Peppermint Bark Chex Mix

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I really, really like chocolate peppermint. That combo and chocolate peanut butter are probably my absolute favs.

I made Chex Mix and then Muddy Buddies (I literally can't stop eating Muddy Buddies!). I had a bunch of Chex left over, so I whipped up Peppermint Bark Chex Mix from Healthy Tipping Point.

It was so easy and so good! If you have leftover cereal, make this :)

Secret Santa

I had a terrific Secret Santa this year!

Monday, I was treated to a little bag of Satsuma mandarins. These little guys are my favorite winter snack. We used to eat them at Nana's house - on the couch with a paper towel in our lap. Good memories.

Tuesday, my S.P. gave me a dairy-free dark chocolate bar. YUM!!!

Wednesday, Tiger gear!

Thursday, Christmas stuff!

And Friday....

Mickey Mouse!!!!

My week of treats was so great! The thought and effort put into each gift was so nice. I really appreciate it! Thanks, Kathleen :) :)

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

YUM!

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I made these vegan Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies from The Sweet Life Online, and they did not disappoint!

These cookies are very dark, fudgey and minty - just what I wanted.

:)

Mushroom Risotto with Caramelized Onions

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I'd been eying this recipe for Mushroom Risotto with Caramelized Onions on Oh She Glows and decided to give it a try last night.

The ingredients were simple, but apparently I forgot that risotto is a very time-consuming process. Oops.

It said to stir it every few minutes while waiting for the barley to absorb and the onions to caramelize. SO... I set my oven timer over and over and over and ran around the house doing mini chores between beeps - for an hour!

Fortunately, the recipe turned out well. I did think it was a bit salty. The part about the onions said to "sprinkle liberally with salt" - and because I didn't know her definition of "liberally", I think I over salted.

Honestly, I don't think I'd make this again just because it took so long. But it was really tasty :)

Butta

Before I gave up the dairy, butter was my baking-fat of choice. I believe natural, whole foods are best, and butter makes baked goods taste amazing!

Now I've begun baking with Earth Balance, the dairy-free butter alternative most talked about online (at least on the blogs I read). And it's really great.

True confession time: I am just now realizing that this Earth Balance is the "natural shortening" version - not the "buttery" version. Oops. I used this on a cake, cookies and various Chex Mix recipes with total success. Had I not seen the package in this picture, I probably would have never known :)

I use the tub version on toast and such and for small cooking tasks, and I think it tastes very good. It's really salty - yum! And it melts well on toast.

I also use Smart Balance Light (light is dairy free - regular is not) because it's cheaper and is sold at Winco. Earth Balance is quite expensive and requires a special trip to the store.

Smart Balance is good but not great, and it doesn't melt well. But it's an adequate alternative, especially in cooking when the flavor is less prominent.

:)

No. 36

My latest read, courtesy of the THS fiction "A" shelf:

This wasn't the worst book I've read, but it wasn't the best, either.


It's about an American reported in Tokyo who gets mixed up with some gangsters, a cult and a geisha. The mystery kept me reading, but I thought the wrap up and ending was a little weak.

:)

Week 3: Done!

Last week's runs were a bit limited because of my mysterious hip/knee pain and because of Sunday's race, which forced the shifting of some workouts.

Half-marathon training Week 3 - DONE!

Sunday: Rest Day

Monday: spin class

Tuesday: 4.09 miles - speedwork

Wednesday: 3.57 miles

Thursday: Rest Day

Friday: 1.11 miles
Saturday: Rest Day

Week 3 Total:  8.77 miles

:)