You can take Thanksgiving out of November, but you can’t take Thanksgiving out of the Fitness & Spice kitchen.

Or something like that.

So grab your pumpkins and let’s whip up a soft batch of…

Protein Pumpkin & Spice Cookies

• 1 cup Pumpkin puree
• 1 cup Splenda for Baking (or your favorite sugar substitute)
• 1/2 cup Natural Applesauce (if you prefer a crispier cookie use vegetable oil instead)
• 1 Egg
• 1 teaspoon Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• 1 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)

Whisk together the pumpkin puree, Splenda, applesauce, egg, almond milk, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by spoonful on prepared cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 8-10 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen.

I think these cookies are perfect anytime of the day, especially for breakfast. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a soft baked cookie made with whey.

Now I really must go grab some more Pumpkin & Spice Cookies and load up my iPod one last time with a little Plymouth Rock.

The UPS Man left a package waiting on my doorstep when I slid home from vacation on Christmas Day. Inside the box I found three of my favorite things: Cookies, coffee, and a cookbook. Let’s just say the day after Christmas only one of these things was still around.

I have to tell you about the cookies. Angela sent me some amazing homemade TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES inspired by a recipe she found in Ellie Krieger’s cookbook, The Food You Crave…a fitting title because I crave these cookies! I begged Angela for the recipe and have made them. Twice. I like to call them…

The Cookies I Crave

• ¼ cup (1/2 stick) I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, baking butter softened
• ¼ cup firmly packed Splenda brown sugar
• 3 TBS Splenda sugar blend for baking
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup chocolate Protein Freeze protein powder
• ½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour (or regular whole wheat flour)
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 oz. dark chocolate chips
• Nuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large bowl mash together the butter and sugars, then add the applesauce, egg, and vanilla.  Beat until creamy. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, protein powder, cocoa, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Stir in both chocolates and add nuts (if desired), and mix well. Using a tablespoon, scoop batter onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake until cookies are set – about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack to cool. Serves: 24

Nutrients per cookie: 82 calories, 4g fat, 6g sugar,1g fiber, 3g protein

I used Smart Balance butter and whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour and they got rave reviews (by yours truly)!

You’re probably wondering what cookbook Angela sent me? Ellie Krieger’s latest cookbook, So Easy. Here’s what the cover says:

Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week

I do not make this stuff up. Who wouldn’t want luscious, healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert every day of the week? If you do, then I strongly recommend adding this cookbook to your collection.

Now I really must go grab a cup of coffee and a cookie and call Angela…’cause it’s her birthday! Happy Birthday, Ang!

Remember when I told you about one of my favorite children’s books called If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? Well, check out what my favorite niece, Ali, gave me for Christmas…the mouse featured in the book! How cute is that?!

Now that I’ve put away my Christmas decorations and put away way too many Christmas cookies, I figure now is a good time to start baking protein cookies again. Is this recipe as good as your home baked Christmas cookies? No, but it works when you just need a cookie…and you need it fast! Here’s the recipe for…

One Fitness & Spice Cookie

• 1/4 cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
• 1 T water
• 1/2 t Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (melted or room temperature)
• 1/2 t natural peanut butter (optional)

Mix all ingredients together with a spoon and form into a circle on a microwave safe dish. Microwave for 20-25 seconds. You can also top your cookie with a sprinkling of cinnamon or your favorite sugar substitute.

A couple of notes:

• Not all protein powders bake up as well as others. I have success baking with Protein Freeze or Iron-Tek Essential Naturals brands.
• Can you use another type of butter? Of course!
• Eat immediately or it will turn out rubbery.
• Do not over bake or it will turn out rubbery.
• Under bake for a hot lava cookie that you can eat with a spoon!
• Skipping the microwave and just eating the batter is allowed. I’ve done it before and will do it again. And again.

Now I really must go write Ali a thank you note and make my mouse myself another cookie!