Recipe #4 - Baked Oat Cookies.

I buy bananas with the best intention, every time we go food shopping.  Usually they get eaten for breakfasts or chopped up into ice cream or just as a snack.  But sometimes they sit on the counter, getting browner every day and especially since it's been so warm the last few days, I found myself with four very sad-looking bananas.

I'd normally go in for banana bread but it's stifling in my kitchen and I wanted something really quick and easy.  Not that banana bread isn't quick and easy, but did I mention I was also feeling a smidge lazy and wanted to sit in the air conditioned living room?

These are the easiest treats I've ever baked.  Ever.  I preheated the oven to 350°F, mashed together three medium-sized bananas and added about 2 cups of instant honey nut oatmeal (that's just what I had sat in the cupboard) and about half a cup of chocolate chips.

Thank goodness for toaster ovens and the little trays they come with!  Yes, I still haven't got a flat baking tray (I know, I know) but this worked just fine.  I have two and my mixture made 12 solid cookies.  I baked them for about 15 minutes, until the tops were a little springy and no longer sticky.

First off, they smell divine.  Taking them out of the oven and getting a fabulous waft of bananas and oats and yummy sweetness was worth standing in the blast of heat.  Secondly, while they taste scrumptious (you can't go wrong with bananas, oats and chocolate really), the texture was a little unusual; these cookies are very soft and a little chewy, which isn't unpleasant but not quite what I was expecting.  I imagine if they were to be baked for longer they would firm up a little more, but I rather like that they are squishy and a bit weird.

I will absolutely be making these again because they are super quick, a fantastic way to use rapidly ageing bananas and they taste smashing!  I think S will enjoy tucking into one or two of these when he gets home from work today, they'll go great with a cold glass of juice and a sit down in front of the fan!

Have you been cooking up anything new?  What's the easiest recipe you've ever made?  I hope you're keeping cool (or toasty warm, if it's cold where you are!) and that you're having an awesome week so far.

Love, K.