As I am sure you know by now, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, however, sweets (in the quantity I consume them anyway) are not great for maximizing performance. I am therefore constantly on the lookout for ways I can trick my sweet tooth into eating nutritious foods.
As much as I love fruit, my sweet tooth is a smart one that knows fruits are not real sweets, these cookies were one way I was able to sneak lots of nutrition into cookies without arising suspicision…..yes, I am writing like my sweet tooth has a mind of its own….but, technically it is my mind, so it is a person….or a part of my mind anyway 🙂
Speaking of what is on my mind, I am participating in Amanda’s linkup again this week for Thinking Out Loud Thursday. What have I been thinking about during the moments my mind can run (pun intended :p) free during my runs you ask?
Doesn’t a lumberjack have one of the most rewarding jobs? The noise that is made as a giant tree/branch hits the ground after you have chopped away at it for a while must be so satisfying! Maybe I should switch careers and become a logger…..that is the correct word for it, apparently no real “logger” would ever say Lumberjack. Sorry to anyone I offended 🙂
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| TIMMMBBBEERRRR |
Do you ever wonder why you like particular smells and others do not? A friend and I were talking about this a few weeks ago on a run. There are so many controversial smells; gas, fresh cut grass, mulch, rain, jet fuel. I wonder why we have associations with some smells, and not others.
For the record, I hate all of the above, except gas!
Finally, can someone please explain to my why people run next to one another with their headphones in? I understand running with music when you are on your own, but why would you run with someone if you were just going to listen to your own music? This confuses me.
Enough randomness, back to the purpose of this post; COOKIES!
Amy from Maisymak, introduced me to these cookies a few months ago, and I adapted them to reduce the sugar (and make use of my NuNaturals Tagatose), increase the nutritional profile of the flour, add almonds, and use Cookies and Cream Hugs (as opposed to candy cane kisses).
They turned out wonderfully; a delightfully rich, fudgy cookie, with the smoothness of the kiss to match it perfectly. They were definitely moreish, but this is one cookie that can be enjoyed without guilt…..unless of course you consume all 24 in one go….your tummy may be a little unhappy!
#FuelYourFuture
- Avocados are considered by some nutritionists as the perfect food! High in heart healthy (good) fats, high in fiber, and protein, acts as an anti-inflammatory, AND it is high in many vitamins and minerals
- Black beans help with blood sugar regulation and are great for cardiovascular health, meaning your workouts will feel better
- Whole Wheat Flour helps you towards your daily serving of whole grains, while reducing your risk of Type II diabetes AND helping to maintain your metabolism
- Almonds are high in Vitamin E to help recovery, and phosphorus helps to keep your bones strong. Almonds also provide lots of good fats to help lower cholesterol, and reduce your heart attack risk
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What random things have you been contemplating about recently? What are your favorite love it or hate it smells? Can your sweet tooth tell when you are trying to fool it?
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50 Comments.
First, those cookies sound delicious. I mean you can't ever go wrong when baking/cooking with beans if you ask me.
Second, this may be one of the most random thinking out loud posts I've ever read… but I loved it! I was literally sitting here by myself laughing out loud Ha Ha!
Oh my this looks so good! You would never guess the ingredients in it!
I only like the smell of mulch!
That squirrel scares me… I hate squirrels..
I don't know why people run next to each other with headphones… that is weird though!
Have a great day lady!
i hope the gas smell was from a car, not from eating the beans. LOL!
I need to get up my courage to try black bean brownies–I've always wanted to, but beans and I are not really great friends. Maybe I will finally bite the bullet though! And that squirrel pic? I can't even.
I like the gasoline smell, too–but my favorite smells are fresh dryer sheets and Lexol leather conditioner–reminds me of home and prepping for horse-shows. Oh! and the smell of sports stores–the scent of tennis shoes and competition 😀
I actually like all those controversial smells that you mentioned. Does that make me a weirdo? Maaaaaybe, but I'm okay with that. And girl… my sweet tooth definitely has a mind of its own, and its a freaking demanding diva. There are some days where it won't shut up no matter how many fruits, dried fruits, and healthier alternatives I feed it, but then as soon as I give up the fight and have a little bit of the real stuff, it quietens down. I”m all for healthy baking, but there are times where nothing but the real thing will do. All about balance, right? 🙂
I feel like all those love/hate smells out there I hate haha. One in particular that I am not a fan of at all is new car smell. I hate the scent and it is crazy to me that people buy air fresheners for new car smell when you could have vanilla, or something tropical or floral!
I dislike candles and body products designed to smell like food. If I wanted a cupcake, I'd buy one, I do not want to SMELL like one 😛
And those cookies? I definitely need to give them a whirl!
I want some of these cookies right now! Yum.
I run next to John with headphones in lol. Usually I actually leave one ear bud out and one in just in case he wants to talk. We run together even when I do just listen to music though because if he wasn't running next to me I would stop, turnaround, and walk home 🙂
Don't you love the random things that you think about when out there running? I think about so many things and then end up forgetting them entirely by the time I get home lol…I have a major sweet tooth that most of the time, really likes fruit, especially apples with peanut butter. However, when I want chocolate, chocolate cake or cookies, nothing else will do.
These look so yummy!! I've been wanting to try baking with avocado.. and black beans for that matter!
That's a really interesting topic you were talking about with your friend – I love the smell of mulch! I always liked gas too but I heard it was bad for your health to smell!
These sound great. I really need to try baking with avocado or black beans.
I don't get the running with headphones and a friend thing either. I went with a friend while ago who brought hers and I wouldn't let her use them.
