Fit Friday - Cookies with a Healthy Twist and a Workout to Boot

Another week...another month has flown by. Fit Friday is here with another delicious recipe from Ruthie and a fantastic sweat sesh from yours truly. Enjoy!

Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies are a healthier cookie with the perfect combo of sweet, salty, and a bit of tang! Enjoy!!
 
 I'm such a fan of dried cherries! I just adore them. They're tart mingled with sweet and bring a lovely tang to these Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Then add in some dark chocolate chunks and pistachios. . . you're mind will not believe what your tastebuds are saying! SO amazing.
 Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies is a healthier cookie and they make a lot so be sure to freeze some to have later too. They'll keep great in a gallon freezer bag for up to a couple of months. I like to grab them to take hiking with me or when I'm running out the door to something and need a quick pick-me-up. Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies recipe will be put on the repeat list for sure! No one will ever guess they have only a 1/4 cup of butter in 70 cookies! Most of the moisture comes from the applesauce but you don't have to tell anyone that :)

Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Recipe Type: Dessert

Author: Ruthie

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 70

Ingredients

• 7 cups whole rolled oats
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 C milled flax seed
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 2 cups applesauce
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups light brown sugar or 1 C agave (or half and half)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 whole eggs and 4 egg whites (to reduce fat/cholesterol), room temperature
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chunks
• 2 cups dried cherries
• 2 cups pistachio pieces
• sea salt to garnish each ball of dough

Instructions

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
2. Coat half sheet pan with cooking spray; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl whip butter and sugar or agave; cream until smooth.
4. Add eggs one at a time, scraping with each addition.
5. Add vanilla; mix.
6. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, flax seed, baking soda, and sea salt; whisk together.
7. Add dry mixture and mix until 80% incorporated.
8. Add oats in two batches mixing between each addition.
9. Do not over mix.
10. Add chocolate chunks, cherries, and pistachio pieces; stir to incorporate.
11. Drop cookies onto prepared pan by the tablespoon or use a large cookie scoop.
12. Add a sprinkle of sea salt to each dough ball before cooking.
13. Bake at 350 for 12-15 min or until edges are crispy and lightly browned.
14. Store in airtight container.
15. Dough can be frozen for two months or last one week in the fridge.
16. Baked cookies freeze well for up to 2 months.
17. Makes approx 70 cookies.
18. * if using only agave, add an additional 1/2 C whole wheat flour

3.5.3208

Cherry, Pistachio, Chocolate Chunk Cookies need to happen in your life! Yep, you'll be thanking me for sure!!

This week's workout is all about getting the heart rate up while working on some strong sexy muscles. There are some days where I can totally fit in cardio and weights separately and there are days when I have to combine them or just pick one (I love them both...how can I choose?). On those days we combo it up. There are also days where I don't feel like doing either one, combo days are great then too.

Warm Up-

10 minutes of easy cardio and light stretching. Nothing too crazy, just want to wake up the muscles a bit.

Treadmill: run .25 miles (400 m) HARD

15 squats with shoulder press (db)

15 pushups

15 dips

15 v-ups on a bench

Rpt 4x; each repeat take up the incline 1%

Remember; you have to challenge yourself. If you are just aiming to get it done with the least amount of effort possible you aren't going benefit much.


Happy Fit Friday! 
Much Love and Peace
~ Ruthie and Nichole