Gluten free goodies!

I modified this recipe from www.runnerskitchen.com. If you have not visited this site I highly recommend it. She posts great recipes and fun stories!

Coconut-Chocolate-Banana Bread Bites
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 Tb canola oil
2 Tb vanilla yogurt
3 Tbs maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup oats
2/3 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees
Combine the banana, oil, maple syrup, and vanilla in a large bowl
In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients except chocolate chips
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 2-3 increments, stirring just until combined (don’t over mix!)
Stir in the chocolate chips
Drop heaping teaspoons of batter onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for about 13-15 minutes, until lightly browned
Makes about 20 cookies

Ice skating in spin class?

Went to Spin class this morning! Aerobic endurance makes for a terrific sweat session and a great opportunity to practice clipping in and out. I slipped off my nikes and began strapping into my velcro shoes. I felt like part of the club with real cycling shoes! 'Clip'... First try on the right foot! Scrape, clunk, clip swoosh, ouch! The left foot did not go as well. The sixth try finally proved a success. It is amazing how much more power you get just from clipping into the pedals!

After class I was feeling pretty good. Nice workout, cycling shoes, padded booty shorts, i was feeling like a real cyclist. I clipped out of the pedals and headed towards the wipes to wipe my equipment down. As I pulled a wipe from the dispenser I smiled at one of my fellow spinners whom was also sporting her shoes and padded booty shorts. One step with my right foot and my cleat slipped on the wood. I proceeded in a rather entertaining "Ice Capade show" before I caught my balance. It was at that moment that I remembered the sales pitch I had refused.

When I bought my cycling shoes, the salesman tried to convince me to buy the most expensive pair. "These have tread on the bottom so you can walk easier with your cleats and you wont waddle like a duck." At that point in my purchasing I really could care less like looking like a duck. I was anxious to get started and just wanted some shoes that would get the job done at the smallest price possible. So it was, I bought the duck shoes. Now I know there is more to those shoes than looking like a duck. Had he mentioned the Ice Capade show... I may have listened.

Let the games begin!

We begin our story in the middle. I have been cooking since the day I could set foot in the kitchen, running for three years, swimming for one month, and cycling for two days.

Cooking: I run to eat and eat to run. Last year I was diagnosed with celiac disease so cooking has been a completely new endeavor for me. As the days continue I have become quite efficient at fueling without gluten. I'll keep you posted on my latest gluten free recipes.










Running: I began running my freshman year of college as a stress release. Little did I know it would become such a huge part of my life! Nothing starts the day off like a sunrise run :)



Swimming: "Try a Tri" This was posted at my local gym and I had been starring at it for a month or so. I had the running down, I rocked the spin classes, but the water was a different story. The only memory of swimming I had was throwing away my minnie mouse swim suit after my first swim lesson at age 5. This could be interesting. I really wanted to "try the tri" so I jumped in the water and after two weeks of practice I had enough technique down to pull off a 10 min swim. To my surprise I completed 33 laps in 10 minutes! I still have a lot of work to do in this area.



Cycling: I fell in love with spin classes and have been going for about 2 years now. Taking this onto the road however is a new adventure. My outdoor bike experience thus far has consisted of my pink cruiser and picnics in the park. I bought my first road bike two days ago! Beginners cycling club starts this Saturday. Fun and interesting stories to come!