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I eat pumpkin all year round. I kid you not. I could eat pumpkin 365 days a year. Just ask my former co-workers who used to roll their eyes at me when I would make pumpkin soufflé in the office microwave for breakfast almost every morning.

When I was telling Michelle I was having a hard time finding canned pumpkin puree earlier this month she insisted I could make my own. And guess what? She was right!

Ever since devouring my first batch of homemade pumpkin puree no gourd has been safe! In fact, this weekend, with a little help from Rachel Ray Magazine, I made an amazing recipe using acorn squash. I wanted to share this recipe with you today because I thought about Michelle the entire time I was preparing this dish. Without Michelle’s coaching I would have been busting open a can of puree instead of busting open a relative of my beloved pumpkin.

This soup also reminds me of another conversation I had with Michelle who mentioned she was having a hard time finding good Mexican food in Australia. I don’t think you’ll find a soup exactly like this on any Mexican menu, but I think Mexican restaurants around the globe might reconsider if they had a batch of…

Fitness & Spicy Chili con Chili

• 1 large acorn squash (about 2 pounds), cut into quarters and seeded
• 3 dried red chilies
• Boiling water
• 1 t chili powder
• 3 poblano chilies
• 3 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• One 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 1 T chopped fresh oregano
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream

Preheat the broiler. Microwave the squash on medium-high power until fork-tender, about 10 minutes; let cool slightly. Scoop out the flesh and transfer to a food processor; discard the skin.

In a bowl, soak the red chilies in just enough boiling water to cover until softened, about 15 minutes; drain. Discard the stems and seeds. Add the red chiles and the chili powder to the food processor; puree.

Place the poblano chiles on a baking sheet, and broil, turning occasionally, until charred all over. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Discard the stems and seeds, then chop.

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the squash puree, poblanos, black beans, oregano, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the sour cream.

I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. It just might squash your need to run to the border!

I have never been to Australia so I’m packing up the blog today and taking a field trip to guest post on Michelle’s site. Make sure you join me down under because I’m cooking up a savory soup recipe using Chobani Greek Yogurt you won’t want to miss!

Speaking of Chobani, before you go, make sure you’ve entered our drawing to WIN a case of their fruit flavored Greek yogurt!

When you get back from Australia, come back for dessert! We’re going to have protein cupcakes in honor of my niece Alison’s SWEET 16th Birthday today! She is such a gift!

And, we’ll squash your cravings for Halloween candy by making guilt-free Protein Peanut Butter Cups!

Now, I really must go grab a really good book before I leave for Michelle’s.

Have a trip, see you next Fall!

Over 150 bloggers from around the world united to write an e-book to support breast cancer awareness and research. Writers were asked to submit their favorite work to be included in this collection of articles. Together we created BLOG-4-CAUSE.

Inside the e-book you will find articles that will inspire and tickle your mind, body, and spirit. Not only that, the book contains links to each and every writer so you can read more works from your favorite authors.

Please visit the Susan G. Komen foundation BLOG-4-CAUSE Web page to learn how you can support our mission to end breast cancer. In addition, you will find information on how you can receive a copy of this e-book as our gift to you.

With gratitude,

Joanna & Lance

Remember when I told you about NuVal, the nutritional scoring system that scores food on a scale of 1 to 100? Well, let’s give it up for plain Chobani Greek Yogurt for scoring a 94…that’s an A in my book!

Plain Chobani Greek Yogurt is one of my favorite go-to, high protein snacks. Right now I’m hooked on mixing in a little cinnamon and stevia right into the container and sometimes I’ll add vanilla protein powder to shake things up.

When I was visiting the Chobani Web site, I was thrilled to learn some new ways to enjoy Chobani. Melissa made the guacamole recipe found on their site a few weeks ago and said it was amazing. I was monkeying around with their Cho-bana Bread recipe and came up with…

Jo-nana Cho-bana Bread

• 1 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp Earth Balance Butter
• ½ cup natural applesauce (no sugar added)
• ¾ cup Splenda for Baking
• 2 large eggs (I used Egg Beaters)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 large overripe bananas
• ½ cup Chobani® Plain 0% Greek Yogurt
• ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional)
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (not optional ;-))

Preparation

Grease large loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350F. In a small bowl, stir protein powder, baking soda, and salt.

Peel bananas. Cut each in half lengthwise and then cut each half into halves. Chop quartered bananas into 2-inch pieces. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and Splenda into a smooth paste. Add applesauce and vanilla, and mix until combined. Add eggs and stir until incorporated.

Add dry mixture to wet ingredients, and mix well. Add chopped bananas, nuts and/or chocolate chips and Chobani®.

Bake at 350F for 45-60 minutes.

This bread, like the Chobani NuVal score, is nothing but good! You know what else is nothing but good? Chobani is GIVING AWAY an entire case of assorted fruit flavor Chobani to one lucky Fitness & Spice reader.

Here’s how you enter the drawing:

• Visit the Chobani site and check out their Nothing But Good line of t-shirts.
• In the comments section below tell us which shirt you’d proudly wear or tell us another word you think is Nothing But Good!

The contest ends October 31st at 11:59 P.M. and the winner will be announced on Sunday, November 1st.

Now, I really must go finish my banana bread and enjoy this beautiful Fall day because that, my friends, is nothing but good!

Libby’s Vegetables is redefining the good in canned goods.

To help hungry families in need, Libby’s and Feeding America are holding a Virtual Canned Food Drive. The money raised from this event will go toward stocking and distributing food for food pantries, soup kitchens, Kids Cafes, senior centers, homeless shelters, youth programs, and BackPack Programs.

