Ah, Agave...

Agave nectar (ah-gaw-vay) should be in your pantry. I never thought I'd be using anything from any kind of cactus besides aloe vera gel, but this stuff tops my list of "must have" ingredients. It is sweeter than sugar, and works anywhere you'd use honey or syrup or other sweeteners. It is recommended for diabetics or those at risk for diabetes because it's said to not cause the spike in blood sugar that regular sugars do. For more detailed information, go here. You can find it in any health food type stores, and Costco even carries it sometimes. It does cost more than honey, but in my view, food is part of your health insurance, so spend money on things that will positively impact your health and life.

Here's one recipe I'm making often these days that includes agave. It has eggs in it, but is dairy free if you use milkless chocolate chips. Cookies I don't mind my kids sneaking. And your house will smell heavenly while they're baking.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Bites

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/2 c. sucanat (Now don't freak out, it's just the fancy name for evaporated cane juice crystals, find it cheapest in the bulk food section of your local health food store. It's brown and grainy looking.)

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 TB agave (use honey if you must)

1 TB olive oil

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 & 1/2 c. rolled oats

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 TB cinnamon

3/4 c. dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (my kids like the miniature chips in these)

Oven 350 degrees

Mix applesauce and sucanat until creamy

Add egg, vanilla, agave, and olive oil, mix well

Add all dry ingredients until just combined

Add chocolate chips

Bake about 10-12 minutes (taste test the first batch to see if they're dry or just right once they've cooled, and then adjust the baking time if necessary)

With fiber, protein, healthy fats, and no post-snack high then crash, these are more filling than regular cookies, which will keep everyone from eating their normal dozen or so. Don't expect the taste and mouth feel of regular chocolate chip cookies, call them something else if that helps, but these are sooo good, and there's not a guilty moment from shopping to last bite.