Covid 19: Oatmeal, choc cookies and more lockdown snacks you need right now

Choose between choc chips or raisins to add to these cookies or, add both. Photo / NZH

My youngest child asks for "cookies" every time he comes over to me, rubbing his belly and telling me he is "hungry". So today I decided to oblige him. I love the texture of oats in cookies, so that was a given in this batch, then I found some walnuts in the cupboard and it started coming together. I have one raisin-loving child and one not so keen on them, so I split the batter after I added the oats and made half with raisins and half with chocolate chips. I've also pulled together some other snack ideas that will make lockdown seem a little less gloomy and monotonous.

Chewy choc, oatmeal and walnut cookies

Cooking with the kids is a good way to break up the monotony of the day. Photo / NZH

You will need

:

150g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature

3/4 cup soft brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

2 1/3 cups organic rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins)

½ cup roughly chopped walnuts

Choose between choc chips or raisins to add to these cookies - or add both. Photo / NZH

Directions

1. Heat oven to 180C or 160C fan forced and line three large baking trays with baking paper.
2. Using your trusty stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Sift in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into the bowl and gently mix until incorporated.
3. Add the rolled oats, walnuts and chocolate chips or raisins and stir to combine, or split the batter in half and make some with chocolate and some with raisins.
4. Scoop tablespoons of mixture onto lined baking trays and flatten a little with your fingers. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until pale golden for chewier cookies or, if you prefer them crunchy bake them for an extra 5-10 minutes.

Bliss Balls

Sweetened only with dates, these natural bursts of cocoa are a filling, tasty, fun snack. These are fun to make with the kids so turn it into a joyous activity to break the lockdown monotony. These are just what you need in the afternoon when energy levels dip and everyone starts to get a bit ratty.

Get the full recipe

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Lemon yoghurt muffins

For all those with more lemons than they know what to do with these lemon muffins are a winner. A simple case of mixing wet ingredients and then folding in the dry, you can have these in the oven in a matter of minutes.

Get the full recipe

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Malt syrup slice

A slightly healthier option for a sweet treat here. Naturally sweetened with rice malt syrup (you could use honey if you don't have any) and packed with nutrient-packed seeds, this slice is easy to make and comes with a little less guilt. You can't beat something where the food processor and microwave do all the work for you.

Get the full recipe

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Quesadillas

If you have some tortillas in the pantry (or freezer, they freeze well) you can make a very tasty and easy lunch or light dinner. Add fillings such as olive paste or pesto, spicy sausage, cold shredded chicken, sliced capsicum or parma ham and good cheese and toast until brown on the outside and the cheese is melted.

Get the full recipe

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Bruschetta of roast pumpkin, kale and feta

On the savoury side of things this bruschetta is the perfect excuse you need to make your lockdown lunch a little bit fancy. It is also a great idea to make some extra kale chips while you are prepping this, so you have a healthy snack on hand.

Get the full recipe

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