Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run and Walk, Frankfort, KY
It’s difficult, as a runner, not to try to compare races. And normally races do stand on their own. No race is exactly like another. Weather, people, and even how you feel that day can affect performance and overall mood.
But this is a first for me…because I am returning to a race for the first time. Ever.
Last year, I ran in the Tomorrow’s Children 5K race in Frankfort, Kentucky. The race basically benefits people in the Frankfort community who are struggling with infertility. It’s held as a fundraiser and a way to bring awareness of the organization to the community. I have quite a few friends who struggle with infertility…so, this was a good cause to run for.
Back in 2011, this was my second 5K I ever ran. Ever. As in the history of my running career…which at that point consisted of a couple months of running around the track at the YMCA…little runs on the treadmill at the gym…and one 5K race a couple weeks prior. So, I was still quite the newbie to the racing scene. And, the drive out there was interesting as we had s a bit of thunder, some lightning, and a lot of rain. The lightning was gone by the time we got to packet pickup, but the rain was still constant. Up until the race was about to begin. Then…there was a lull.
But that only lasted a moment. No sooner had the race kicked off, but the sky opened up again and down came the rain. But, runners run in rain all the time. This was a new experience for me. And guess what…it was kinda fun too.
Dripping wet, I crossed the finish line in 27:04.
And won first in my division.
In my second 5K race…ever.
So, let’s put it this way…I’m nervous about not living up to that this year. The weather is supposed to be good…during the race. Keeping with tradition of me running in Frankfort, Kentucky…rain is scheduled for that day…just after the race is run. So, the turnout might be better. The runners…might be stronger. And, I feel like I have to prove to myself that winning that division title wasn’t just a fluke of bad weather and a small turn-out. I feel like I need to prove that I rightfully earned it…even with it being my second race ever.
Yeah, that’s a little bit of pressure weighing on my shoulders. And, of course, I might feel like a little bit of a failure should I not clinch the title this year too. But, you know, I don’t run to win divisions or place. I run because it’s something I enjoy and love to do. But, a part of me feels like I have a crown to defend here. And, despite having been nursing a sore Achilles tendon all week, a part of me wants to run like I’ve never run before tomorrow and just see what comes of it.
In the end, I’ll run a smart race. And whether I place at all won’t matter in the end. What matters is that I finish…be it first or last. And that’s the hardest lesson for some runners to bring to each race…and take home from each race too.
Do I feel like I have something to prove tomorrow? Yes. It’s only natural.
But if I walk away just another finisher…I’m okay with that too. I’m a winner just for taking part and finishing. And if I can do so without limping due to a sore tendon…all the better.
Second verse…same as the first? We’ll find out tomorrow.
This isn’t the first Tasty Bite meal that I’ve had. This is the second. And for the second time, I have been wowed by the simplicity and flavors that have been packed into one microwaveable meal, concealed in a pouch. Yeah…I wouldn’t be expecting much either, but what this meal lacks in packaging it makes up for with intense Indian flavors.
No joke.
I don’t joke about my food. Especially Indian food, which happens to be one of my favorite cuisines to indulge in. Honestly.
I bought a bag of jasmine rice awhile back and find that this is the perfect accompaniment to these dishes. Steaming up a batch of it is easy. Then just reheat the rice with a splash of water before giving this entree a quick zap in the microwave. Honestly, the entire meal is ready in less than five minutes. It’s perfect for those nights where you want something substantial, healthy, and a little bit spicy.
The Punjab Eggplant entree brings the flavor of Indian food with typical spices infused into it for the perfect bite each time. With a delicious blend of salt, coriander, chiles, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cloves, the heat of this meal is not too intense, but evident. It’s the perfect spice level. I wouldn’t mind more, but I’m a spicy girl who loves a good deal of heat. The eggplant is soft, delicious, and pairs well with the flavors that are incurred with the inclusion of tomatoes, onions and garlic. It’s a tasty bite of Indian goodness with simplicity.
