Countdown til Summer Employment | Day 4

Updated: April 30, 2012 with new pics!

Recipe: Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches | Workout: Get Strong, Sexy Glutes

Four more days left to get yourself psyched for getting back into a routine! If you haven’t already, start setting your alarm clock an hour (or two) earlier every day. That way it won’t be quite so painful dragging yourself out of bed at 6AM on your first day.

Low sugar, low fat, and high protein cookie sandwiches make a great post-workout snack! Wrap them up individually in plastic wrap for a quick and satisfying bite. This cookie recipe was so easy and quick, I might try different variations for all shorts of protein cookies! What do think?

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Don’t make my mistake: Flatten the cookies before you bake them! Still turned out great though!

 

Adapted from dietsinreview.com

• 3 large, very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey for non-vegan)
• 1Tsp vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 Tsp baking powder
• 1/2 Tsp salt
• 3/4 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash the bananas in a large bowl, then add peanut butter, oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, salt and baking powder. Mix well.
2. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients. Stir until just combined. Then add chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat and drop cookies by spoonfuls 1 inch apart. They won’t spread much so don’t worry about getting them too close together. And if you want them a bit flatter like traditional cookies, flatten them down with the back of a spoon.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or slightly more, until the cookies are slightly golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and place on a cooling rack to cool completely – at least one hour. Then store in an airtight container to retain freshness.
5. To make sandwiches, spoon about a tbsp of frozen yogurt between two cookies. Press gently and wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Tip: let the yogurt sit at room temperature for a minute so it’s softer and easier to squish in between the cookies!

Although these sandwiches aren’t exactly travel friendly, the cookies alone  make a great afternoon snack if you’re feeling the 3 o’clock sleepies. If you can’t find dark chocolate chips, finely chop baker’s semi-sweet chocolate instead.

Get Strong, Sexy Glutes

Remember that a great workout is well rounded! So throughout the week, make sure you work every part of your body at least once, but also let every part rest at least once to repair itself. For the next four days, let’s work from bottom to top shall we?

Working your glutes not only lifts your butt, but it also plays a role in strengthening your thighs, back, and even your core. Ask the instructors at my gym! Plus building more muscle will help you burn more calories, even while resting.

Check out this 20 minute workout from LifePlusFitness.com. If you use a stability ball as suggested, you’ll get the double benefit of working your core. If it’s too challenging or you simply don’t have one, don’t feel bad about starting with the bench instead!

Need inspiration? This is the picture Michelle uses to get her readers motivated.

Um, I think it works.

Picking up my camera cable from school tomorrow! And tomorrow is already Day 3!

– m