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.