Feeding America works will food producers, distributors, and restaurants to gather excess food that otherwise would go to waste. This perfectly good food is then delivered to charities all over the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

I learned all about this event from Jennifer at Savor The Thyme. She has an account all set up to collect donations if you’d like to support her campaign for the Virtual Canned Food Drive.

A $5 donation provides 35 meals for hungry families – and Libby’s Vegetables will match contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000.

Together we CAN make a difference!

LET’S ALL…FOR MARY!

Mary won the Lift Your Sole jewelry drawing! Congratulations!

If you did not win,

You can order your own fitness inspired charms, rings, and bracelets at Lift Your Sole.

Thanks to everyone who entered…I think you are all quite charming!

Have you carved your Halloween pumpkin yet? If not, roll up those sleeves, dig right in and sort through the slimy guts of your pumpkin. You’ll want to save every last seed!

You’re probably saying to yourself, “Is she nuts?” Well, as a matter of fact, I am quite crazy for…

Fitness & Spice Pumpkin Nut Mix

• 1 egg white
• 1 C pumpkin seeds
• 1 C natural almonds
• 1 C cashews (you can use pecans or walnuts, too)
• 2 T Splenda for Baking
• 1/2 t seasoning salt
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Beat the egg white until fluffy. Add pumpkin seeds, nuts, and toss well. Place remaining ingredients into a small bowl and blend well with a fork. Add spice mixture to nuts and seeds and stir to combine everything well. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet and bake for 50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Cool completely and store in an air tight container.

This mix is packed with amazing flavors and a MONSTER MUNCH (right, Jen?). You can also shake things up a bit and customize your own sweet and/or spicy blend. For instance, if you are going to a party with a lot of vampires, add some garlic salt. As a matter of fact, I can’t take ALL the credit for this recipe as I was inspired by this article I found when researching the many health benefits of pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds deserve a high five for being packed with five B Vitamins not to mention all of the magnesium, fiber, and protein (yes, protein!…a handful of pumpkin seeds contains about 20 grams of protein). Not to mention all of that Vitamin P! Just kidding, I was just checking to see if you were paying attention.

Ah, nuts! I would tell you all about the health benefits of almonds, but I’ll let Donna tell you instead. I simply must run and seeds the day!

What do you do?

A. Lift Weights

B. Run

C. Yoga

D. Swim

E. Bike

F. Some or all of the above

If you picked A, B, C, D, E, or even F there’s something for you at Lift Your Sole.

My friend Lauren first introduced me to Jill at Lift Your Sole a few months ago and so far I’ve purchased two charms from her, the BE STRONG charm pictured here and a 3-charmer that’s stamped FITNESS AND SPICE! So now I am more charming than ever!

Lift Your Sole not only features fitness-focused stamped and engraved necklace charms, but rings and cuffs, too. Weight training is kind of my thing, but they carry a lot of great messages for you swimmers, bikers, runners, and yoga fans, too.

Want to create a custom charm like my FITNESS AND SPICE necklace? You can do that, too!

Guess what? One lucky Fitness & Spice reader is going to WIN any piece of jewelry under $24 from Lift Your Sole! Here’s how you enter the drawing:

In the comments section below tell us:

• How you answered “What do you do?”
• And, if you were to order a custom charm what would it say?

The contest will stay open until Tuesday, October 27th at 11:59 P.M. and the winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Now, I really must run, Prince Charming might be waiting for me at the gym!

My brother, Joe, is running in the Marine Corps Marathon today in support of the Folds of Honor Foundation.

The Folds of Honor Foundation Marathon program is powered by PGA Professionals, like Joe, from around the country who raise money to fund scholarships for dependents and spouses of service members that have been killed or disabled as a result of their military service.

Here’s the powerful story of why the Folds of Honor Foundation was started:

As the plane landed, the pilot spoke. “We have the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board, and his brother Corporal Brad Bucklin has accompanied him home from Iraq. As a sign of respect, please remain seated while we honor Corporal Bucklin and his sacrifice,” the pilot requested over the intercom.

Dan Rooney, a passenger on the flight, watched through the plane window as the flag-covered casket was removed from the rear cargo-hold. He saw Bucklin’s family meet the procession with tears streaming down their cheeks. And he choked back emotion when he saw the soldier’s young son clutching at his mother’s leg.

This is any serviceman’s worst nightmare, thought Rooney. An F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Major Rooney had served two tours in Iraq. And while he had experienced the harsh reality on the frontlines, he had never witnessed the devastating reality back home.

As Major Rooney attempted to regain his composure, he finally turned back to the plane. It was then he noticed that half of the passengers had ignored the pilot’s request and had already de-boarded. That moment changed Major Rooney’s life forever.

When the paths of Corporal Bucklin and Major Rooney crossed on that fateful flight, Rooney vowed to make a difference. Though he couldn’t change the fate of a fallen soldier, he could change the future of a grieving widow or a fatherless child.

Major Rooney set out to prove to America’s heroes – our military personnel – that their sacrifices would never go unappreciated or unrewarded. From that sincere and simple wish, a foundation was born. Folds of Honor hopes to ensure that families of the fallen must never endure alone.

Joe represents the people on the airplane that did not de-board early that day. He is an amazing example, athlete, and friend. I am unbelievably proud of him for going the distance for such a worthy foundation and for “giving back,” as he says, “to the families of the bravest people on the planet!”