Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.
-Vince Lombardi
I know we’re talking about a cookie... but this is my cookie, and winning has many parts, nutrition playing a foundational role. Long distance biking requires fine tuning attention to stamina. Stamina in the heat. Stamina in the cold. Our performance can be directly affected by the fuel (food) we prepare with… wanting to win motivates us to search for and analyze foods we know to enhance performance.
Whole wheat flour and raisins make these cookies hearty. You can substitute equal amounts of dried cherries, currants, cranberries, or chopped apricots for the raisins. All good.
You’ve heard of Carb Loading – well here’s one of my favorites. The Oatsie!
MAKES ABOUT 4 DOZEN COOKIES
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
1 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED
3/4 CUP FIRMLY PACKED BROWN SUGAR ORGANIC
1/4 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR ORGANIC
2 EGGS
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
3/4 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
3/4 CUP WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
1 TEASPOON CINNAMON
1/2 TEASPOON COARSE SALT
2 CUPS OLD FASHIONED OATS
1 CUP ROASTED CHOPPED WALNUTS (To toast nuts, spread them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake in a 350 Degrees F oven for about 10 minutes. Cool completely.)
1 CUP RAISINS (or Currants)
*
Whisk together both flours, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda in a bowl.
Put butter and both sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in oats, roasted walnuts and raisins.
Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for a few days.
The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.
-Joe Paterno