If dried fruit is a healthy snack, oatmeal a nutritious breakfast and canola oil rich in omega-3 fatty acid, then kitchen sink cookies that combines the three must be a super-power food, right?
Well, cookies are one of my guilty pleasures, but reality TV is another.
I’ve never been an avid TV-watcher, but living alone I like the background noise and find the plots and characters of reality shows to be far more outrageous than any sitcom writer could contrive.
It’s no surprise that I’ve taken a liking to The Next Food Network Star.
In the program, seven aspiring chefs compete in a series of various cooking challenges for a chance to win their own show on the Food Network.
The challenges run the gamut, from cooking a gourmet meal for 12 on a budget to building the ultimate burger and preparing a meal from the hottest spicy chili peppers available.
Though the challenges do elicit a certain level of culinary prowess from the contestants, it’s clear from the on-screen interactions between some of the contestants that the show thrives on drama almost as much as the Real World.
Though just about every cable network has an arsenal of reality shows, it seems unlikely that the Food Network had to jump on the bandwagon. Aren’t all of their shows reality shows? It doesn’t get much more real than a mom cooking in the kitchen, preparing nutritious meals for her five year old daughter or hungry teen-aged boys.
With talented Food Network veterans like the self-made Paula Deen and registered dietitian Ellie Krieger, a graduate from Cornell and Columbia Universities, we can only hope that that the actor-chefs on the program has as much talent as they do stage presence and will be as talented in the kitchen as they are charismatic in front of the camera.
My favorite thing about Ellie Krieger’s recipes is that you know you won’t be eating empty calories. Her salads are full of protein and flavor, her pasta dishes colorful and vibrant.
These Kitchen Sink cookies have almost a full cup of dried fruit and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate chunks.
With a scoop of walnuts to add some Omega-3s and a subtle crunch in the otherwise chewy cookie, this aptly-named recipe really does include every ingredient but the kitchen sink.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup oatmeal
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped dried cherries
- ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
- ¼ cup lightly toasted walnuts
- 2 ounces dark chocolate chunks
- Cooking spray
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine butter, oil and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, stopping occasionally to scrape down bowl, until mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add applesauce, egg white and vanilla and mix to combine. Add flour, oatmeal, salt and cinnamon and mix just until just combined. Add cherries, apricots, walnuts and chocolate and mix to combine.
- Spray 1 baking sheet with cooking spray. Using 1 tablespoon cookie dough at a time, roll into balls and place 2-inches apart on baking sheet. Press cookies down with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly, as cookies will not spread as much as cookies with more butter.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until lightly browned but still soft. Remove from oven and cool on racks.
28 Comments
Zygor's Guide
June 7, 2011 at 11:25 amI read this just a few minutes ago and thought I’d pass it along despite the fact that it is not actually that topical. How lots of people do you adore?
National Oatmeal Cookie Day | Smart Food and Fit
May 1, 2011 at 4:13 am[…] Before I end this post, did you know that oatmeal is a great source of soluble fiber? What’s soluble fiber? It’s the fiber in certain plant foods, such as oatmeal, apples, and beans that help reduce the LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol in your bloodstream. The Mayo Clinic names oatmeal as one of their top 5 foods in lowering LDL cholesterol. But you’ll need at least 10 grams of soluble fiber per day to see a drop in your numbers. A half cup of old fashioned oats has 4 grams total of dietary fiber, with 2 grams of soluble fiber and 2 grams of insoluble fiber (the fiber good for cleaning out your colon). Add some apples to your recipe or dried fruit to bump up the soluble fiber, as in the recipe below, Ellie Krieger’s Kitchen Sink Oatmeal Cookie […]
Judy
July 16, 2009 at 8:32 pmI didn’t know Ellie was still on FN, I haven’t seen her in ages. Dried fruit and nuts are so good in cookies.
Talita
July 6, 2009 at 4:34 pmOh, My! These cookies look so decadent! I really wanna try them!
Nutmeg Nanny
July 6, 2009 at 12:46 pmThese look really delicious. I love that they are healthier too:)
Kim
July 3, 2009 at 6:03 amThis is just perfect for my grandson, who has a sweet tooth and doesn’t need to eat empty calories. Going to give these a try. Thanks.
Nicole (dishin')
July 1, 2009 at 2:50 pmMmm! These look great!
Robin
July 1, 2009 at 2:29 pmWow! Those cookies look delicious! I don’t do a lot of baking but I might have to try this recipe 🙂
And I don’t know why I date online when I hate it! Actually, I haven’t in a long time but I do go back once in a while out of boredom. But my sister really did find her husband there so maybe I think it’ll happen to me too. You never know.
