Oatmeal Chunky Monkeys

Adapted from Quaker Oatmeal "Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies"

These delicious cookies cut back on the fat without compromising on taste by substituting banana for some of the butter. The original recipe these come from is called "vanishing" for a reason... they are so tasty it's hard to keep them around!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick margarine or butter, softened at room temp
• 3 cups of oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 package of chocolate chunks
• 1 large Banana

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°
2. Beat together in a large bowl: Butter, banana, and sugars until creamy
3. Add eggs and vanilla to the large bowl & mix well
4. Mix together in a small bowl: Flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
5. Add the flour mix to the ingredients in the large bowl. Mix well.
6. Stir in oats (and raisins if using original recipe).
7. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

For the original recipe, use 2 sticks of butter instead of banana, and add 1 cup of raisins.
Want a holiday version? Try using the original recipe but with dried cherries or cranberries and white chocolate chips.