Textbook-perfect oatmeal cookies

I have an insatiable sweet tooth and I love to bake. This is why I'm a slightly chubby girl in spite of being a regular at my local gym. I try to limit my sweets to one a day (a valiant, if sometimes elusive, objective) and confine my baking to once every week or so.

My sweet tooth was twitching this weekend, so I pulled out a recipe for oatmeal cookies that I'd picked up at -- of all places -- the gym. My gym, the Silicon Valley YMCA, has a nutritionist who regularly posts healthy (or at least, healthier) recipes on the gym's bulletin board. The recipe, from the Promise Institute for Heart Health Nutrition, looked encouraging, calling for just six tablespoons of margarine, one egg, and half a cup of yogurt.

The results were more than encouraging; these cookies were textbook perfect. Saving for the possible addition of a little cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, I wouldn't change a thing. Well, actually, I did change just a few little things, which I've made note of in the recipe. Still, these cookies are stellar!

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

makes 28 cookies

2 cups quick or old fashioned oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons Promise Buttery Spread (I used Earth Balance)

1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg (I used Energ Foods, Inc.'s Egg Replacer for one egg)

1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt (I used plain, nonfat yogurt)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup raisins (mine were a little old, so I soaked them briefly in hot water to plump 'em up, then drained them)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I toasted them in the toaster oven for 5 minutes)

(in addition, a bit of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice would be brilliant)

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease baking sheets; set aside (I use Silpats.)

In medium bowl, with electric mixer, beat Promise Buttery Spread and brown sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg, yogurt, and vanilla until blended. Gradually beat in oat mixture just until blended. Stir in raisins and walnuts.

On prepared baking sheets, drop dough by 1 tablespoonful. Bake 12 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are set. On wire rack, cool 2 minutes; remove from sheets and cool completely.

I'll let you go to Promise's web site for the vital statistics on these tasty morsels. Trust me, Promise's chewy oatmeal raisin cookies will deliver the next time you're prowling for a little something sweet.