookies – no temptation to eat 3 dozen!
That is so sneaky to add chick peas to your cookies!
I love smaller recipes because I have no willpower when I make sweets… I just want to eat them all! At least if you overdid it and ate the entire batch, it wouldn’t be totally devastating.
Ha, love Hangry Heather’s comment
Oh, only a million? I make at least $5 million doing absolutely nothing.
Those cookies look pretty awesome. I can’t believe there are chickpeas in there. Sneaky.
Those cookies barely even qualify as a “cookie!”
Something I find helpful with recipes that are full size is to make the whole thing, but then only bake about 10 cookies at a time and stash the dough in the freezer. If it’s in the fridge, it’s too tempting to eat mindlessly, but in the freezer, it’s ready to go when you want a fresh baked cookie! And you avoid making the dough twice, which means you won’t be licking your fingers twice for separate batches
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