As with most (not all) of Tasty Bite’s entrees, the Punjab Eggplant is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and kosher. YAY! This makes it a great go-to choice for an Indian meal that has proven to be far superior to the frozen entrees I’ve had in the past.
As a busy, on-the-go, kind of girl, quick meals are sometimes a necessity. This particular one only sets me back 150 calories. And all it took was about 2 minutes in the microwave and some rice to go with it. It’s that easy, that fast. And yes…it really is that amazing.
Tired of getting your Indian food from the freezer? Look no further than the shelf at your grocery store. Tasty Bite is there. And…for the record…the Punjab Eggplant is phenomenal.
Cheerios. Oh…I have missed them. I grew up eating them. And continued to eat them even as an adult. After all, you’re never too old for Cheerios. Plus…they are delicious and nutritious. And come in a variety of flavors these days.
So, imagine my sadness after having to go gluten-free and realizing this meant never again having my beloved Cheerios for breakfast or lunch or dinner or snack. Never. Not ever again. It was a deep wound, let me tell you. And one that I carried with me…up until recently.
I was at the grocery store just browsing the gluten-free section when this box caught my eye. I almost did a double-take, but there it was…as clear as day on the golden box…Nature’s Path Organic Whole O’s…GLUTEN FREE!
This was the answer the cereal monster craved. It was…like Cheerios…but…but could it take their place? Only one way to find out, yes?
So, at a hefty price…more than I like to pay for cereal, this box came home with me. And after I polished off the current box of gluten-free Chex…this was moved up into the rotation. I was set for disappointment. Nothing could be as good as the original, right?
WRONG!
I won’t say it was love at first bite with this cereal. It took a few to really fall in love with it. I discovered, though, that for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what Cheerios tasted like. I was appalled at myself, but…a bit relieved. This meant that these Whole O’s wouldn’t have to try to live up to something. What I think I remembered of them though, I actually discovered I probably would have liked these better. Yes…these little O’s of goodness were making my gluten-free day a in a big gluten-free way!! I think these are actually sweeter than Cheerios, but after letting my roommate have at a couple (and she still eats Cheerios) she insists that Cheerios are actually sweeter. Fine by me, as I loved the flavor that were in each bite. After a glance at the short list of ingredients, that sweetness seems to stem from the addition of pomegranate juice concentrate. I love pomegranate and pomegranate juice…and it doesn’t taste of pomegranate either.
These little O’s of yumminess are also very crunchy and hold up to my bath of almond milk each morning as well. Not one soggy bite, which is very much appreciated. If I wanted soggy cereal I’d dish out oatmeal in the morning. No, in the morning when I’m usually having a scrambled egg or a soft pancake or something along those lines…I want a crisp bite of cereal to start me off. And that’s exactly what this cereal delivers.
This O connoisseur was more than happy with the taste, texture, and everything else that came along with this cereal. However, it will have to be treated as a treat to myself with the pricetag it comes with, but such is the way with gluten-free goodness. A treat, though, is always well worth it when it is this fantastic.
Product: Love Grown Foods Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola – $4.99+
Granola is not something that I normally seek out. Just being honest. While I find them to be delicious, and love them, I would rather buy a gluten-free oatmeal for lunch or snack on something that is a bit more substantial. But I came into the possession of a gluten-free granola thanks to a gift pack from my local Fresh Market called “Don’t Be a Gluten.” I loved the name, and as it was intended for the holidays, which had since past, my roommate bought it for me and I got to dig through at the gluten-free treasures that awaited me.
One of the biggest bags in there was a pack of Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola from a company I never heard of – Love Grown Foods. And with a company name like that…how can you resist at least trying it out?
Here’s the dish from what I can gather via the Web site. Love Grown Foods was created by a couple while attending the University of Denver. Each of the young entrepreneurs brought a knowledge of healthy living, healthy eating and love of an active lifestyle to the kitchen. And why not? What emerged was a perfected recipe for granola that started off with simple sample packs and grew from that into a business. And who can argue with a company that delivers amazing flavor in each handful that isn’t tainted at all by artificial sweeteners or sugar. Their granola is sweetened by either honey or agave.
