Not sure what I did right the other morning when temperatures were single digits, wind chill factors made it seem like –15 degrees but when I jogged around the college with the dogs, I stayed warm.  I even contemplated doing my interval workout up and down the strip in front of the school.  It didn’t take long before I came to my senses and realized the icy patches and wind gusts would put a slight crimp in my intended speed workout. 

The treadmill and I made friends once again as I put in 6 x 800’s with 400 recoveries and a 1 1/2 mile cool down.  That workout went so well that I’m thinking of doing my tempo run on my belted, stabilized buddy again Thursday. If I should be so selfish, the dogs would have to forfeit their running workout. Shane wouldn’t mind.  He’d much rather do 20 –30 minutes of Frisbee time in the yard.  Zoey would look at me with sad eyes.  She likes nothing better than to pull me along on the leash, only stopping to turn and bark at me as if to say “Come On!  Move Faster!” 

When the alarm goes off and I get my weary self out of bed, I’ll peak out the window, check the road, the wind, the outside temperature and dress accordingly.  Most likely, Shane will reluctantly accompany me on a 1 1/2 mile warm up.  Zoey will help me with the tempo run. Why do I dream of a dogless run? It’s really NOT what I want anyway. I love my running buds.

Ginger Ale Snack Cake:  Use left over soda in an informal, easy to make snackable cake.

I enjoy making up my own recipes. Maybe I should have been a chemist?  A little chemistry in baking would sure be helpful to understand what ingredients does for a recipe.  Today, in my little kitchen “lab”, standard, fizzy Ginger ale was used. 

Gingerale Snack Cake2

*After the holidays have passed, one might find an over abundance of things like Ginger ale or other sodas.  Why not try using them in recipes?  Experiment. It’s fun.

The recipe was in not intended to be a healthy treat.  It was just a fact finding mission using soda in a cake recipe.  The result was a success.  Sweet, tender, completely edible (thank goodness!).

Gingerale Snack Cake3

Makes 1 9 x 9 single layer cake.

  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup butter – room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup ginger ale plus 1/4 cup more – divided
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • *You can make a drizzle for the top of the cake by simply stirring 1/2 cup powder sugar with a TBS or so of ginger ale and sprinkle with coconut.

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Spray a 9 x 9 baking pan with non stick.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together.

Cream the butter. Add the sugar and cream together with butter. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix for 4 minutes on medium speed.

Measure 1/2 cup ginger ale and add the baking soda and cinnamon. It will fizz up so give it a stir to combine.  Fold into the batter.

Pour into prepared pan.  Pour the remaining 1/4 cup ginger ale on top of the batter in the pan and bake for 30 – 40 minutes.   Allow to cool before removing from pan.

Make the ginger ale drizzle, pour over cake…..ENJOY!

Gingerale Snack Cake1

Are you left with a lot of extra sodas, other items after the holidays that you make into special recipes?

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