Oatmeal raisin carrot cookies!

It has been snowing all day and I am feeling cozy, nostalgic and reflective...

Recently my husband and I moved back to the states, from our year abroad in France.  It has been a bittersweet reunion and as I sit here I am reminded of a quote I saw once, which read "You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place" (Miriam Adeney)

Truer words could not be spoken. There is inherently something within us to look to brighter pasture and find that "perfect" place to put down roots and settle, yet what if you cannot seem to find that idealized place? Does it exist? Is it just a myth?

There is truth to the idea that leaving a place gives you a renewed sense of appreciation for it, this has certainly happened with our travels abroad, I do not take so much for granted anymore. Yet I also have more knowledge about how other people live in different countries, first hand knowledge of how people live in France. This is a bit like taking a bite from the proverbial apple, where now I know that, although imperfect, France has a very functional medical system where everyone has coverage, regardless of income or job. Higher education is affordable and people are not paying off 4 years of education for the rest of their working lives. Medical bankruptcy is nonexistent.

When you experience these things in another country, and then you live in one of the richest nations on Earth and realize how depressing it is that we do not have these things as well... It causes bitterness within us.

My husband and I have traveled a bit in our lives we have visited many interesting and varied locations, yet still nothing seems to draw us in as a place we want to settle, perhaps we are simply roamers at heart and not meant to settle in one place too long. Is this hearkening back to our ancient migratory roots as a people?

As I mull over these thoughts, I am reminded of The Matrix (one of the greatest movies ever made, IMO), when Neo goes to see the Oracle. She says to him, "here take a cookie, I promise, by the time you are done eating it, you'll feel right as rain."  and so after a long tangent, I am going to eat some cookies and all will be well...

For today at least!

This cookie recipe is vegan, it is not a "healthy" cookie however, sometimes it is okay to spoil yourself. My inspiration for this was that my husband wanted cookies and his favorite kind is oatmeal raisin, I on the other hand, was thinking maybe a cake, carrot cake! So the ultimate marriage of these flavors made these deliciously soft, cakey cookies, I took the opportunity to toss in some pumpkin seeds which added some crunch to them as well, I used a vegan butter to make these, however if you do not care about the dairy you could easily use real butter or even coconut oil. I also used rice milk, as this is my preferred milk substitute, yet you could easily sub out for almond milk, soy milk, hemp milk, whatever you prefer.

I hope you enjoy them!

Oatmeal raisin carrot cookies

 (makes about 14 cookies)

1/3 cup of vegan butter 

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup regular sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup rice milk

3/4 cup whole oats (not quick cooking)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 cup fresh grated carrot

1/2 cup raisins (add more if you like extra raisin-y goodness!)

1/4 cup unsalted, pumpkin seeds

Mix your sugars, vanilla and the butter together until slightly creamy.  Add in the milk till blended. Add the carrots and combine. 

Mix in the flours, oats, baking powder and salt until all is combined. don't over mix!  

Stir in your raisins and seeds when combined and evenly distributed place the cookie dough in the cooler for 10-15 minutes.  

Heat your oven to 350F - 

Once the cookies are set use a spoon to scoop small, palm sized balls onto a parchment covered baking sheet. This recipe made 14 cookies for me, if you make them larger you will get less and of course smaller you will get more! Test around and see what size suits you best. 

I baked mine for 18minutes, ovens will vary though so set your timer for 12-15 minutes to start and check them. I go by slight browning on the bottom, but still quite soft within the cookie. These did not brown up on the top so be careful not to over bake them or they will get all dried out. 

I hope you try these, let me know if you do!