Gluten-free Cinnamon Bread

I have been craving Cinnamon French Toast the last couple of months so I had to make my own!  I have a hard time finding a good bread recipe that doesn't fall apart.  This recipe does fall apart somewhat easily if not careful, but it makes the house smell delicious.  I still need to work on fine tuning it so it will stay together better.  If you have any suggestions let me know!

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Bread
Makes 1 large loaf of bread

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan

In a mixer, combine the following (I used a Kitchenaid):

• 1 cup milk (I used soymilk)
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 eggs

Mix together in a small bowl the dry ingredients:

• 2 1/2- 3 cups gluten-free flour mix (I used Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Baking Flour)
• 1 package quick rise (rapid-rise) yeast (about 2 tsp)
• 1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp salt

Add mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on medium speed for about 3 minutes.  The dough should be nice and smooth.  Add more flour if needed. 

Combine in small bowl the cinnamon swirl mixture:

• 1/2- 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-3 tsp water

Drizzle half the cinnamon mixture into the dough and fold gently with a spatula.  Add in the other half and fold gently. 

Scrap dough into prepared loaf pan and let rise in a warm area for about 30-45 minutes until the loaf is about level with the top of the pan.  Bake 35-40 minutes until golden on top.  Let cool on a wire rack and enjoy!  I keep mine in the freezer once cooled, it freezes great! 

Coco Yummys Review

Great after workout snack!

I love trying new gluten-free products and was so excited to try these Coco Yummys.  I love the rich and creamy dark chocolate flavor.  It reminds me of a girl scout samoa cookie, so if you're looking for a gluten-free version of that, this is your cookie!  I love that these cookies come each individually wrapped; which make it perfect to stick in your kids lunch box (or your
own), throw in your back pocket for a cycling ride, eat after a long workout, or enjoy for an afternoon snack. 

My niece loved them!

Each cookie is only 60 calories, gluten-free, non-GMO ingredients, no artificial colors or flavors, no refined sugars, and no nuts.  The dark chocolate is rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese and is a powerful source of antioxidants. 

I know why they are called Super Yummys, it was super yummy! You can order them online.  Check out their website SuperYummys.com and get yourself a few bags!

Nutrition Class & Gluten-Free Energy Bites Recipe

I am excited to help Coach Lora Erickson, aka Blonde Runner, with a nutrition class, Eating Better to Train Better, next Tuesday March 21st from 6-7p in the Davis County area.  We will be going over nutrition tips to help in your training.  Whether it be for a triathlon, running event, or your daily exercise, we will review what you need to know to stay healthy.  We will also be sharing with you our favorite snack that we like to fuel with!  To learn more on how to register for the class, check out her website BlondeRunner.com.  Limited spots available.

Energy Bites (gluten-free)
Makes 15-20
Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey or agave
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup shredded coconut
1 cup gluten-free oats
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine peanut butter, honey, and vanilla in a medium size bowl.  I find it easier to combine if I melt the peanut butter and honey first.  Add shredded coconut and gluten-free oats to mixture.  Stir to combine.  I set mine in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before adding in the chocolate chips; otherwise, the chocolate chips melt if you chose to melt your peanut butter and honey.  Once cooled, add chocolate chips and roll into 1 inch size balls. 

These are the perfect snack to fuel you for a workout or get you through the day!  I often eat these before a race.  They freeze great so I can keep myself stocked up for a couple of weeks!  

Happy Pi Day

Happy National Pi Day!  I'm not going to miss out on a slice of pie (or a few slices) just because I have celiac.  I'm celebrating with gluten-free no bake chocolate mousse pie. 

This pie is silky smooth and topped with a sweetened whipped cream.  It is delicious!  Here's what you'll need:

No Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie

Oreo Crust

20 crushed gluten-free Oreo cookies

4 Tablespoons melted butter

-  Place Oreos in blender (I used my blendtec), pulse cookies to form fine crumbs.  Add melted butter and pulse to combine.  

    -  Press firmly into a 9 inch pie pan. 

-  Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes

(You could also place Oreos in a Ziploc bag and smash with a spoon.  Works just as well.)

Mousse

1 package unflavored gelatin

2 Tablespoons cold water

1/4 cup boiling water

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

2 cups whipping cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

-  In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water.  Let stand for 1 minute.  Add boiling water to gelatin and stir until dissolved.

-  In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, cocoa, whipping cream, and vanilla.  Beat for about 5 minutes until mixture becomes thickened.  Add gelatin mixture and beat until stiff peaks form. 

-  Spoon mousse over gluten-free Oreo crust.

Whipped Topping

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

-  In a small mixing bowl beat whipping cream for about a minute

-  Add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, then add vanilla and beat again

-  Spoon whipping cream over the top of the pie

-  Garnish with mini chocolate chips (or chocolate shavings) 

-  Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving

Enjoy!

Spring is Coming!

It's starting to feel like spring around here in northern Utah, my favorite time of year! My knee has been doing so much better. It has been four weeks now since surgery and my workouts are starting to feel almost like normal. One more week until I can run again! This might be the longest week of my life. I feel like a kid at Christmas time.

The weather has been so nice the last few days, I was finally able to get my bike outdoors and enjoy a long ride in the sunshine! I love being outdoors. When I was a little girl, my mom could never get me to come inside.  I don't think thats changed much!  I like to think that my niece is my mini-me. We could both be outside all day.  She loves it when the sun is shining and the weather starts warming up because that means park time! And then, of course, we're there for hours because what little kid wants to go back inside??

