Respect the Marathon and Walnut Squares

Sometimes you do everything right. You put your heart and soul into weeks/months of training but then, for reasons beyond your control, the big day doesn’t go as planned. All we can do is try our best. Put as much time and effort into achieving our goals as life will allow.

A quote from Deena Kastor’s 2007 recap of her Boston Marathon experience.

I was well prepared and optimistic for this race. I was more fit for this race than when I ran a personal best and won the London Marathon last spring. This combination of facts is what is still baffling me mentally. Great preparation gave me my worst finishing time. I will always respect the marathon for the punishment and pride it continues to offer. This fitness, I know, will carry on to my next training phase.

I love the last sentence of that paragraph “This fitness, I know will carry on to my next training phase.” All was not wasted. No matter how our event goes, we still reap the health benefits and will move forward in hopes to reaching for our dreams the next time. Love it!

Walnut Squares

I came across a recipe from years ago. I remembered it as a really tasty, sugary treat, back in the days when I ate A LOT of sugary treats. The more sugar the better at that time. I’m surprised I still have my teeth…. many a filling, but at least they’re my own.

The first version is the original recipe. The second version is the one I baked today. I reduced the sugar slightly and replaced the flour with Brown Rice Flakes and the butter with a very, VERY…did I say VERY? ripe banana.

Walnut Squares – The Original Recipe. Use a 8 x 8 square pan.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

The base:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup butter

2 TBS confectioners sugar

Mix all the above together. Press into a non stick square pan and bake while you prepare the topping (about 10 minutes).

Topping:

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBS all purpose flour

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Mix all the above together really well and pour on top of baked base. Put back into the oven for another 25 – 30 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly and cut into squares. When completely cooled, and this is optional, mix confectioners sugar with almond flavoring plus water to desired consistency and drizzle over the squares.

This next recipe is my no butter, reduced sugar version. Somewhat healthier, but certainly gluten free, right?

The base:

1 cup Brown Rice Flakes *or you can try quick cooking oats but it won’t be gluten free.
1 mashed very VERY ripe banana.
2 TBS icing sugar.

Mix all the above together. Press into a non stick square pan and bake while you prepare the topping (about 10 minutes).

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBS Brown Rice Flakes *or use the quick cooking oats
1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Mix all the above together really well and pour on top of baked base. Put back into the oven for another 25 – 30 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly and cut into squares. When completely cooled, and this is optional, mix confectioner’s sugar with almond flavoring plus water to desired consistency and drizzle over the squares.