Bakin’ & Runnin’

I spent my morning and afternoon doing two of my favorite things: baking and running!! 🙂

This appetizer is a must-try for any holiday gathering!! It will leave your guests begging for more!

Curried Cran-Orange Snack Mix

(from the October/November 2009 Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magazine)

Yield: 5-1/2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups Wheat Chex

1-1/2 cups Corn Chex

1 cup chow mein noodles

1/3 cup shelled pistachios

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

2 Tablespoons orange juice

2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the wheat Chex, corn Chex, chow mein noodles, and pistachios.

2. In a small bowl, combine the butter, orange juice, curry powder, salt, garlic powder, dried basil, grated orange peel, and pepper.

3. Drizzle seasoning over cereal and toss to coat.

4. Transfer to a non-stick baking pan. Bake at 275 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

5. Cool. Stir in cranberries. Store in an air-tight container.

I made this last year for a couple of holiday gatherings, and it always got rave reviews!

The combination of the curry powder and orange flavorings blow regular Chex party mix out of the water! Plus the sweetness of the dried cranberries combined with the savory seasonings will keep you coming back for more!

I also made a batch of Pumpkin Muffins that will be used as “payment” for a friend who checked our mail while we were gone.

Tonight I am headed over to a friend’s for a little holiday gathering at her place, and I decided to make Peppermint Walnut Crunch Blondies. They were such a hit last time I made them, I couldn’t resist making them again! 🙂

After all that baking (and a gazillion dishes washed), it was time to head outside for a run. I had a hard time getting out the door today because I wasn’t that thrilled to be running outside in the cold, but I bundled up and sucked it up!!

I ran a 5 mile loop, stopped at home, and had a packet of Gu. I’ve never had the mandarin orange flavor before, but I like it. I wouldn’t say it is my favorite, but it had a nice subtle flavor that wasn’t overpowering.

I then set out for another 5 mile loop for a total of 10 miles today! Not too shabby for a winter run.

When I got back, I was really shaky, dizzy, and light-headed, so I knew I needed something to eat right away. I rarely feel this way after a run, so it was a little caught me off guard.

I grabbed the first thing I could find that didn’t require any prep work; well, except for heating it up in the microwave.

(I realize it looks pretty disgusting, but I didn’t care. I just needed food!)

After scarfing that down, I made myself a Triple Berry Smoothie. Protein smoothies are one of my favorite things to eat post-run. I like that it doesn’t feel so heavy in my stomach and the extra protein helps in recovery.

In the mix:

– soy milk

– frozen berries (raspberries, blueberries, marionberries)

– soy protein powder

– agave nectar

– chia seeds

– vanilla extractAnd my final baking project of the day was this beauty that I just pulled out of the oven!! Fresh, homemade bread–my favorite!!

Honey Wheat Bread

I’m off to run some errands with Craig, and then it is off to my friend’s house for some girl time!

Question

What is your favorite thing to eat post-run?