Apple-Date Oat Chews

Apple-Date Oat Chews

1/2 cup water

1 cup grated apple (with peel)

1/4 cup oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup oat bran cereal OR milled oats*

1 cup chopped dried dates

2 cups regular rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, simmer dates in water for 5 minutes. Mash with a fork into a puree'. Add grated apple and oil and beat well with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Let stand 10 minutes to thicken. Mix again; drop by teaspoonfuls onto dry cookie sheet. (Batter does not spread in cooking, so chews can be placed close together.) Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned around edges. Makes 24 chews.

Variation: Substitute 3/4 cup pumpkin puree for the dates. 

Add about 3 tablespoons honey or agave nectar.

 *Milled oats can be made by running in blender for a minute. They will be coarse, but that's what I used and these turned out great!