Welcome the newest member of the family: Alyssa Cari. Born at 8:04 am Friday morning. Angela and Steve are very proud parents of this adorable, perfect little girl.
8 lbs 8 oz. of pure joy!
What a great start to the weekend.
Saturday morning for my long run , I had the company of two favorite dudes: Shane and Ted. Shane was with me in the Weeeee hours for 7 1/2 miles. Ted ran with me, head cold and all, for 5 miles. I then took off on my own to find a few hills. It was more of a hill workout than a speed workout this particular day. Total miles: 20.3. If I don’t run on Sunday, the weekly tot. will be slightly over 60.
I did something I said I’d never, EVER do. I took Acetaminophen before my run.
I guess when we want to do something, right or wrong, we can always come up with reasons. These were mine:
1. I am really sick of running with pain. Whether the pain is the hamstring or the hip or the ribs, it’s tiresome.
2. I know the pain is muscular and it will hurt during and after my run BUT running won’t cause further damage. So “masking” the pain will make no diff.
3. In addition to the pains mentioned in (1), I was having lower ab. cramps. I didn’t want to be buckled over at the side of the road in stomach cramping agony.
Good or bad, right or wrong, I got through my run. I felt a little nauseous come the 18 – 19 mile point but then that could have been the rolling terrain I chose for my run today. I’m not good with rolling terrain in helicopters or cars so I figure it may have gotten to me by foot as well. 
Is that possible???
Tonight Ted and I are going to the Utica Road Runners Awards Banquet. I think I get my 1000 mile jacket tonight?! How exciting!
Sugar Substitutes:
Defining Natural
Feb 24, 2011 12:45 PM, By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey
No federal regulations exist for what constitutes a natural ingredient or product, leaving the term open to interpretation. Not surprisingly, consumer skepticism is increasing.
Stevia, Truvia, PureVia…
all are from the herb stevia rebaudiana which, so far the FDA has yet to add to it’s list of GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredients. However, it’s derivative, rebiana, did make the list. Rebiana is extracted from Stevia leaves by soaking them in water. Read more in the Modern Baking article.
I’ve been associating Stevia with a “natural” source of sweetener. Based on the Baking Association of Canada, “natural” is anything that has had nothing added or removed from the food or it’s ingredients. That would mean Stevia isn’t natural? Until the clouds of doubt are cleared, I’ll consider Stevia much more natural than Splenda. Agreed? 
Oatmeal Wild Blueberry Muffins and Mini Loaves – makes 6 standard muffins and 3 mini loaves.
An easy recipe based on “Stevia Rebaudiana: Nature’s Sweet Secret” *I used Fat Free Evap. milk and no oil. If you want a lighter muffin, I suggest reducing the milk to 1 cup and using 1/4 cup canola oil.
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp (or 4 packets) Stevia
- 1 whole egg (hmmm… the only detectable fat in this recipe!)
- 1 1/4 cup Fat Free Evaporated Milk
- 14 oz can Wild Maine Blueberries packed in water – drained and dried
- 3/4 cup raisins
Topping:
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (oh wait! almonds have a little fat right? but really… 1/4 cup over ALLLL those muffins and loaves? Non-detectable
) - 1 tsp or 2 packets Stevia
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
)Preheat oven to 375 F.
Mix all dry ingredients (from flour to Stevia) in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the egg and milk. Whisk until incorporated. Add the raisins and stir. Now add the blueberries and only mix until incorporated (otherwise you’ll have totally blue batter).
Mix the topping ingredients in a small cup.
Add the batter to your muffin cup lined muffin tins or non-stick sprayed mini loaf pans. Sprinkle the topping evenly on top.
Bake muffins for 15 minutes. Bake mini loaves for 20 minutes.
Hey! Get your nose away from those muffins! Photos first DUDE!
Not too sweet. Texture is good, but a little oil would make it perfect!
ENJOY ..your weekend!
Congrats and she is a cute bundle of joy!
As for your Oatmeal Wild Blueberry Muffins and Mini Loaves, they sure look delicious and I cannot blame him for getting closer- the fragrance must have been pure intoxication!!!!! Have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks. Ted’s a grandpa x 2 now. I guess that would make me a step-gran 🙂
Wow – you guys are grandparents??! No way!!! You’re WAY TOO YOUNG! She’s absolutely beautiful, though – congrats! 🙂
I love that second to last picture of Ted. And your back patio looks gorg!
Hee, hee…I’M TOO YOUNG…Ted’s only KIND OF a young Grandpa. 🙂
Wow, those muffins look delish! By the looks of them, one would think they came straight from a bakery. Great job. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog and I’d like to invite you to stop by and link your muffins up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/03/sweets-for-saturday-10.html
Congrats to the new addition. Very precious!
Those muffins liners are uber cute, too!
While I think stevia is a better choice than other artificial sweeteners, I steer clear of that one as well. For me, priming my body for sweets and then it doesn’t come sets me up for all kinds of cravings. I will eat the sugar if I want something.
That can make it hard going out unless a place has unsweetened real ice tea or are willing to give me soda water from the pop machine (most will do that, but often charge for it).
They look so delicious.. with nutmeg and blueberries.. I would love to have it with a glass of milk
what a darling little girl now you have someone to teach your many talents to! Hope you feel better, that weather doesnt help one day its nice next day is gloomy! Get some rest so you can spend time with that precious new baby Congrats!
Aw, congratulations on your little bundle of joy!