Every time I turn around iHerb.com is adding something new to their online store. Lucky for us, I’ve been running around in circles these days because they’ve been very, very busy stocking their virtual shelves with new products.

On my next iHerb.com shopping spree here’s what I’ll be adding to my shopping cart:

• Carlson’s Fish Oil. If you know me, you know I’m a big fan of fish oil and I’m brand loyal to the Carlson’s fishing line.
• Xtend. If you see me in the gym, chances are you’ll see me sipping this stuff. Powdered, great tasting Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) that you just add to water and shake. Lemonade is my favorite flavor.
• Justin’s Nut Butter. If you’ve been reading Fitness & Spice for a while you know I am nuts about Justin’s line of peanut and almond butters. iHerb has it in stock and at a great price.
• Erewhon, Organic Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Cereal. This cereal is one of the latest additions to the Attune Foods line of cereals and I haven’t found it locally yet so I’m thrilled to be able to purchase it at iHerb right now.
• Source Naturals Life Force Multiple Vitamins. This is the multivitamin I take when I remember to take my multivitamin.

I have grown to appreciate iHerb.com for their customer service, fast delivery, and ever-growing product offerings. All that, and from time to time they send me some new products to try. In fact, a few weeks ago they sent me a packet of Madre Labs, CocoCardio, a cocoa and beet powder supplement you can make into a hot cocoa-like drink, or just toss into protein shakes like I’ve been doing. Thank you, iHerb!

Want to win a $50 iHerb.com shopping spree and a bag of CocoCardio? Simply enter the drawing by doing 10 pushups and leaving a comment telling us what you’d add to your iHerb shopping cart. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 1st.

Now I really must go finish my herbs and get on my whey!

Somethings just go together like:

• Bacon & Eggs
• Shoes & Socks
• Wine & Cheese
• Apples & Oranges
• Fitness & Spice
• …and Peanut Butter & Jelly

And speaking of Peanut Butter & Jelly, here’s a great way to get your PB&J fix while adding a healthy dose of protein and subtracting some of the unnecessary carbs dough.

Simply grab a single serving of Greek yogurt (Chobani strawberry or raspberry flavors are recommended for this recipe by yours truly) and stir in a tablespoon, make it two tablespoons, of your favorite peanut butter. Enjoy!

If you are a PB&J fan this little number will make your taste buds dance like Fred & Ginger. Guaranteed.

Now I really must go to the gym and then…dine & dash!

What do you do when the grocery store is out of Justin’s chocolate almond butter?

You panic.

And then you head right to the bulk aisle and grab the ingredients to make your own batch. Here’s how you make…

Joanna Sutter’s Chocolate Almond Butter

• 1 cup natural almonds
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
• Salt to taste (optional)
• 1/8 cup water (give or take)

Toss all ingredients into a high powered blender until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. Eat.

Now let’s address your questions:

Q. What do you eat this with? A spoon.

Q. What else could you eat with this? I think this chocolate almond butter would be perfectly paired on a pear, absolutely amazing on an apple, rather bananas on a banana, but really, really wrong on a watermelon.

Q. I noticed there’s no oil in this recipe why is that? I don’t think this recipe needs oil, but feel free to replace all or some of the water with oil to give it a creamier consistency.

Q. I don’t like almonds can I use peanuts instead? Are you seriously asking me this question?

Now I really must go undercover and work on my label for “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Justin’s Almond Butter!”

A foodie I am not.

However, I love to take amazing recipes and give them a healthy shake. Are some of my creations worthy of being in Gourmet Magazine or Cooking Light? Um, heck no. But do they satisfy my cravings for the full calorie versions? Um, HECK YES!

So when I ran across a bag of Stevia Extract In the Raw last week at the grocery store last week I scooped it up and couldn’t wait to hit the Fitness & Spice test kitchen. Lucky for me on the same day Justin’s Nutbutter sent me a generous supply of their products so I grabbed a bowl and came up with…

Muffins Elvis Would Love Without the Fluff

• 1/2 (really ripe) banana
• 1/4 cup Stevia Extract in the Raw
• 1/2 cup nut butter (I used Justin’s Honey Almond Butter)
• 1/8 t baking soda
• Dash of salt

Mash banana until smooth and stir in Stevia. Add the nut butter, baking soda, and salt and stir until all ingredients are combined. Pour into mini muffin tins prepared with non-stick spray or cupcake liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

This recipe makes about 8-10 mini muffins but I’m sure you can double or triple this recipe with ease. Oh, and if you want to make them raw, just omit the baking soda and the baking of course.

Simple enough, right? Thank you, thank you very much!

Now I really must go grab a muffin and hit the gym…it’s now or never!

I bought some Textured Vegetable Protein a few weeks ago for a recipe and ran across the bag in my cupboard when I looking for a quick snack. Not being schooled on how to use this stuff, I decided to give my friend Carrie a call. The conversation went something like this:

ME: What do you think about textured vegetable protein?

CARRIE: You mean TVP? The stuff they pumped into elementary school hamburgers?

ME: Eww.

The very thought of school cafeteria food makes me lose my appetite and think of this song performed by the great Adam Sandler:

Ok, kids back to TVP.

What is it? Well, it sounds like a disease, but it isn’t. TVP is defatted soy flour. Sounds appetizing doesn’t it? It’s actually not too shabby. I’ve been enjoying it in its dehydrated state as it packs a hearty crunch, something I’ve been craving lately.

I’d say it tastes and looks like a cross between rice crispy cereal and granola, which might explain why I’ve been eating it by the handful, as a substitution for croutons on salads, as a topping on protein shakes, and mixed in with a spoonful (or two) of Justin’s Chocolate Almond Butter. Num.

You can find TVP in the bulk aisle in places like Whole Foods or in some grocery stores that carry Bob’s Red Mill. It’s cheap…which might explain why lunch ladies around the globe use this stuff, too.

A word of caution: If you want to enjoy TVP in it’s crunchy state add it to your food at the last possible second. What I’m really saying is don’t let it get in contact with something that isn’t solid (like salad dressing, protein shake, or nut butter) for too long or it will turn into some unrecognizable mush like something a woman wearing a hairnet might serve.

Now I really must go to recess, I’m challenging the lunch lady to a game of four square(s)!

Congratulations, Michelle! You won the Justin’s Nut Butter prize package! You are so lucky.

Take Shannon’s suggestion and serve it with a banana, or stir some into some greek yogurt, I think that could work, don’t you Josie? Or, even spread it on an apple or celery…sounds like something Erin might do! Whatever you do…enjoy it!