Monica Shaw
July 1, 2009 at 10:12 amI love this type of cookie, we made something similar at a cooking class I took recently, only our version was vegan and I THINK oil-free… I’ll have to dig up the recipe. It also had big chunks of dark chocolate in it – HIGHLY recommended.
brandi
July 1, 2009 at 9:17 amI love Ellie’s recipes. I have made tons of her stuff and have her cookbook as well.
I love her approach to eating and living – I’m glad they have a show like hers on Food network!
annie
June 30, 2009 at 11:06 pmI have been wanting to make these for the longest time. Glad you did because you reminded me!!
I have a few subs in mind though. Anything goes when the are called “Kitchen Sink” cookies…
Kate
June 30, 2009 at 11:05 pmOoooh, I would SO eat these! How delicious do they look?? I like most of what I see from Ellie. She’s my kinda chef.
I don’t have cable so FN is out of the equation in my house. I have a few cookbooks of one of the original FN stars, but am embarrassed to admit I like them because they sold out big time, and in a really bad way. I do, however, love the recipes in the books. Oh well……
Melissa
June 30, 2009 at 9:14 pmI watch very few reality tv shows, but for some reason I love the next Food Network Star and Chopped. I don;t even know why I love them so much. It may be the judging table. Always great to watch the judges reactions.
mmmm cookies! can you send some to MA please?
Chrissy
June 30, 2009 at 8:23 pmYum. I am definitely game for any excuse to point out the health benefits of a cookie. I haven’t watched The Next Food Network Star this year, but in the past I’ve found it to contain the right amounts of cooking and drama. Although as fun as it is in theory, it also makes me think how little I’d actually enjoy being on that show! (Or, you know, any reality show.)
thatShortChick
June 30, 2009 at 8:09 pmI like Ellie but some of her recipes have me raising my brow in suspicion. Substitutions aren’t always a good thing (adding applesauce to cookies or cake just doesn’t work for me).
I guess that’s why I LOVE the “butter queen” Paula Deen. I also enjoy Giada and Bobby Flay.
I’m convinced that when and if I visit one of Flay’s restaurants, the owner will probably have to PHYSICALLY remove me from the place because I will not want to leave!
Alana
June 30, 2009 at 7:39 pmDo you think I can pass these off as breakfast? I think it could be a start to a good day….
lisa (dandysugar)
June 30, 2009 at 6:49 pmThese are great cookies! What even better is that they are on the healthy side too, I’m all for that!
P.S. I’m also addicted to The Next Food Network Star..that and So You Think You Can Dance?!
Juliana
June 30, 2009 at 5:30 pmWow, these cookies look delicious, oatmeal, cherry, apricots, walnuts…yummie!
Susan
June 30, 2009 at 12:27 pmI love how Ellie makes her food delicious and healthy. These cookies sound good. Probably not my first choice, but I’d eat them. 🙂
I’d say my favorite personality, right now, is probably Ina. She’s just so laid back and she does classic foods, that are tasty and comforting
grace
June 30, 2009 at 12:22 pmi really enjoy ellie krieger (her husband is a hottie!) and her recipes, and this looks like another winner. after all, it is a cookie. 🙂
Tina
June 30, 2009 at 10:47 amMaris, I love your blog!!! I am going to add you to my blogroll and Google reader. It was great meeting you today and trying all of those delicious goodies! 🙂
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
June 30, 2009 at 10:21 amAlthough the Next Food Network Star series have yet to produce more than one star, I can’t help but watch the show. Like watching a fire — you want to turn away, but can’t. One of my new favorite shows now is Chopped, where four restaurant chefs compete in one show, each using the same basic ingredients. And all they do is cook. Really satisfying. And of course there’s Ina Garten. I love her.
kat
June 30, 2009 at 9:05 amThose do sound like they’d be good for you but tasty too!
doggybloggy
June 30, 2009 at 8:59 amyou dont have to disguise nutrition from me but since it is already in the cookie – oh ok.
mandy
June 30, 2009 at 8:54 amI will give any cookie a try! I’ve never watched any of the reality shows on Food Network, perhaps I should. =)
Sophie
June 30, 2009 at 7:00 amMMMMMM…they look so fab & tasty! healthy too!
Daryl
June 30, 2009 at 4:50 amThese look outrageous and I want one-like now!
Erin
June 30, 2009 at 4:26 amThose look good, but maybe a bit too healthy for my tastes! 😉 Now, I’m not saying I’d pass it up! I’d still eat it!