I can't believe it's been more than a MONTH since I ran the marathon. Ok, so I'm catching up on everything but I did managed to run a PR - 3:50:28.
My running/training partner was having a fabulous day and put me to shame - she turned a 3:45:49 and managed to qualify for Boston! Absolutely terrific! I was one big cramp starting at mile 19 but still finished strong. Tired, sure. Stiff, yes. Sore - not so much. I'm back and running and my knees are almost in working order.
Time to get back to refereeing and yard work.
Oatmeal Cookies - v3.0
Experimentation continues - as always.
Version 2.0 was NOT great. It doesn't even merit posting. That being said, I marched on to version 3.0 (taking my co-workers' excellent feedback) and have settled on this recipe:
Cream together:
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter (softened)
1 c brown sugar, packed
3/8 c white sugar
Add:
1 t pure vanilla extract
2 eggs at room temperature
and mix at medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Now add:
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
pinch of salt
1 t ground cardamom
1/2 t ground cinnamon
Mix at low speed until incorporated. Add
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c white chocolate chips
1/2 c shelled, unsalted pistachios (you can roast these for a stronger flavor)
Finally, add:
2 c quick-cooking oats
1 c mixed grain quick-cooking breakfast (mix of barley, oat and wheat)
Now here's where it gets interesting. The size of the cookie matters - big surprise! The last few batches yielded <30 cookies and baking time was approaching 20 minutes. This time, I was closer to the 1" ball size and the yield was ~3 dozen (37 to be exact). Baking time was 15 minutes - and *perhaps* could have gone a bit longer - but not much.
Stick with aluminum 1/4 sheet pans - you can get about 14 cookies on them. One sheet at a time, middle rack - oven temp 350 degF.
These were awesome. I should take some pictures!
Version 2.0 was NOT great. It doesn't even merit posting. That being said, I marched on to version 3.0 (taking my co-workers' excellent feedback) and have settled on this recipe:
Cream together:
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter (softened)
1 c brown sugar, packed
3/8 c white sugar
Add:
1 t pure vanilla extract
2 eggs at room temperature
and mix at medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Now add:
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
pinch of salt
1 t ground cardamom
1/2 t ground cinnamon
Mix at low speed until incorporated. Add
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c white chocolate chips
1/2 c shelled, unsalted pistachios (you can roast these for a stronger flavor)
Finally, add:
2 c quick-cooking oats
1 c mixed grain quick-cooking breakfast (mix of barley, oat and wheat)
Now here's where it gets interesting. The size of the cookie matters - big surprise! The last few batches yielded <30 cookies and baking time was approaching 20 minutes. This time, I was closer to the 1" ball size and the yield was ~3 dozen (37 to be exact). Baking time was 15 minutes - and *perhaps* could have gone a bit longer - but not much.
Stick with aluminum 1/4 sheet pans - you can get about 14 cookies on them. One sheet at a time, middle rack - oven temp 350 degF.
These were awesome. I should take some pictures!
Ultimate Oatmeal Cookies
The cook in me likes to experiment with recipes. Right now, I've been working on a recipe for oatmeal cookies - and, of course, foisting them on my coworkers to garner feedback and (hopefully) helpful criticism.
My initial variations were simple - change the "extras" that go in. I'm not a fan of raisins in my oatmeal cookies, but I like the chewy-ness of dried fruit. So, I've opted for dried cranberries. Also, instead of walnuts, I go with pistachios. Finally - white chocolate.
On the spice side, I like a combination of cinnamon and cardamom - because the "warmth" and "spiciness" of the cardamom goes so well with the earthiness of the oatmeal. Then again, that's what I think.
Last batch was definitely too sweet - which means I need to back off the white sugar.
Recipe as it stands today:
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter (softened)
cream together with
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c white sugar
Add
1 t pure vanilla extract
2 eggs at room temperature
and mix at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. This is your last chance to get air in the mix!
Now add
2 c quick-cooking oats
1 c mixed grain quick-cooking breakfast (mix of barley, oat and wheat)
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
pinch of salt
Mix at low speed until incorporated. Add
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c white chocolate chips
1/2 c shelled, unsalted pistachios (you can roast these for a stronger flavor)
Mix well.
Roll mix in to ~1" balls and place on an ungreased, heavy aluminum sheet pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until the cookies have spread and the edges are just starting to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the cookie sheet.
These cookies are very moist and chewy - because of the brown sugar and the shortening. They don't spread too far (again, because of the shortening) but get some loft out of the baking soda.
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.
My initial variations were simple - change the "extras" that go in. I'm not a fan of raisins in my oatmeal cookies, but I like the chewy-ness of dried fruit. So, I've opted for dried cranberries. Also, instead of walnuts, I go with pistachios. Finally - white chocolate.
