This weekend I watched some old movies and did a little baking. I watched There’s Something About Mary for like the 5,000th time. My favorite part is when Ben Stiller’s character, Ted, picks up the hitchhiker…
Hitchhiker: You heard of this thing, the 8-Minute Abs?
Ted Stroehmann: Yeah, sure, 8-Minute Abs. Yeah, the exercise video.
Hitchhiker: Yeah, this is going to blow that right out of the water. Listen to this: 7… Minute… Abs.
Ted Stroehmann: Right. Yes. OK, alright. I see where you’re going.
Hitchhiker: Think about it. You walk into a video store, you see 8-Minute Abs sittin’ there, there’s 7-Minute Abs right beside it. Which one are you gonna pick, man?
Ted Stroehmann: I would go for the 7.
Hitchhiker: Bingo, man, bingo. 7-Minute Abs. And we guarantee just as good a workout as the 8-minute folk.
Ted Stroehmann: You guarantee it? That’s — how do you do that?
Hitchhiker: If you’re not happy with the first 7 minutes, we’re gonna send you the extra minute free. You see? That’s it. That’s our motto. That’s where we’re comin’ from. That’s from “A” to “B”.
Ted Stroehmann: That’s right. That’s — that’s good. That’s good. Unless, of course, somebody comes up with 6-Minute Abs. Then you’re in trouble, huh?
Hitchhiker: No! No, no, not 6! I said 7. Nobody’s comin’ up with 6. Who works out in 6 minutes? You won’t even get your heart goin, not even a mouse on a wheel.
I like the way the hitchhiker thinks. He’s going to take an idea and make it better. That’s kind of my philosophy in the kitchen. I like to take a perfectly good recipe and give it a new spin. For instance, I found this fabulous Mexican Cookie recipe in Cooking Light magazine, I made some simple swaps and transformed them into…
Mexican Protein & Spice Cookies
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Place chocolate in a small glass bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until almost melted, stirring until almost smooth. Cool to room temperature.
Combine protein powder, flour and next 5 ingredients (through red pepper); stir with a whisk.
Combine Splenda and apple sauce in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat well. Add cooled chocolate and vanilla; beat just until blended. Add flour mixture; beat just until blended. Drop dough by level tablespoons 2 inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until almost set. Remove from oven. Cool on pans 2 minutes or until set. Remove from pans; cool completely on a wire rack.
Let me tell you, these little cookies are bueno and quite easy to whip up for any fitness fiesta!
Now I’m off to do some 6 minute abs and work on a pitch for my new magazine…Cooking Lighter.
Lance says:
December 13th 2009Joanna!
Six minute abs?? NO problem for you! And…a cookie to get a little protein after that workout…whoa! It’s like double prizes.
Now…where can I pick up that inaugural copy of “Cooking Lighter”?
Liz says:
December 13th 2009ordered my Protein Freeze … yummmmm!
Donna Bush says:
December 13th 2009YUM!!!! Those look good. We do tamales at Christmas and I often pick up Mexican wedding cookies for dessert. Maybe I’ll try these.
Joanna Sutter says:
December 13th 2009Lance, Cooking Lighter magazine coming to a book store near you! KIDDING! Cooking Light has a really thing going and thanks to my friend Carrie…I now have a subscription!
Liz! You’re going to love Protein Freeze. Did you get chocolate or vanilla or both? ;-)
Donna, These cookies are worthy of your Christmas dessert! Cooking Light suggests they are good with a little red wine. Who am I to argue with that? ;-)
Simply Life says:
December 13th 2009Oh those cookies sound great!
Marisa (Loser For Life) says:
December 13th 2009I LOVE that movie!!!
Your cookies look fab! I like how you are always able to make something decadent better for you!
Jessica@HowSweet says:
December 13th 2009Those cookies sound sooooo good.
The Candid RD says:
December 13th 2009Wait, are you starting your own magazine? Or, are you entering recipes into an already existing magazine??
These cookies sound delicious. I notice you are really into protein….do you eat a lot of meat? Why are you always adding protein to things? I’m asking purely out of curiosity, as I’ve been working with athletes lately and have been reading up on protein and the benefits/disadvantages, and I’m just curious how much protein you consume each day.
Whey protein is a great protein source, as you know :)
Joanna Sutter says:
December 13th 2009Candid, No..lol, I’m not starting a magazine. I’m just doing my normal play on words!
I don’t eat chicken or beef so I am always looking to sneak in extra protein in my diet. I average between 150 – 200 grams of protein a day. But that’s just me! ;-)
Food Fascination says:
December 13th 2009I need to try this recipe. Is Protein Freeze only available online? Any substitutes if I can’t find it?
Joanna Sutter says:
December 13th 2009Hi Food Fascination, The Cooking Light recipe calls for 3/4 cup flour so you could use that instead of the protein powder & the flour I used in the revised recipe. As far as I know, Protein Freeze is only available online right now. I bake a lot with protein powder and some brands bake up really well and others just don’t. I really love Protein Freeze for all of my protein powder needs these days from baking, freezing, hot drinks, shakes, etc.
Mary :: A Merry Life says:
December 13th 2009I love that movie for many reasons. Which is good because people love to say that title to me. ;)
Jodi (Jodiojo) says:
December 14th 2009Bwahahaha!! I love that movie and I am not a movie kind of girl. One of the rare movies I have actually seen. Quick question: how do you like the flour? What’s the consistency?:o)
FatFighterTV says:
December 15th 2009So, ummm…. how do you know all those lines????? And yum, those cookies look delish! Thanks for the recipe.