It’s a great story, but how does it pan out in the product?
Well, let me tell you, the name Love Grown Foods is not misleading at all. Not only can you tell the amount of care and love that went into each and every batch, but the product speaks for itself in nutritional value as well as flavor. The Sweet Cranberry Pecan is the ideal combination of dried cranberries and toasted pecans, served up with perfectly sweetened and seasoned gluten-free rolled oats. It is touched up with some dried coconut and seasoned with honey, cinnamon and vanilla. The play of flavors on your palate just works. It’s fantastic…crunchy with a hint of sweetness that just leaves you wanting to grab a little more and then a little more. It’s probably the best granola I have ever had in my life.
What I appreciate about Love Grown Foods granola is the nutritional value that is packed in each serving. A serving is 1/4 cup, which, when it’s granola, goes a long way. Each serving of the Sweet Cranberry Pecan brings with it only 130 calories and 6g of fat. Not bad. And I promise, a simple serving of that size does stick with you. That’s the wonderful thing about granola. And, it’s easy to transport and take with you, if you are going to be out for the day, on a hike, a jog, or a walk. It’s the ideal snack to pack.
It was love at first crunchy, sweet bite when it came to this granola. Now I’m hooked. And I’m hoping to find one of the other varieties (it also comes in Simply Oats, Apple Walnut Delight, Raisin Almond Crunch, and Cocoa Goodness) in store to give them a taste as well. If it’s anything like the Sweet Cranberry Pecan, then I’d say I’ll be in for a delicious treat.
If you love granola and really want to try one that is made from natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, and honestly made with love…then I recommend Love Grown Foods. Yummy doesn’t begin to describe it.
A serving of Love Grown Foods Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola
Product: Pacific Natural Foods Organic French Onion Soup – $1.99+
As I have been a vegetarian for a couple of years now, I’ve learned that a lot of soups are actually made with a chicken or beef base, despite the safe sounding vegetable names…like tomato, vegetable, french onion, etc. And, even more tricky since having to go gluten-free is being confident enough with a soup or restaurant to be able to guarantee that there will be no contamination and that no ingredients contain gluten. Gluten is tricky and shows up in some of the oddest places.
Like in soup.
So, imagine my delight when I came across a version of French Onion Soup from Pacific Natural Foods that is not only labeled gluten-free (YAY!! I wish more places would label), but is also 100% vegetarian. I was so excited and ended up buying a couple of these without even tasting one first. Yeah…I get pretty worked up over food and do spontaneous stuff like that.
I actually have made this soup twice. The first time, without any additions. And it was delicious on its own. Honestly. The soup itself is a broth that is made from filtered water and an organic sauteed onion base, which really highlights the crisp, caramelized flavor of the onion in the soup. It was really good to dip my gluten-free/dairy-free grilled cheese into. Yummy. But, it was boring. Yes…despite all the flavor, it looked like a bowl of…sewer water, to be honest. So, when I made it on another night, I touched it up a little. I cut up some gluten-free bread crusts I had in the freezer and spritzed them with some olive oil, giving them a hint of garlic seasoning. That went into the oven to make croutons. While those were toasting, I caramelized up some shallots to add to the broth. The soup went onto the stove to heat, and in went the shallots. Once heated through, each bowl was garnished with some gluten-free croutons and then sprinkled with some Gruyere cheese, which I then attempted to melt down with my kitchen torch (it worked better in my head than in practice).
However, this really did step up the soup a level. Not only did it give it some body, but it boosted an already flavorful broth into something actually resembling a soup. I still ate it with my grilled cheese sammie, because the soup on its own was only 30 calories, which wouldn’t hold over this tummy for long. Even with the little additions. So, low calorie, flavorful, gluten-free, vegetarian, and delicious…that’s a recipe for success.
And luckily, this soup is readily available at local grocery stores. Finally…a French Onion Soup that even I can indulge in. Thank you, again, Pacific Natural Foods.
