Vegan Sugar Cookies

These are super tender and amazingly delicious!! Plus they are of course dairy and egg free for my little allergy kid!

Ingredients for cookies

1/2 cup Vegan Butter, softened (they make an amazing coconut based butter!)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour (plus more for rolling shapes out)

1/2 TBSP cornstarch

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1-2 tsp almond milk

Combine everything in an electric mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Add more flour as needed so dough is not super sticky. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes then roll out on floured surface and cut with desired cookie cutter shapes!

Bake in preheated oven 350F for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden (they will harden some after you take them out). Remove from oven and let sit for 3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

ICING: Mix the following together and have at it!

1/4 Cup Vegan butter, softened

1/4 Cup shortening

2-3 cups powdered sugar (until desired consistency)

splash of almond milk

Food coloring if desired!

Comfortable

I completed my 10th half marathon a couple weekends ago. I used to do only 1 “big” race a year, but I have completed 6 of these in the last 2 years! 13.1 miles has become comfortable, not easy, never easy, but doable. I have no problem signing up for a half, because I know I can finish it and feel great at the end, it’s a distance I know I love. I have only recently really been trying to focus on improving my pace and increasing my weekly milage, and I find it has been a lot of fun to chase these goals. The half marathon, 13.1 miles, once a daunting goal to finish, now a race against myself. Even though I am pushing myself more to get faster, it is still a comfortable goal I know I can finish. Comfortable. It is time for me to find a new goal that is uncomfortable, daunting, scary; one that I do not know if I can obtain. This doesn’t mean I will stop doing half marathons, in fact I plan to do the same series next spring that will get me 3 more, but why not go for something more?

Now what should I do? I have been wanting to do a full marathon, 26.2 miles, double the distance of what I am used to. I want to know, can I finish with a smile, or crawl across that finish line? How long will it take me? Will I hit a wall? While this is definitely on my bucket list, it doesn’t exactly scare me. I am a runner, I am comfortable running.

Why stop there though? I have competed in one triathlon, many years ago (before kids). It was a small sprint triathlon, and I absolutely LOVED it. Could I finish a Half Ironman Triathlon, or even a Full Ironman? Now this scares me, not the run, that I feel like I could get through. Not the swim, I am pretty comfortable in the water. But the bike portion? The thought of having to go as fast as they do to finish in the time limit, scares me. I think of wrecking, of popped tires, of not being able to go that far. I am not a biker, I’ve never raced on a bike, not really. I like to bike yes, but not at the speed it takes to go 56 miles, or even 112 miles!

SO the question remains, what is next? Well maybe that marathon I want to do will be part of my next training plan, maybe I’ll have the guts to sign up for an Ironman or Half Ironman. I am scared, but I just ordered a new triathlon suit.

Do something that scares you, it’ll only make you stronger.

Nutrition

Did you know there are 6 essential nutrients your body needs:

  • Water
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Carbohydrates
  • Protein
  • Fats

Food groups were originally created to try and simplify and group items that provide similar nutrients, for example fruits provide similar vitamins and minerals. However it isn’t as easy as that, food groups also promote food businesses (dairy, grains) and as with anything that makes people money, it is becomes more about selling their product than our health. Each “food group” also include more than just essential nutrient. Fruits may provide vitamins, but they also provide simple sugars which are carbohydrates. Vegetables are not only a source of vitamins, but also provide carbohydrates, and fiber. Dairy provides calcium and Vitamin D, yes, but so do seeds, spinach, some fish, eggs and beans. Grains provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but so do vegetables, fruit, fish, and many other foods. The meat/bean/legume food group has been renamed as “protein” so it is obvious what is mostly provided by that group now, among other vitamins and minerals.

