Did You Realize...

That January is National Oatmeal Month? I never knew such a thing existed, but exit it does!

More oatmeal is eaten in the month of January than any other time of the year, but oatmeal is not just for breakfast. One of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal is in the form of a cookie. (Isn't everything better in the form of a cookie? :) Oatmeal bread is also one of my favorites.

Studies have shown that people who eat oatmeal have healthy hearts, which is one reason why this food has retained its popularity. The soluble fiber in oatmeal can help to lower cholesterol, and oatmeal may also reduce blood pressure.

If you'd like to participate by celebrating oatmeal, try this cookie recipe!

Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter (or I can't believe it's not butter cubes), room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (can also use all purpose)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
chopped dates (optional) or figs (optional) or raisins (optional) or currants (optional) or chocolate chips (optional) or chopped nuts, etc (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix the butter, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly.

Sift together the dry ingredients and stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you've chosen.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.