Date Sweetened Oatmeal Cookies

"It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again

Damn, who knew?
All the planes we flew
Good things we've been through
That I'll be standing right here talking to you
'Bout another path
I know we loved to hit the road and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn't last
Had to switch up
Look at things different see the bigger picture
Those were the days
Hard work forever pays
Now I see you in a better place"

"See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa

It's been a long time. I feel like I have so much to tell. At first I wanted to explain my absence, but  it has become personal, something even I  still do not completely understand, a severe ordeal for me. I  was perplexed. And it took me a while to sort everything out and to discover the hidden me. I can not assert, that I am completely satisfied with what I have at the moment, but "me today" is certainly not the "me three months ago".    

I felt that I have lost myself. I have lost the bond between myself and things that make me happy. There was a reason. There still is the reason. The attitude has changed. When I look back I am frightened of myself, I  don't see bright colours and happy memories. And it is miserable.   I don't know for how long it all would have continued, if one night before sleep I just didn't promise myself to wake up happy the next day.  

I decided to take a break from blogging, to stop doing "what I have to", 'cause back then I felt it started to become an obligation. All my thoughts were about food, it didn't leave me even for a second.  I had just to cool down, to relax, forget about food blogging.  I haven't read any other food blogs. I haven't  touched my camera for three months.  I haven't baked.  However, I was waiting for the day I would want it all back. I knew this day would come, and it did. 

Our world is arranged so simple! But we, people, always aim to reinvent the wheel.We make complicated things even worse, we blame everyone else but ourselves.  I found the key to every answer in myself. It is a harmony. In the harmony with myself I felt stronger, I felt that everything is possible no matter what. 

Though, I feel I need food blogging back in my life, today I try to find a balance between blogging and my everyday life. I don't want to fall out anymore! And what is more, I want to feel happy about my hobby again.  To tell the truth, I was about throwing up blogging. And I want to be completely honest with you here. The thing is, that I couldn't stand so much pastry, sweets and baked goods around no more. I was kinda lying to you and in the first place to myself.  It was a conflict of my own interests - I craved for beautiful photography, but not for the "good looking" unhealthy food. 

So, today it is time to come back. But! I don't feel like writing about cakes and cupcakes anymore (maybe I'll leave a little of space to them here, but not as much as before). During all these months I have excluded refined sugar, white flour and butter from my diet. And I have never felt better in my life. I'd like to continue such a lifestyle. Right now, writing these lines, I feel relieved. I feel, that I have just banged the door to those difficult times. I told you everything I wanted you to know, so that I could move onward. I want this blog to become an ode to healthy eating and healthy living. And beautiful photography, of coarse! It seems to me, that I will continue writing about sweets and desserts, at least in the near future, because I still like to eat cookies like everyone else. But from now on I take a vested interest in my health and I want to feed my body only with worthy food. 

Also I am thinking on changing the name of the blog. What do you think? The blog will still mostly remain "sweet", but I'd like to post also sides, main dishes and it seems, that the main idea of leading a healthy lifestyle doesn't completely correspond to This is a Sweet Blog. So, give me your thoughts on that.

And now on to our cookies. I don't have much to say about them. They are healthy and vegan, dairy and sugar free. They are a pretty good snack to your morning coffee or like a second breakfast. I am just crazy about dipping these cookies in milk! They become softer and...mmmm....you have to try to understand!

There is one thing you have to know about them - these cookies have a little bit of bitter taste, which gives the oats. I'd even say not a taste, but more an aftertaste. I don't find it to be a problem, I even like it! But if you don't, then just add some more sweetener (honey or maple syrup or stevia), after you try the batter (it doesn't contain eggs, so go ahead and don't be afraid to try and make any changes you like). I think that is it. Enjoy!

DATE SWEETENED OATMEAL COOKIES

makes 15 cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup oatmeal flour

1tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil)

1 medium banana

1/2 cup (100 g) dates, pitted

1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup seeds of your choice (I had pumpkin and sunflower)

1/2 cup nuts of your choice (I had almonds), chopped

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl mix the oats, oatmeal flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together.
3. In a food processor combine banana, pitted dates, honey, oil and vanilla extract. 
4. Mix the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Add in seeds and chopped nuts.
5. Form 15 cookies (1 ice cream scoop per cookie) and flatten each with a spatula or a fork.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown. 

- xo xo.