A few of my favorite things

I love that today is already Wednesday! Having Monday off makes the week fly by. I’ve got a few of my favorite things to share with you guys today…

This morning I felt so tired, but once I got up and moving I had a huge craving for a run.

I also had an energy rush after eating one of these babies with peanut butter, which helped me get out the door! Nothing like some peanut butter and chocolate to wake me up.

More on these in a minute.

I checked the weather, saw that it was 35 degrees, and knew it was time to bust out the running tights!

I almost thought about doing a winter running post today, but quickly realized that was a bit ridiculous seeing as it is October!

I know I’m weird, but in a way I love the cold weather running season. Running in the heat makes me sick and is so hard – the cold really isn’t as bad as a lot of people think it is. The hardest part really is getting out the door.

This morning’s run was more like a jaunt – at a speed in between a jog a short-of-breath tempo pace, I was working my body without feeling fatigued. I set out with no route planned, and just turned around after 30 minutes. Running just for the sake of running, with no plan can be glorious

For most of my run I only really thought about how great it felt to run against the cold air and how happy I was to be doing exactly what I was doing. Though for a few minutes, I was also daydreaming about pancakes…

Oh yes, that kind of pancake.

Fluffy Fall Pancakes

• 1/3 c. pancake mix (I used Bob’s Mill Buckwheat Mix)
• 1/3 c. rolled oats
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1/4 c. canned pumpkin
• 1/4 c. egg whites (OR 1 egg)
• 1 packet Stevia (OR 1/2 to 1 Tbsp. brown sugar)
• generous sprinkle cinnamon
• slight sprinkle nutmeg
• chocolate chips (OR crumble a choc chip cookie on top like I did!)

Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips in a bowl. (I refrigerated mine for 20 minutes while I got ready, though I’m sure this is not necessary).

Heat a large non-stick pan with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Pour the batter to make 2 or 3 pancakes, then sprinkle chocolate chips in batter (if using). Flip once they take shape and start to bubble on top.

I topped mine with a crumbled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar I made last night, a little peanut butter, and some syrup.

These came out fluffy and pretty perfect The pumpkin flavor was subtle, just how I like it.

And finally…

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 c. rolled oats
• 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed
• 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/4 t. baking soda
• 1/4 c. pure pumpkin
• 2 t. vanilla extract
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1/4 c. blue agave
• 2 Tbsp. canola oil
• 3/4 c. dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 glass pan with cooking spray. Combine all in a large bowl; mix well. Pour batter into sprayed pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Ideally you’d wait for them to cool to cut them, but Ben and I had to taste while they were still warm and gooey   You do not taste the pumpkin at all.

Awesome runs in the cold, fluffy pancakes, peanut butter and chocolately cookies are some of my favorite things, how about you?