Welch’s Vine Tool and Minimalist Cookies

It’s time, once again, for motivational quotes (just in case you don’t get them in your email from Runners World) for your Spring marathon. 

By Hal Higdon

Think positive. You are a special person. Reward yourself with self-praise as you achieve each interim goal en route to the marathon.

By Jeff Galloway

The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you’ll receive. But it’s just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey.

The words that keep us going.

Looong Run….

I eked out my long run Thursday morning because I had a dentist appointment at 8:45. That allowed plenty of time to get 18 miles in.

It was one of my better long runs. First, Shane ran with me for 10.3 miles. After dropping Shane off at home, I ran out the door again with Ted. He was with me for about 5 miles. To finish off my target, I zipped and zagged, wagged and wandered around familiar roads close to home. I didn’t start feeling tired until about mile 15 ½. My pace was relatively slow. Great morning for a run: quiet, mild temperatures, absolutely no wind.

Fueling the run…

Got up and ate ¾ of a banana with 1 TBS peanut butter. I had a turbo shot at mile 5 then a Clif Shot at 10.3 (when I stopped at home). Water was the liquid of choice.

As Ted and I started out, I said “You know I was just thinking how I couldn’t think of what I was thinking while running with Shane”. Ted said “Were you sleeping?” Could have been. I’ve heard about distance runners who sort of fall asleep while their feet keep moving. Bet that makes the time go by pretty fast.

After my run, I didn’t feel as “beat up” as I have done on past long runs. Legs like jelly, sometimes nauseous, stiff… nothing like that today. My legs did start to cramp up while getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist. At that point, all I could think of was “LET ME OUTTA HERE!”.

It was a good morning: Good run and no cavities.

COOKIES!

What is a minimalist cookie?  It’s a simple, little flat, pale cookie without any heavy flavor. It’s one that isn’t too sweet, isn’t too crisp, but hits the spot when you need a light little treat AND when you have leftover wine that you need to use up. Oh yeah! WINE!!!

Based on a recipe by Diane Henderiks, R.D, for Welch’s Grape Juice – Makes 3  dozen

Welch’s has developed a tool called “the Welch’s Family Vine Tool”.  It enables the tracking and recording of personal health histories and the ability to share results among relatives.

More on the tool:

Welch’s Family Vine Tool Enables Families to Trace Their Heart Health History

Consumers Encouraged To Take an Active Role in their Personal Heart Health

Concord, MA (February 10, 2011) – In time for American Heart Month, Welch’s has introduced the Welch’s Family Vine Tool, an online resource that enables consumers to trace their heart health history.¹  Most Americans – 96%, according to one recent survey – believe that knowing their family health history is important.  Yet only one-third of Americans have ever tried to gather this information.²

“Diet and exercise affect your health but so do your genes.  That’s why it’s important to understand and evaluate your heart health history,” said Diane Henderiks, R.D. and culinary nutritionist. “The Welch’s Family Vine Tool is an easy way to take an active role in your personal and family heart health – not only this month, but moving forward.”

Specifically:

· Overview: The Welch’s Family Vine Tool, an adaptation of the U.S. Surgeon General’s concept, provides a simple way to capture and record essential health information in order to facilitate important conversations with family members and healthcare providers.

· Process: The tool is simple to use. On welchsfamilyvinetool.com, individuals can create a free profile and fill in their family health histories. The data is then recorded and assembled from the personal and family health information provided, which can then be saved or printed and shared at the individual’s next doctor’s visit.

 

· Privacy: The Welch’s Family Vine tool does not keep a record of the information provided by users. Once the tool is complete, users can save the information to their personal computers or share it with family members to encourage them to create their own health histories.

“At Welch’s, we believe it’s important for people to take an active role in their personal health, which often goes beyond what one eats or drinks,” said Matt Wohl, chief marketing officer for the company. “We hope the Welch’s Family Vine Tool can be a catalyst for family members to assess their lifestyle choices, opening the dialogue and encouraging them to be more educated about their heart health, and those of their loved ones.”

Knowing your family’s heart health history is one step to maintaining a healthy heart, and based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans³, which provides recommendations on healthy eating and drinking options, increased fruit and vegetable consumption is important for promoting overall health. Fruits, vegetables and their juices, including Concord grapes and Concord grape juice, have essential vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant nutrients called polyphenols. In fact, 100% grape juice provides one serving (or 1/2 cup) of fruit in every four-ounce glass. 

More than a decade’s worth of research suggests that drinking Concord grape juice may benefit the heart by helping to maintain healthy, clear and flexible arteries to promote healthy blood flow⁴. For more, visit the Grape Science Center at grapescience.com.

Minimalist Cookie

• 1 cup flour
• 2 TBS cornstarch
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2 egg whites
• 1 TBS 1% or skimmed milk
• 1/3 cup white wine or champagne or Welch’s 100% WHITE grape juice
• 6 pitted dates, chopped small OR 1/3 cup chopped dried dates

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients:  four, cornstarch, sugar, salt. 

In a small bowl, mix the oil, egg whites, milk, wine. 

Make a well in the middle of the dry mix and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix JUST until blended.

Now add the dates and stir until incorporated.

Drop by SCANT teaspoons onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. 

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes. 

Such a petite and satisfying little tea cookie.  So simple.

I just love the taste of dates.