Even the Best aren’t the Best all the time and Strawberry Mini Breads

What an eye opener we get from the Olympics.  The most talented professional athletes compete to earn a spot on their team and represent their country.  We watch and expect no mistakes because they are professionals, right? Their job is to train and compete in the athletic event in which they excel.   What we learn by watching the best of the best compete is that they CAN have bad days.  Their bodies CAN let them down.  But most important is that these professionals pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get ready to go back for more.  They are thrilled to have competed.  They are big, proud, and tough.  This is what Desiree Davila said after having to pull out of the Women’s Olympic Marathon at mile 2.2:

"I’ve never done that before," she said. "I don’t even know how to do that. I just sort of stopped and said, ‘What the hell do I do? Can I step off here?’ I don’t know what that’s about. So that was really hard for me. It was hard starting knowing that that was a possibility."

It was hard finishing, too, though she felt it was important to at least try.

"I do feel like you have to cross the line to be an Olympian, to have that title," said Davila, who also walked in the Opening Ceremony with the delegation. "And I feel like I’ve earned that — obviously throughout my career but in the last month especially, I put everything I had into getting here."

…She just turned 29, she’s still improving and, she says firmly, "I think I’ll be back. I think I have another Olympics in me."
Source:  The Detroit News

So next time you (or me ..guilty, guilty and GUILTY!) have a bad run, race, event, lets not beat ourselves up. Expect to have bad days but most important, go back to the drawing board and continue training.  It may not have been any lack of effort, lack of training, or lack of mental fortitude, it just might not have been our day.  There’s ALWAYS next time.

Eat strawberry mini bread and celebrate your effort!

The best part about this recipe is you can replace the strawberry and coconut with anything you like. From blueberries to grated cheese (for savory bread), the finish is all about you.

Makes 3 mini loaves (3 x 5” loaf pans)

– Preheat oven to 350 F .  Spray the pans with non stick.  Mix together the following:

• 2 2/3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

– Whip together the following:

• 1 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup low fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla

-Blend the dry mix (flour, etc) into the wet mix (buttermilk, etc.) BUT JUST UNTIL INCORPORATED. Don’t over mix. 

Stir in your choice of flavor.  I added 1 cup of chopped, fresh strawberries and 1/2 cup coconut.

Pour into greased pans and bake for 45 – 55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes clean.

Perfect for a warm, Sunday afternoon with a glass of iced tea.