Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe)

RUNS: Quick update on the whiplash stuff. I have had some fantastic runs this week despite my neck pain. The 800mg of Ibuprofen is working wonderfully. On Thursday I was even able to skip a dose before I finally had to cave back in and take some.

I went out for a run on Wednesday. It was so ugly out that I really tried to talk myself out of it claiming that I really should rest my neck, what if it was something serious, etc. But ultimately I headed out and was happy that I did. At first I could barely turn my neck side to side before crossing the roads but eventually it loosened up and I had a great run. 8 miles at 10 seconds per mile faster then I have ever done this loop!

I swear that my best runs are done in ugly weather! When it is sunny and sixy...not so much. Whatever, I will take what I can get. I have another longer run planned this weekend so I hope I am feeling back to normal and I dont FALL during the run again.

Currently I dont have any ultras planned and I really dont know what I want to do this spring. I have a couple of ideas but not signed up for anything yet. So I think I will just keep plugging along and see what comes up. I kinda like this plan!

I do have a trail half marathon on the first Sunday in February but its just a fun run that I can count as my second half in the 13 in 2013 challenge!

EATS: I seriously love when I can throw a few things together without much thought or time and call it a successful meal!

Steam some kale. Throw it in the food processor with 1/2 cup green water from steaming and 1/2 cup walnuts. Pulverize it like crazy until smooth like butter (similar to a pesto).

Bake some sweet potatoes and top them with the Kale butter and maybe a little brown sugar if you are like me and love anything sweet. I put a side salad just because and bam. Healthy meal complete.

And even easier one I did uses the three ingredients below...

Eggplant hummus, Vegetable Masala Burger, Four veggie Rainbow Salad

 I cooked up the burger and added it to a bowl of the salad and topped it with some of the hummus watered down to make it thinner and more of a dressing.

It was so good! The burger is spicy which works well for me because I have to eat alot more of the veggies with it to cool my mouth down. And I like the contrast of the warm burger and the cold veggies. I usually make this as a wrap but I thought it worked great this way. And the whole bowl was only like 200 calories! The wrap usually adds anywhere from 100-200 more.

I think the reason why I like to make such fast and easy meals is because then that give me time to make the important things...like cookies. Like Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 18-20

2 cups + 2 Tbs Whole Wheat Pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup applesauce
6 Tbs creamy Peanut Butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix the flour, salt and baking soda in bowl.
In another bowl mix peanut butter, applesauce, both sugars and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
Then also add in the mashed bananas. It will no longer be smooth.
Gradually add in the dry ingredients until dough forms.
Then fold in chocolate chips.

Using a spoon, put golfball size dough balls onto a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Let them cool completely then enjoy!

They come out nice and fluffy. Almost like a muffin top. So moist and delicious!!

What is your favorite kind of cookie?!

Peace.