Running to LI and Citrus Cloud Cookies

Thursday workout recap:  Treadmill running sometimes goes by quickly and sometimes it drags on forever.  Luckily, during yesterday’s 4 1/2 on the mill, my energy kicked in at 2 1/2 and the rest was a breeze.  Maybe it was watching “Paula’s Party” on the Food Channel that made the time pass by quicker. 

When I switched to my shoulder workout I also switched the station to the news.  Did I hear correctly that Tori Spelling, while trying to contact her father reached FARRAH FAWCETT who wanted to contact RYAN O’NEIL????!!!! Wow!   Does any one remember Ouija boards?

Those things used to give me the creepies.  I think they stopped making them? Good thing!

Finished up Thursday’s workout with a 3 plus mile run with Shane. Total miles Thursday = 7.66.

Today’s workout was the long run.  After last nights bike ride,

it was a chore to run 9.2 miles.  Shane ran with me the entire route.  What a good running partner   .  Since he’s having 3 days off running as well, I didn’t mind pushing him a bit.  Although, I’m not 100% convinced he was pushed at all since, when we got home, he STILL wanted to play ball!  That dog knows no end to energy! 

L.I., NY:  Ted and I are off to Long Island, NY.  Ted has serious golf plans and I have 16 hours of Running Coach classes.  Shane and Donna will have a great time this weekend as they keep an eye on the house and get some serious Frisbee time in.  The plan is to take the weekend off from running since I got 38.28 miles in this week.  I exceeded the goal of 30 – 35. 

Light as a cloud cookies….

I had about 3/4 or so of a container of Part Skimmed Ricotta cheese left in my fridge from a previous recipe.  What could I do with it?  Cookies! 

The recipe had to be something that could be mixed up under 10 minutes and baked within 15 minutes. The result is this light as a feather puffy cloud of a cookie.

Citrus Cloud Cookies – makes 3 dozen cookies

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 cup Part Skimmed Ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• zest from one lime
• zest from one lemon
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• pinch salt
• 1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line baking sheets with Reynolds No-Stick foil (eliminates the use of spray).

In a large bowl, add the sugar, butter, cheese, egg, vanilla, and zests.  Mix those for about 1 minute on medium speed. 

Add flour, salt and baking soda and mix well.

Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheets and bake until just turning brown, about 10 –12 minutes.

Optional:  Blend 1/2 stick melted butter with 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Spread on top of cookies.

This is a very light cookie and not very sweet until you add the icing. Try the cookie first without the icing and, if you think it needs a little more, mix up the buttery sweet spread. Add a little food color to represent the citrusy flavors.

Wonder how this cookie might be with sour cream instead of ricotta?  Hmmmm….that’s another recipe.

Anyone live on Long Island? How about ever visiting?  All Long Island Fans – Shout out!

Joanne