I’ve been so proud of myself lately and not just because a brilliant brain storm turned into a totally awesome treat (see below) but because that sleek and pretty road bike sitting in the garage has finally seen the light of day.
As long as Ted promises me a meal at some point during a bike ride, I’m in. Last Sunday, on a not so warm day with rain threatening on the horizon, we took the bikes on a 44 mile excursion to Turning Stone Casino for breakfast. It was a good half way point to meet Richard who rode his bike from Syracuse.
Breakfast at Emerald Restaurant
On the way back, we only made one stop (too much coffee at breakfast)
Sore and very tired but proud of myself for having the endurance to get on the bike after a long winter of not riding at all and riding a rolling hill course for 44 miles.
Did I make you hungry? Try this recipe.
Fruit and Nut Balls made with left over trail mix.
You know when you buy a bag of the fruit and nut mix and the nuts have lost their crunch? The fruit is a little dry?
The mix is not cheap so you feel obligated to choke it down. Stop choking. I’ve found a way to rejuvenate the mix. Make it into another delicious little snack and you don’t have to add anything.
Get out your food processor and pour in the mixture.
Start the food processor and let it run until the mix gets sticky. You can add a handful of raisins or dried cranberries or dried cherries or other dried fruit it you want to add a little more moisture. You might even add just a teaspoon of peanut butter!
If you grind the mix long enough, even without adding anything, the oil from the nuts will eventually begin to stick the mix together.
Check out the servings per container on the package as well as the nutritional facts. Roll into balls equal to the number of servings on the package.
If you roll into 14 servings (as on the above bag) and you don’t add any other ingredients, each ball will be equivalent to the nutritional values indicated on the package.
Nice, neat little snack.
Moist and sweet and nutritious.
What’s your favorite nut, fruit and/seed mixture?
I can’t imagine how sore I’d be if I rode 44 miles after not riding all winter. Good for you for sticking it out! That’s a great idea for using up trail mix that isn’t crunchy any longer!
When you build endurance through running, some of it transfers over to cycling. It may not be easy as if you were to build up properly to a long bike ride, but your base training via running sure does help. Since you use different muscles, you’ll still get sore from cycling vs. running, but it sure does feel like a great accomplishment anyway.
44 miles! Nice!!
And that is genius – I would have never thought to do that with trail mix. Though, it’s very rare we ever have any leftover trail mix in our house. 🙂
If the trail mix is super fresh and the nuts still have crunch, we gobble it up as well. Sometimes even though the expiration date hasn’t been reached, the nuts will absorb the moisture from any fruit in the mix. At least it won’t go to waste now 🙂
Nice ride!
I love larabars, actually. I do make my own sometimes, but it is just as easy to grab them at the store!
Great idea with the trail mix Joanne!!
Wow I am so impressed by you and Dad, that is a lot of biking!
It was a lot of biking and my body is still telling so … 4 days later. Great article on the delayed reaction to food allergies. That’s a must read for anyone who is suspect.
Yah, being in shape from something else sort of helps and sort of makes it worse. You have the stamina to really get those muscles that you haven’t used in a while. Great idea on the trail mix! My current favorite bar is Banana Bread Larabar. I’ve been contemplating making my own, though I keep eating up the dried bananas from Trader Joe’s that are supposed to be an ingredient.