My Lame Brain Means You Get Stuff

However, whether you consider it something that is to your benefit, well you can decide.


First, here are the infamously simple recipes of the cookies from last weekend:


PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C butter, softened (not melted, this is important- trust me)
1/2 C white sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla (I hear authentic Mexican vanilla is best but I've yet to test that theory)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C flour

Mix peanut butter until smooth. Add sugars, egg, and vanilla and stir until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Roll dough into 1" balls and place about 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
Press flat with a fork in a criss-cross (will make you Jump Jump!) pattern to 1/4".
Bake at 375 (F) until golden brown (approximately 10-12 minutes).


SNICKERDOODLES

1/2 C butter
1/2 C shortening
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 2/3 C flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

In a small bowl, combine a separate portion of cinnamon and sugar. Mix together for the "coating" of the cookies.

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients (the order doesn't really matter because you're going to mix your butt off no matter what- it's a bit of a dense dough). Roll into 1" balls and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place about 2" apart on a baking sheet.
Bake at 400 (F) for 8-10 minutes.


***BONUS, because I like them and you***

SUGAR MOLASSES COOKIES

Melt and cool:
3/8 C shortening
3/8 C margarine

Add:
1 C sugar
1/4 C molasses
1 egg

Sift together (or, if you're like me you've never seen the point of sifting for cookies so you just mix it- and I tried it both ways just in case and the end result could not have been more alike the one I didn't sift.):
2 tsp. baking soda
2 C flour
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 375 (F). Mix ingredients well by hand and chill for 30 minutes (this part, however, did prove to be important- that molasses is dang sticky!). Form into 1" balls, roll in granulated sugar and place on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will crinkle while baking and they are actually supposed to be a little darker than you think- that's the molasses!
(Makes about 3 dozen.)


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Now, for the 3 and 3 eating plan.

First, I am not a nutritionist, dietitian, doctor, medical professional of any kind.

I got a couple of emails about the plan and critiquing my approach. Here's the thing I should have mentioned but inadvertently left out because it was logical in my head: You cannot just go eating every thing you want or see every three hours. Duh, right? You can't have a five egg omelet with bacon and toast for breakfast at 7:00, then have a burger and fries at 10:00, and then a tuna melt and salad at 1:00, ice cream at 4:00 and then steak and baked potato at 7:00 again. Obviously, that will not work.

When my old trainer started me on this, my goal was to shoot for an AVERAGE of 300 calories per meal. That means a total of 1500 calories per day, MAXIMUM. I usually stay around 1200 when I'm not doing cardio work outs (like now) and 1500 when I'm running, biking, etc. That was/is specifically tailored for me, my body and my goals. What's best for you will likely depend on you, your body and your goals. It might be worth a try, is all I'm saying. Six pounds in eleven days is just the jump that almost any plan will be able to give you in the beginning. With good eating choices and exercise, any healthy plan will average out to a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.

That said, happy holidays to all, and to all a cookie-filled night! (Did I mention I get one free day a week if I want it? Hehehe.)