Blended flour helps recipe

Dear Jeanne: Can you make this recipe healthier, with whole-wheat flour and less fat and sugar? Thank you. — Terri M., Akron, Ohio

Dear Terri: I tried several different versions of this, and if you take too much sugar out and add whole-wheat flour, it tastes too "healthy." There's no sense in making a cookie that no one wants to eat.

I finally ended up with whole-wheat flour and oatmeal flour, which can be made at home in a blender; replaced some of the fat with applesauce; and removed 1/2 cup sugar. All of these changes improved the nutrition of the cookie, and it still tastes great. If you do not have cloves, you can omit them, but it adds a nice flavor if you have them.

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

1 cup raisins

1 cup water

Simmer raisins and water in pan on stove until raisins plump. Drain raisins, reserving the liquid.

In a mixing bowl:

1 cup butter or margarine

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup reserved raisin liquid

Beat together until well-blended.

Add:

2 1/2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix until well-blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes. Makes 48 cookies.

HEALTHIER OATMEAL COOKIES

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup boiling water

1/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar