Tis' the Season

Reason #7 - Fat lasts longer than flavor.
Tis' the season of holiday parties, eggnog, boxes of mysterious chocolates and a lot of other temptations. When I find myself in the middle of people eating all of the fats and foods that I used to eat like crazy at the holidays, I think about the long term consequences of eating the fatty food (for example, a jiggly back side, squishy middle, bad work outs, guilt, etc...). Why would I want to throw what I have worked so hard to get for a few seconds of flavor?

All of that being said, that does not mean I dont have a sweet tooth. That is why I find recipes that will work with my lifestyle and are not absolutely horrible for you - things like Paleo Pumpkin Cookies.

Ingredients
1 cup of almond meal
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts ( I didn't use additional nuts, and they still turned out good)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup of cooked and mashed yam, pumpkin, or butternut squash
¼ cup coconut milk
2-4 tablespoons maple syrup

Cooking Instructions  
Preheat oven to 400. In a mixing bowl, stir together all the dry ingredients.  In another small mixing bowl whisk together the egg, coconut milk, and maple syrup.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.  Add the mashed yam, pumpkin, or squash to the dough and mix well. Grease a baking sheet with coconut oil or organic grass fed butter and scoop about one heaping tablespoon per cookie onto the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.  Makes approximately 15 cookies.
(Thanks again to Everyday Paleo: http://everydaypaleo.com/2010/11/23/one-final-thanksgiving-treat-recipe-and-being-thankful/)