FFTF (Food For Thought Friday): Coconut Oat Cookies and Asperger’s Syndrome

Ok, it’s finally over.  The whole holiday thing.  The business of hustle and bustle.  I thought it was time to get up another FFTF (Food For Though Friday).  It’s been a while.

Today’s post offers a recipe for coconut oat cookies with dark mint chocolate chunks. Can I get an ummmmmmmm? =)  Ok, this one is simple and quick and great alternative to the butter-laden, high-sugar cookies that we are all too familiar with.

• 1 cup whole oats
• 1/3 cup ground flax seed (flax flour)
• 1/3 cup dessicated coconut (unsweetened)
• 1 Tbsp melted butter
• 3 very ripe bananas
• 1-3 Tbsp agave syrup or honey ( or maple syrup -*I can’t it here =( )
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup dark mint chocolate chips or chunks (if you can’t get dark chocolate chips, you can add peppermint extract to the cookies by mixing it in with the melted butter and coconut)

Mix all of the dry ingredients.  Mash the bananas and add to the dry ingredients along with the rest of the wet ingredients.  Mix in the chocolate.

All done.  Simple eh.  You must let me know what you thought if you do decide to make them ok.

Ok, if you’ve noticed in the top right hand corner of my blog, it’s all about the 5 ‘Fs’ – Faith, Family, Fitness, Food and Fun.  Today’s FFTF topic is about Asperger’s Syndrome because my little cutie (6 almost 7 years old), Cauê has it.

Asperger’s Syndrome is on the ‘Autism Spectrum’ and is considered high-functioning autism.  As one adolescent American boy put it, it’s like he’s half autistic, half neuro-typical.  If you were to see Caue and talk with him and see him playing on his own, you’d have no idea that he has autism.  However, after getting to know him a bit and seeing the way he is in school and the way he learns – as well as his obsessions – you would start to think that there is something a little different about him.

I’m not going to share too much on the subject, but I am going to share a really awesome music video that my husband found on Youtube about it.  Please check it out and let me know what you think.  Being that we live in Brazil and my husband is Brazilian, it is in Portuguese.  I have, however, translated it for you to understand the message of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tzHqUtUaA8Asperger’s Syndrome

Translation: 10 things that a child with Asperger’s Syndrome wish you knew…

• 1. Before anything, I am a normal child!!!
• 2. I have horrible motor coordination – buttoning a shirt or tying up shoelaces is a sacrifice
• 3. I have an extraordinary ability to comprehend – I have an exceptional memory to for facts and dates. I can learn to read on my own.
• 4. I am a concrete thinker and don’t understand the abstract.
• 5. I have an extensive vocabulary – I have a pendant, repetitive and stereotyped language.
• 6. I can’t look into your eyes when I speak with you.
• 7. I believe in everything you tell me and I don’t understand irony.
• 8. I can be mistaken as a little genius.
• 9. Please help me with social interactions.
• 10. And above all else, love me unconditionally!
• And just 3 more words – Patience, Patience, Patience!

PATIENCE! Oh my goodness.  I am NOT a patient person.  But I am so thankful that God has given me Caue to raise and love and teach and ‘be patient with’.  God is developing this much needed virtue and fruit in my life through my relationship with my son.

Have you ever heard of Asperger’s Syndrome before? Do you know anybody that has it?  Tell me your experience.