Pacific Natural Foods French Onion Soup, dressed up with caramelized shallots, gluten-free croutons, and Gruyere cheese
Crossing the finish line at the Bunny Hop 5K - Hoff Woods Park, Westerville, Ohio
Race: Bunny Hop 5K
Place: Hoff Woods Park, Westerville, OH
Date: April 7, 2012
Time: 25:24
Cheer up sleepy Jean…Oh what can it mean?
Welcome to my tribute race to the late, great Davy Jones from The Monkees. I know what you’re thinking…you’re probably wondering why I dedicated an Easter race to a member of the band The Monkees. Well, there is no method to my madness this time. The answer is simple…I wanted to.
Nothing bummed me out more than coming out of my lunch meeting at my office on February 29 and finding out about the passing of Davy Jones. You see, I was one of those people who never stopped listening to The Monkees. I owned the entire series on VHS…later DVD. I have all the CDs. I’ve seen The Monkees in concert twice. I earned the nickname “Monkeegirl” in high school. So, yeah, I was in a deep funk when I heard about Davy Jones. I wasn’t prepared. And it still saddens me.
So…an idea came to mind to dedicate a race to him. My next race where this was a viable option (aka: not part of a racing series), was the Bunny Hop 5K in Westerville, OH. Why was this a good choice? Well, for one thing I’d be with two friends (my roommate and my awesome friend Jenn) who were also fans of The Monkees. And…because it was a good, little race so nothing would really detract from the meaning of the tribute (despite the presence of the Easter Bunny).
With the idea now in my head, I signed up for the race and got my accessories ready. What accessories, you might ask. Well, my Bondi Band read “Daydream Believer” across it and I (and my cheering section) wore sashes that said “Homecoming Queen” on them. And if you have never heard the lyrics for The Monkees song Daydream Believer, you have either been hiding under a rock or need to get more cultured in music. The chorus is:
“Cheer up sleepy Jean…oh, what can it mean…to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen…”
Get it? Daydream Believer. Homecoming Queen. Brilliant.
So, after work on Friday, my roommate and I hopped into the car and drove from Indiana to Columbus, Ohio, to hang out for the weekend with the amazing Jenn. It was a long drive and we got there in enough time to eat Pink Salad (it’s delicious!), make signs for the following morning, talk, and hit the sack.
Morning came way, way, way too soon. I was still a zombie when the alarm went off. But, I got out of bed, and started to get dressed for the race. Thankfully before leaving Indiana the day before I went back to my apartment on my lunch break to grab warmer clothes to run in. It was freezing that morning and I had originally packed my running skirt and a short sleeve tech shirt. No good on a morning in the very low 30s when frost is on the ground. My pants and running jacket made the journey with me. It had been awhile since I had to break out the jacket. Then again, Columbus seems to know when I’m coming to visit and gets very cold just to tick me off (true facts!).
So, dressed and with a Blueberry Muffin LäraBar in hand, my friends and I headed out to scrape some frost off the car windows and head to the park for packet pickup.
The tribute sign to Davy Jones I wore on my back during the race
It was an easy drive in, despite the need to turn around and grab a forgotten cup for the coffee that would follow the race. Once at the park, we found a good place to park and I went and grabbed my packet. Inside was a gourmet cookie (I gave it to Jenn as I can’t eat it with my gluten intolerance), a water bottle, bunny ears, my shirt, and my race bib (no chip timing!). I got my sash pinned on and my number too. And then I got a sign pinned to me that indicated who I was dedicating the race to. Then the three of us retreated to the car for a little while to warm up. I hate the cold. With about 20 minutes to go before the race, we finally crawled out of the warm sanctuary and I set to stretching a bit before we were directed toward the starting line.