Love this cookies idea! I've done chocolate avocado cookies and black bean brownies… how did I not think to combine?! #strangebutgood win, my friend!
Oh, Tina – I'm in! I love chocolate and avocados. We make an avocado pudding that is AMAZING. I have an incredible sweet tooth and it didn't start until I started eating sweets! It got worst and worst. I wanted a piece of chocolate all the time. Finally, I switched to dates. They may cause other issues, (natural laxatives!) but I can have one after dinner and be satisfied. Just a thought….
I'm going to make your cookies though. I like black bean cookies….YUMS!
Those cookie look insane! I love adding avocado to cookies for an added punch. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh, these look SO GOOD, Tina!!
Thanks friend, I am glad I gave you a giggle on a Thursday morning. You literally lolled huh? 😛
I know, they are sneaky 🙂 Yucky, I am not a fan of mulch. Squirrels seem to be more frantic than usual this year, a few of them have made me jump on runs! Hope you have a great weekend 🙂
Hahahahhaah! I sure hope not 😛
You should give them a go….or at least the avocado part 🙂 Hahah I know the squirrel is hilarious, it was a good find!
Dryer sheets are a good one, not sure what lexol is….actually as you say horses, I think I do know that smell from when I worked in a stables. You love the smell of competition huh, thats impressive….as long as its not the smell of a finish line….that is not a good competition smell 😛
I dont think that makes you a weirdo, my friend liked all those smells too. I know your sweet tooth is on a similar level to mine. Yes, totally about balance…..and you earn some goodies too, some real ones….not fake ones 😛
Yeah, I am pretty similar, I am 100% with you on the new car smell, I feel like I can taste it in my throat, yuck!!!
My favourite smell in the world is coffee. And I might be saying that only because I'm drinking coffee right now.
Love those cookies. I think they would go nicely with my coffee 🙂 I've never tried to use black beans in baked goods.
Thanks Ange, hahah that is a good point, although I do have a cupcake candle for when I go on my sweet restrictions sometimes before a big competition! I wish I smelled like a cupcake….like those dolls….cabbage patch kids was it? Give the cookies a try, hope you like them 🙂
Oh really, well I guess that makes sense, I am glad someone explained it to me. Hopefully I can rub off onto you over the next few years to make you want to run without John being there. That is my goal, make you go for a run because you want to, on your own….WITHOUT music! 😛
Yep! I forget most of them, but this time I made a conscious effort to write them down as soon as I walked in the door hahha!
Yes, so true….although my sweet tooth wants that stuff all the time!!
Thanks Leigha, now is your chance! Send me a picture if yo do 🙂
Oh, I did not know it was bad for your health, maybe I should stop inhaling at gas stations 😛
Give them a go! let me know what you think 🙂
Hhahaha go you Laura! Force her to be in your company 😛
Glad it made your strange but good list, I have added it onto your linkup! I do not know how you did not think of it first 🙂
Thanks Amber, ooooh pudding sounds good. I believe my grandma is to blame for my sweet tooth, we always joke about that in my family. Dates actually do work pretty well, I have been using that as a tactic…..but sometimes all i want is a big cookie!
Thanks, let me know if you do make them!
Thanks Liz 🙂 They taste So good too!
Thanks Angela 🙂 It does work well…..other than the slight green tint…but you would never know in these!
I am actually there with you, I do not like drinking it, but I do like the smell!
Give them a try, and let me know what you think. This was my first time of using them too 🙂
This looks awesome– I should make these for my little one!!
I would totally make these- yum!! I feel the same way about headphones when running with others… what?!
Thanks for the recipe, and thanks for the squirrel photo. Too cute!
Oh, and I 100% agree about headphones and buddy runs. W
The cookies look amazing! Black beans? Really? LOL
OMG I love bean-based desserts. My friend recently made black bean cookies (sans avocado) and I ate them crushed over yogurt and raspberries… so good!
I think I would have to eat these without knowing what is in them the first time – something about the idea of black beans in a dessert (mental but….).
And, then I should make them and see if my boys can figure out the secret ingredient!
Oh I definitely have a sweet tooth! This recipe looks great. Looks like they would just melt in your mouth. I need to try cooking with blackbeans. I bought some ages ago (probably expired now!) with the intention of making something although I guess I forgot lol
I definitely have a sweet tooth, particular after dinner I just want a little something sweet 😉 These cookies look great! I've not cooked anything sweet with beans before but I really need to get onto it.
Thanks Laura, please do! let me know how you get on 🙂
Thanks Laura, I hope you do! and YES! It does not make sense….although Kim explained her reasoning above 🙂
Thanks Tiff, I know its pretty funny isnt it! The caption was my tail smells suspicious which i thought was even funnier!
I know! You wouldnt think it would work, but it does! Try it! See if the kids can guess the secret ingredient!
Oh you have made quite a few? I have adzuki beans right now, I hear they are good for dessert. Sounds great over yogurt, lovely and healthy too!
Yeah, it is more of a getting your head around it thing….I didnt tell most people what was in them until after. Please give it a go, let me know if they can tell…I am curious!
I knew this is something you would like 🙂 Use them up before they expire! I do that a lot with cans, that is why I used these in the first place actually. They are lovely and fudgy!
Yes, that is when mine attacks the most! Give it a go 🙂
These look delicious!! And I love the ingredients list.
Hey tina! I’m so excited you made the cookies – and liked them 🙂 I’ll definitely have to try your variation as I believe sugar is evil 🙂 and am always trying to cut down. Homemade cookies though, are definitely a win over any processed snack. Thanks for the share and have a great week!