On the spice side, I like a combination of cinnamon and cardamom - because the "warmth" and "spiciness" of the cardamom goes so well with the earthiness of the oatmeal. Then again, that's what I think.
Last batch was definitely too sweet - which means I need to back off the white sugar.
Recipe as it stands today:
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter (softened)
cream together with
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c white sugar
Add
1 t pure vanilla extract
2 eggs at room temperature
and mix at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. This is your last chance to get air in the mix!
Now add
2 c quick-cooking oats
1 c mixed grain quick-cooking breakfast (mix of barley, oat and wheat)
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
pinch of salt
Mix at low speed until incorporated. Add
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c white chocolate chips
1/2 c shelled, unsalted pistachios (you can roast these for a stronger flavor)
Mix well.
Roll mix in to ~1" balls and place on an ungreased, heavy aluminum sheet pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until the cookies have spread and the edges are just starting to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the cookie sheet.
These cookies are very moist and chewy - because of the brown sugar and the shortening. They don't spread too far (again, because of the shortening) but get some loft out of the baking soda.
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.
Marathon Training - Week 13
Monday - Cross
Felt icky and stayed home. This cross-training isn't working out as well as I'd like. Hrm.
Tuesday - Run 5 miles
5 miles, check. Pouring down rain - and I mean POURING down rain! Went out just as it started and came in just as it was tapering off. Sheesh.
Wednesday - Run 10 miles
Rest day. Rain, cold, ick. When did we move to Seattle?
Thursday - Run 5 miles
Did ~6.5 over lunch and then a soccer game in the evening. Total miles probably 8 or 9 - though the game is less of a "run" and more of a "saunter". Ah well.
Friday - rest
Rest day (for sure) and took my sweetie to the airport. It's gonna be a tough weekend.
Saturday - run 10 miles
6 miles (or so) around town - felt HORRIBLE. I think I'm still sick ...
Sunday - run 20 miles
I *think* we ran 22+. We were out for abour 4:15 and climbed all the way to Skyline and then did an out and back from Wunderlich to Huddart. What a beautiful trail - but holy cow, IT'S MUDDY! Lots of slipping, sliding and even a face plant. I went out with shoes that were on their last legs (so to speak) and they didn't come home. Straight in to the bucket after I rinsed them off. Also blew out a Gu packet in my Camelbak - which meant I only had 1 Gu rather than 2. Man, I was feeling that one! Regardless, it was a good run. I think we're totally ready for the marathon.
Felt icky and stayed home. This cross-training isn't working out as well as I'd like. Hrm.
Tuesday - Run 5 miles
5 miles, check. Pouring down rain - and I mean POURING down rain! Went out just as it started and came in just as it was tapering off. Sheesh.
Wednesday - Run 10 miles
Rest day. Rain, cold, ick. When did we move to Seattle?
Thursday - Run 5 miles
Did ~6.5 over lunch and then a soccer game in the evening. Total miles probably 8 or 9 - though the game is less of a "run" and more of a "saunter". Ah well.
Friday - rest
Rest day (for sure) and took my sweetie to the airport. It's gonna be a tough weekend.
Saturday - run 10 miles
6 miles (or so) around town - felt HORRIBLE. I think I'm still sick ...
Sunday - run 20 miles
I *think* we ran 22+. We were out for abour 4:15 and climbed all the way to Skyline and then did an out and back from Wunderlich to Huddart. What a beautiful trail - but holy cow, IT'S MUDDY! Lots of slipping, sliding and even a face plant. I went out with shoes that were on their last legs (so to speak) and they didn't come home. Straight in to the bucket after I rinsed them off. Also blew out a Gu packet in my Camelbak - which meant I only had 1 Gu rather than 2. Man, I was feeling that one! Regardless, it was a good run. I think we're totally ready for the marathon.
Kittens and Mittens - finished!
Success! Splendid, wonderful, success! The mittens felted up BEAUTIFULLY in the washer. I'm amazed at the difference in size before and after. I resisted the temptation to do them one at a time, but I do have a picture with my hand as a gauge. Anyway, pix of the finished mittens when I get them. I'll almost certainly make a hat to go with it - but whether or not I follow the accompanying pattern remains to be seen. I'm so thrilled!
I may well have caught the felting bug as I'm already dreaming of interesting fair isle pattens to do with these yarns that could then be felted into beautiful beanies and toques and other wonderful stuff. Geez. Another way to spend my time ...
I may well have caught the felting bug as I'm already dreaming of interesting fair isle pattens to do with these yarns that could then be felted into beautiful beanies and toques and other wonderful stuff. Geez. Another way to spend my time ...
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