The starting line was over in another parking lot. It was just a short little walk across a path. There was a chalk line drawn across the pavement and a yellow flag was set up to mark the start. Awesome. I stretched a little more, spotted the cameo appearance by the Easter Bunny (it was, after all, the Bunny Hop 5K the day before Easter Sunday), and listened to the announcements. Our lead vehicle was a guy on a “pink Easter bike.” I don’t know what it is about me and park runs and guys on bikes. This is the second one. He was going to guide us on the path. So, after the announcements and a warm up of bunny hopping (for real), I readied my iPod, my GPS watch, and soon, we were off.
Apparently the head of the pack was taking the Bunny Hop 5K pretty seriously because my roommate later told me that the announcer said, “Guys! It’s only a fundraiser!” But some runner types are so serious about every race. And that’s okay.
So, the run was a good one. We wound our way out of the park and down through some residential neighborhoods. It was a relatively flat terrain, with only small inclines. I was really doing my best to keep my usual 5K pace, but I was having some trouble with my Achilles tendon. It was pulled earlier in the week and I’d been doing my best to baby it in preparation for this race, and the upcoming half marathon in a month. So, I started off a bit slower and worked my way up to pace.
The run was fun. At the point where we turned around, the guys directing us saw me coming and said, “Daydream believer and a homecoming queen. AWESOME!” I pumped my fist in the air and smiled. YES!! They got it without seeing the tribute sign attached to my back.
I knew I was making pretty decent time, mostly in part to my GPS watch. LOVE that thing. It really does help me keep on pace and push when I need to. I didn’t push too hard though, not with the Achilles tendon screaming at me. So, I just sort of stayed at my pace, and wound my way back through the neighborhood to the park. We were directed into the last turn and there was the finish line. The big inflatable arch was really hard to miss.
As there was no chip timing for this race, when runners crossed the finish line, we were handed a card. All we needed to do was put our name on it, and they would fill out the rest with our time. Oh, and for the first 50 men and the first 50 females to cross the finish…we also got medals. Awesome.
It was a fun race. But I was cold, in need of my Caribou Coffee, and ready to get some actual food in my belly. As Caribou Coffee has nothing for food that is gluten-free, I brought some gluten-free bread and peanut butter with me, and built a sandwich using pieces of overly-ripe banana on one slice and slices of apple on the other. YUM!
So, the official results are that I finished in 25:24 (that sub-25 minute 5K still eludes me!). On the official results page, my entry is out of order, so I’m adjusting the results to show my proper placement (for the record, they have me higher than I really am). So, with that being said, overall I finished 24/154 finishers and was 9/83 female runners. Not too bad. Not bad at all.
This race was special. I didn’t set a new record. I didn’t run to my full potential. But I had a good time. And I found it to be a fitting and perfect tribute to a musical icon who I admired throughout my life. And that’s what mattered to me that day. Having friends at the finish line is awesome. Having friends at the finish line holding signs with lyrics to Daydream Believer on them…is priceless. My friends rule.
Davy Jones…I hope you appreciated the tribute. Rest in peace. You’re free.
Cathy, me, and Jenn with our tribute sashes and signs to Davy Jones for the Bunny Hop 5K
It is one of my favorite things in the world. I literally grew up eating it. My brother and sister were the same ages as the children of a couple from India who lived just up the street in the neighborhood I grew up in. Often, we would go over to their home and indulge in homemade curry (my favorite!). And their house always smelled divine.
So, having been introduced to the food and the culture so young, I have never fallen out of love with the culinary treats that await. That being said, I have yet to actually cook up an Indian meal on my own. Although, I am so willing to give it a try, if I can ever find a recipe that excites me.
Tuesday nights I often like to go to the park, if the weather is nice, and go for a run. So, having an easy to prepare dinner that won’t wreak havoc on an on-the-move tummy is ideal. While out grocery shopping, my roommate and I spotted these little packaged delights from Tasty Bite. They happened to be on sale, so we stocked up on a few of them. And we were waiting for the ideal time to test them out.
That time came last night. Here’s the best part…these are so easy to prepare. It’s done in 90 seconds, I’m not even kidding.
