Saturday 9 August 2014

Weekly recap & Granola Recipe!

It hasn't been a really busy week this week so I've decided to put the recap into one monster blog...so be prepared!!!

Wednesday saw me do my longest run to date since I put half marathon training on hold last year.  13k done with Sam and I have to admit it felt great.  Last year, someone said to me that I'd find the pace that I could run forever...last year that was 6.30/km....this year I am at 6.00/km.   Sam kept me chatting and the 13km ticked by no sweat!  We plan on repeating this in the coming week!!!
 
 
Thursday was a nice easy group run with the TTP which is what my legs needed!!  I need to ensure that I don't overdue it with mileage and effort if I hope to complete a half marathon in the future!
 
Friday - we had some crazy weather here in Halifax with thundershowers, hail, and sunshine!  Yup...a mixed bag of everything!  This meant a trip to the library to get some fun reading material.
 
And then to the movies.  I grew up in the 80's when TMNT were huge.  I'm actually singing the song to myself right now "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....Hero's in a 1/2 Shell."  If you remember back to Halloween, my coworkers and I dressed up as them...I was Leonardo!  This meant I HAD to see the movie when it came out.  I enjoyed it! 
3D glasses ROCK!  LOL

A couple of things surprised me though.  #1 - I went to the 8 o'clock movie which meant it got out at 10pm....and there were numerous 2,3, and 4 year olds in the theatre.  Mmmmm....Hello....why aren't these kids home in bed????  #2 - why do people feel that when they go to the movies that they can just throw all the garbage on the floor??  There was this guy sitting across the isle from me and he repeatedly threw his garbage napkins onto the isle floor.  How hard is it to pick it up and throw it in the garbage on the way out....or at the very least...put it into the empty popcorn bag so the theatre employees can easily pick it up.  Seriously people...you weren't born in a cave!!  Okay...rant done!!
 
That brings us to today...happy weekend!!  With my time off, I've been scrolling through pinterest....bad idea!  Being unemployed means I don't have the money to do the things I'm finding...but my to-do list is continually growing.  I did find a yummy looking granola bar recipe that I set out to make today.  You will thank me as these are Y-U-M-M-Y!!!
 
Ingredients
2.5 cups of granola
1/2 cup almonds, chopped coarsely
1/4 cup butter/margarine
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup raisons
1/4 cup chocolate chips
 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spread granola and almonds on a baking sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes to lightly toast.
 
While these are baking, line the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper...letting the paper hang over the 2 ends.  Spray lightly with cooking spray.
In a medium saucepan, combine margarine, honey, brown sugar, chia seeds, and vanilla extract.  Heat on medium until the margarine melts and sugar evaporates.
 
Remove oats from the oven and place in a bowl.  Pour the margarine mixture over top and mix in cranberries and raisons.  Mix well.  Wait 5 minutes (to let it cool) before adding the chocolate chips.  Press the mixture into the baking pan, using a spatula to push it into the corners and flatten it out.
 I placed the baking pan into the refrigerator to cool (as I don't have the patience to wait in room temperature).  Lift the mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper.  Cut into 10 bars.  If you aren't going to eat the bars right away, wrap in parchment and place in the refrigerator.
YUMMY and filling!  I think you could substitute the dried fruit for anything of your choice and add more chocolate chips of course.  It makes me happy knowing there are no preservatives in these bars and that I'm controlling the level of sugar/fat in each!!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!!
 
Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!


2 comments:

  1. Awesome job on your long run!
    I worry if I made that granola I'd eat the entire thing in a day. :S Lol. Are you using your minimal shoes to train for the half marathon?

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    1. Thanks....15k next week....eeek! I thought the same thing about the granola bars...so I gave most of them away. And nope to the minimalist shoes....just thought it might have some interesting info....sticking to my Kinvara's (4mm drop) for the 1/2.

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