Here's another one of those sneaky recipes.  A friend recommended them and I have to admit, I was a little dubious.  If you put quinoa in a cookie, how can it not be obvious?  But in fact the quinoa melds right into the mix, such that it's pretty much undetectable and yet your still getting a lot more nutrients in each cookie.  It also makes these cookies moist and light, which is hard to do when you're working with some of these other ingredients, like whole wheat flour.

Just to recap, here's why I love quinoa:

-It's high in protein, and the protein it supplies is complete protein.  That means that all nine amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) are supplied, making it well-balanced.

-Quinoa has lots of the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. 

-It is also high in manganese, magnesium, folate, and phosphorus and fiber.

So here's a way to make you cookies a little healthier, sneak in some quinoa!  Your kids won't know and you'll feel a little better giving into that cookie craving.

Quinoa cookies
Makes: 2 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature or melted coconut oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup honey
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup dried fruit or coconut

Preheat oven to 375F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine flour, salt, baking powder and soda in a medium mixing bowl.

Stir in butter or coconut oil with syrup and honey.  Add in eggs and vanilla.  Combine with dry ingredients.  Add in quinoa, oats and dried fruit. 

Drop onto baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.  Cook and store in an air tight container. 

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