The night prior, I went ahead and prepared a batch of jasmine rice, which I steamed on the stove top and then packed away for a reheat…just to make life easy. I scooped out a couple servings upon getting home last night, added a splash of water, and microwaved the rice back to warm, fluffy life.
Then, per the instructions on the package for Lentil Magic, I tore a vent of about 2 inches, popped it into the microwave for 90 seconds, and then poured it over the prepared rice. Like I said…SO EASY!!
Of course, the real test came in the consumption of said fast food. One bite, and I knew this really was lentil magic. The lentils were still al dente, so they didn’t turn to mush as I had been concerned about. This particular kind is seasoned with garlic, cumin, and cardamom, all of which made for the perfect seasoning to pair with the lentils. And I absolutely loved that my serving had a whopping 12 grams of protein in it.
These little Indian and Thai meals are amazing…and very low in calories, sodium, fat, and effort. You gotta love that. Even better…in the case of Lentil Magic…they are fantastic. I was blown away by how delicious this was. Not too hot, not too spicy…just the right amount of heat to infuse the lentils with that Indian flair. I absolutely loved every component of this meal.
And coming from a girl who grew up on classic Indian fare prepared by someone from that country…that speaks volumes. I have a few more of these to try, but I’m already set to buy up even more and give them a go. There are a lot of options, most of which are not only vegetarian or vegan, but also gluten-free. Many of the products are also kosher. Lentil magic…was all four of those. Love it.
So, if you are craving a filling, delicious, fantastically spiced Indian meal without having to go to India or the best Indian restaurant in town, you can enjoy the wonderful flavors and ease of Tasty Bite’s Lentil Magic. I’m already a fan.
As is the case with me these days, last night’s dinner was definitely going to be soup. The kind of soup, however, changed three times.
I love soup. I can eat soup year-round. Yes…even in the heat of summer, I often find soup to be refreshing to indulge in. Why? Because of what goes into it. And, when possible, I love stirring a pot over low heat and cooking up my own soup. But, that’s not always possible.
Not to sound too much like Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory, but Monday night’s are soup night for me. It’s the night I go running with a local group at a running store, so something that is filling, but not too heavy is ideal. A bowl of soup and a gluten-free and dairy-free grilled cheese sandwich are my go-to those nights…and it works like a charm for me. But, unless I have time on Sunday to cook up soup for the week, my standby is the canned or boxed variety you find in stores.
Like I said above, however, last night’s soup changed. My roommate had selected Amy’s Organic Light in Sodium Butternut Squash Soup for our dinner on Sunday night, knowing that when we got home from work, we had a quick turn-around time to eat, do dishes, change, and head through traffic into Louisville so I could go for my run. The only problem was, as I was getting breakfast going that morning, I noticed a key ingredient in big bold letters on the can: wheat. This gluten-free girl was very, very sad because…I love butternut squash soup. And now…it was off the menu. When my roommate crawled out of her room for breakfast, I shared that little bit of knowledge and asked her to go pick another one. Amy’s Organic No Chicken Noodle Soup was next off the pantry shelf…and then she said…”Duh…this has noodles!” Therefore wheat and soy were key ingredients, meaning this soup also had gluten in it. No go. Her next grab…and our dinner that night…Amy’s Organic Chunky Vegetable Soup.
This soup was impressive from the moment I opened up the can. The broth was light and tons of chunky vegetables were swimming in it. No skimping on the vegetables here. Not at all. I could see the tomatoes, spinach, carrots, green beans, corn, peas, onion, celery…all organic, by the way, in the broth. Chunky was not an understatement. It’s fact.
I warmed up the soup on the stove top while I got to work on the accompanying sandwiches. Soup and sammie nights are pretty famous in my apartment as I have discovered the perfect way to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Oh…and even my dairy-free cheese melts up to gooey perfection too.
