Mmmm...cookies...

I love baking. I have always enjoyed baking but lately, I love it. There's something about turning up the tunes and losing yourself in a good recipe, with the delicious smells and heat filling the kitchen and overflowing into the whole house. I swear it's like therapy for me. It takes my mind off anything that's bothering me and makes me feel creative. I read today (yes, in one of my many self-help books...which by the way...I don't really need thaaaat much self-help, I just find them inspiring!) that when you're feeling creative, or at peace, you're acting in your higher, more confident self...the happiest place you can be. Guess that's the me that shines through when I bake. Now, if only I could make a living baking, I'd be all set! What activity do you do that makes you feel creative, happy and at peace? It's unfortunate that mine doesn't involve exercise and in fact is the complete opposite! ;)

My pal Kristi first told me about these chocolate chip cookies, which have since seemed to become a legend! Everyone is buzzing about them! I know I posted cookies awhile back that I said were healthy but really, truly, these ones are!! Not only do they have chick peas in them, but I used my usual dairy free margarine, gluten free flour and dairy free dark chocolate and boy are they yum!

Kristi posted the original recipe on the "Yum, Fun and then Some" blog ( http://yumfunandthensome.blogspot.com/) but here's what I did to make them Cari proof (a.k.a wheat and dairy free), just in case anyone reading this has to eat like me! I'm not sure if all these ingredients are sold in Canada, but it's worth a look! Might be able to find something similar.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. Nuttelex (http://www.nuttelex.com.au/home) Side note: Nuttelex is amazing! It tastes just like regular margarine and is perfect for baking!

2 large egg whites

2 tsp. vanilla

15 oz. can of chick peas (rinsed and drained)

~ 1 c. dark chocolate. (I bought a Lindt 70% cocoa bar and chopped it up in very small pieces). The original recipe calls for regular chocolate chips.

2 c. Orgran Gluten Free All Purpose Flour

1/2 cup old fashioned oats (luckily, I can eat gluten, just not wheat!)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees or 176 degrees Celsius for those of you baking in Australia!

Beat sugar and butter until smooth.

Beat in egg whites and vanilla, then chick peas and chocolate.

Sift in flour, oats, baking soda and salt.

Mix until a dough forms.

Chill for 30 minutes.

Drop by tablespoon on cookie sheet and bake for 11-13 minutes. Do not overbake. I don't know if it was because I changed the recipe but I found that they don't really spread out, so it's hard to tell when they are cooked, but exactly 13 minutes in my oven left them golden brown on the bottom and on the peaks of each cookie.

And that's it! Thanks Kristi! Enjoy everyone!

By the way, it's chilly today, well by Aussie standards, it's chilly. It's 25 degrees today and raining, so the perfect day to bake! I actually had to get out my slippers, as I found the floors cold! Sounds crazy, but seeing as it hit a sunny 40.2 degrees on Saturday (that's without factoring in humidy!!), 25 degrees really does seem cool!