Going down the 'big' slide never gets old for this girl

I don't know about you, but I did not want to get out of bed this morning when my alarm went off to get ready for the gym.  I don't mind daylight savings, but I don't like losing that hour of sleep.  Even when I got to the gym I wanted to find a corner and fall back to sleep, but I still managed to get my swim in! 

I looked forward to one of these super yummy treats after my workout.  Stayed tuned for a review on this product coming soon.

Who else is excited for Pi day tomorrow?!  Even being gluten-free, I still plan on celebrating!

BBQ Pulled Pork

It has been a cold few days here in Utah.  It is a winter wonderland outside.  All I want to do is curl up in a blanket by the fire with some hot cocoa; but instead, I decided to make some homemade pulled pork.  Snowy days call for cooking days.  I adapted the recipe from stuckonsweet, and of course made it gluten free. 

 BBQ Pulled Pork with Honey Mustard Slaw
 Ingredients

• 3 lb pork roast (bone or boneless.  Mine had the bone still in it)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Barbeque Sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's original, it's gluten free)

Place pork in crockpot and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Coat with barbeque sauce (I used a pastry brush to brush on).  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Once done, remove pork and shred to desired chunks.  Add 1 cup barbeque sauce and mix well until combined. 

Honey Mustard Slaw

• 1.5-2 bags slaw mix
• 4 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp. honey
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tbsp. milk

Whisk mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, milk, salt, and pepper in a medium sized bowl.  Add the slaw to the dressing and mix.  (Mine seemed really saucy with just one bag of slaw.  I added about half of a bag more.)

Serves 8-10.  Perfect for Tacos, salads, or over a sweet potato (my favorite).  Add desired toppings.  I added tomatoes, cilantro, and red onion.  The leftovers are perfect for lunch the rest of the week!

Good and Bad News

I could barely sleep last night, I was so excited to go to my post-op appointment this morning.  I couldn't wait to get all of the bandaging off my knee and the grannie socks (T.E.D hose) off my legs.  Sadly, I have to wear the one on my right leg for another week.  I was dying to get back to exercising and hopeful for good news this morning.
When I got to my appointment I just wanted to jump right in with the real question.  When can I start exercising?!  Well mostly, when can I start running??   The P.A. gave me the ok to start cycling and doing elliptical lightly. 

I wanted to go to the gym right away and get my legs moving.

Bandaging off, still have some swelling.

I have to wait one more week to get back in the water, but that still didn't answer my real question.  I need to know when I can run!  The P.A. told me to give it at least 2 weeks, then I can ease back into running; which was expected.  He went out to sign a few papers then came back informing me the Dr. wants me to not run for another 4 weeks, from today.  I was trying to hold myself together, that was not the news I was wanting.  This changes things for my training and racing, but I decided I will do what I can with what I am able to do and go from there.  That kind of news called for a little President's Day shopping.  

Running clothes, my kind of shopping! 

On a side note, I am excited to be helping with an Eat Better to Train Better nutrition class coming up next month. Coach Lora Erickson aka "Blonde Runner" has a giveaway going on right now to win a free spot to one of her three classes coming up. Check it out here.

First Blog Post!

Here's to my first awkward blog post.  You know, the one where you should introduce yourself and tell your whole life story.  Well, that's a long story, so I'm just going to jump right into things and hopefully we can learn more about each other along the way. 
I will introduce myself some; I love everything running and triathlon.  It is pretty much my life.  I have been having IT band issues for a few years now.  If any of you have had it before, you know how painful it can be.  I have tried Physical Therapy, cortisone injections, tape, etc. 

Cortisone Injections

(Don't mind the outfit, I think I dressed myself in the dark)

IT band taped up for the Chicago Marathon in 2015

Nothing seemed to help it.  I recently started having really bad pain in my knee as well.  I went to the Dr. about 2 weeks ago and we decided the best thing to do at this point is surgery.  I wanted to jump on in right away and get it taken care of before it gets too late into the season, so we scheduled the surgery for the following week.  It has been 5 days since surgery.  Everything went really well. 

All ready to go

I was freezing after surgery, I couldn't stop shaking. 

It seemed like I was wrapped in a big bubble wrap, but it was nice and warm.

They fixed my IT band and found Plica in my knee that was the source of the pain.  I've had to be off of my leg all week.  It has been a long, never ending week.  I had to be on crutches for a few days and finally was able to ditch those.  I am definitely a person that likes to be on the go, so its been hard laying on the couch all week.  I feel for those that have to lay there for weeks or months, I would go insane.  I'm glad mine was only a few days, it sure seemed like weeks.  I have a busy mind and its been hard to keep it positive when there's not much else to distract me. I was able to get out some and enjoy some sunshine. 

I was a completely different person after (sorry to those that had to deal with me).  I have my follow-up appointment tomorrow and hopefully they tell me good news.  I am ready to hit it hard and get back to my training!  Of course, I won't actually be able to hit it hard right away, but I can't wait to get my legs moving again.  Times like these definitely make me not take my legs/health for granted.  I am so grateful that I have legs that allow me to do what I love most.  Let's pray for good news tomorrow!