With the sandwiches done, I ladled the warm soup into bowls and settled in for dinner. One spoonful and I could already tell this soup was magic. It had lots of flavor. I could tell it would be filling because of the chunky vegetables that were included (not those anemic little bits in most vegetable soups). The vegetable flavor reminded me so much of homemade vegetable soup. Yeah…it’s that good. The soup was seasoned too perfection. It probably had more sodium in it than I usually would have liked, but…that’s canned soup for you. And this was worth it. Very delicious. I would buy this one again in a heartbeat.
Once again, Amy’s Kitchen proves that it turns out fantastic food no matter if it’s canned, frozen, or shelf-stable. This was my first foray into Amy’s Organic soups, and I was definitely very impressed. Aside from my little lesson about reading labels, which I normally do…I think I just assumed butternut squash soup would be gluten-free…and the noodle thing completely slipped my mind, I can’t find anything to complain about when it comes to this soup. Packed with flavor, packed with organic vegetables, and packed with love that comes out of a company that truly cares. Amy’s Kitchen has definitely become one of my go-to brands I trust.
If you need a quick meal on-the-go…go to your grocery store, and pick up a healthy serving of vegetables in soup form. Find Amy’s Kitchen Organic soups…find the Chunky Vegetable…and see what I’m raving about for yourself.
Trust me…she has plenty of gluten-free soup options available. I have a couple more in my pantry that I’m dying to try.
Like I said…I’ve been cooking with pumpkin a lot recently. I love how versatile it can be in cooking. Sort of like substituting your baking fat with Greek yogurt or applesauce. The same sort of holds true for pumpkin. It’s a healthy way to liven your food. And it’s especially delicious in breakfast foods. As I did a similar take with scones, these pancakes were a synch to make. The only difference is that I used some spices to really enhance the pumpkin flavor.
3/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg light brown sugar
dash of ground ginger
dash of ground cloves
Directions:
Combine the ingredients in a large bowl.
Blend all ingredients by whisking vigorously in a bowl until thoroughly mixed.
Let batter stand and preheat a nonstick griddle to medium-high temperature. Lightly oil or spray griddle with cooking or baking spray.
Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle and cook until the top is bubbly. Turn and cook until golden brown. Adjust the temperature as needed.
Top how you wish…margarine, a sprinkle of cinnamon/sugar, or my favorite go-to for pancakes…gluten-free maple syrup.
Enjoy!
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The combination of pumpkin and chocolate is killer. These pancakes cooked up light and fluffy and remained moist thanks to the addition of the pumpkin. I don’t even miss the eggs and oil that usually go into these. These were filling without being heavy and that’s what I consider to be a perfect pancake.
Go ahead…give it a try. Maybe add some candied pecans or whatever combination you like with your pumpkin. Have fun with it, but more importantly…make it delicious.
I love pumpkin. Why? Because it is so versatile. It’s flavor is so subtle that, if done correctly, you can add it to anything and not even be able to tell that it’s a component in the list of ingredients. In addition, it makes a fantastic substitute for eggs, oil, and butter. And in the case of these scones, that’s what I did. I removed the egg and the 4 tablespoons of butter that I normally incorporate into the mix and, instead, used pumpkin. The whole intention for this one was to have a pumpkin flavor scone.
Right in line with that…I contemplated what might pair well with pumpkin. I finally decided on some semi-sweet mini chocolate chips. Perfect. And the scones themselves? Moist, chewy, and delicious.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Scones
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Scones
Servings: 12
Time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients:
2-1/4 cups Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix
1/3 cup sugar (I used Truvia)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp pure pumpkin (I used Libby’s)
1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (I used Hershey’s)
2/3 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°.
Mix the dry ingredients together.
Add the pumpkin and almond milk. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.
Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
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One of the best things I discovered about baking with pumpkin is just how many calories it saves you in the end. By replacing the egg and the butter with pumpkin in this recipe, I cute a total of 425 calories out of the entire batch as a whole. That’s amazing!
I think the next time I make these, if going for more of a pumpkin flavor, I’ll add 3/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, a dash of ginger and a dash of cloves to really bring out some flavor. But, on their own…as they stand…really, really delicious!!
The Celiathlete 