I want to point out that there is no longer a “fats/oil” food group, and if you try to find out about fats on most government food group pages, it tells you how to avoid them or recommends very low consumption. Yet it is on the list of essential nutrients our body needs… You see fats contain a much higher caloric count than carbohydrates or proteins (9 calories per gram compared to 4). This means, if your counting calories, the easiest way to cut them is to cut fats. Mathematically that makes since, but you shouldn’t be scared of fat. In fact, in most “low fat” foods the sugar content is typically much higher than in the normal full fat version (which is not good for you). Also fats help you feel fuller, longer, thus helping you not overeat. There are “bad fats”, like those found in fast foods, and heavily processed foods, so make sure you read the label to see where those fats are coming from!

Now I personally try not to eat grains and I limit dairy for various reasons, I feel better without, and I can get similar nutrients from better foods. However I am not under the impression that my way of eating is best for everyone. There is no universal way to eat that is good for everyone. Some people don’t eat meat, or any animal products, some can’t eat dairy, some only eat meat, some rely mostly on grains because that is all that is available, and thats ok as long as you are fueling your body with the essential nutrients it needs whenever possible. I am not a fan of the the government pushing so many servings of each food group, when they should educate more on all the various ways to obtain the essential nutrients.

For the most part, paying attention to “macronutrients”, Proteins, Carbs, and Fats, (and drinking water) you will be able to obtain the other essential vitamins and minerals that come along with them. While it is good to understand how many calories you are consuming, it is equally as important to know where those calories are coming from. If half of your calories from breakfast are from sugar, your energy is not going to last very long, and you will find yourself eating more calories sooner to provide your body with the necessary energy. Be aware of how different foods make you feel and fuel your body accordingly!

Here is my last tid-bit of for the day, the best foods for you are those that do not need labels: whole, unprocessed, and fresh.

One Size Fits Most

So I think we have all reached the conclusion that there is no “one size fits all”. However we are seeing more and more of the “one size fits most” philosophy. Though it does not claim to fit “all” it still gives the impression that you will most likely fit into this size because you are probably part of the “most” right? Well, too many times I have tried on garments that are labeled as this, and guess what, it doesn’t fit. (GASP!) One or more parts of it are too big/small, too long/short. Now I am not a tiny human, but I am also not big. I am a runner, but I don’t have what you would call “runner legs”, instead I have voluptuous shapely thighs and buttocks. My stomach isn’t as flat as it was before kids, but it doesn’t exactly stick out, it is just…a different shape. I am considered “average height” at 5’6″ yet many pants are long on me. I am as uniquely shaped as I am uniquely wired in my personality and thinking.

Now this thought of “one size fits most” does not limit itself to articles of clothing, many people (including “experts) apply this to diet, to exercise, and even to faith. What we need to realize is just as this approach is unreliable with clothes, it is unreliable with everything else. God created each of us as unique human beings, so why do we think that what worked for so-and-so down the street will work for us? You want to lose weight, so you ask your doctor, who recommends the low fat diet because it is most widely advertised. But instead of losing those pounds, you gain a few more. Your friend lost weight on this certain exercise program so you decide to try it, however you find it boring and skip a few days, or you cannot do all of the movements, and you lose nothing. A runner claims that running 40 mile weeks are the best way to improve your time, but you can only ever seem to get around 25, so now you think there is no way to get faster until you have more time to run. Half of your Bible study group claim to wake up every morning and have a quiet devotion time because that is the best way to start the day, so you give it a try, only to find your kids are early risers and you spend more time trying to get them distracted than on your devotion. Then you feel like you aren’t faithful enough because you can’t spend your morning one on one with God. All of these things worked for “most”, so you must be an outlier, not one of the few privy enough to be in the “most” group.

Guess what, nothing is one size fits most, and simply because it doesn’t work for you does not mean you are a failure, it only means you have to be willing to find what does work. You have to experiment and see what is the perfect combination that is going to work uniquely for you. Now there are experts out there who know this, and will help you and guide you to find it, but keep in mind it’s not all of them.

So the low fat diet eating doesn’t work for you, try something else, low carb, clean eating, paleo, whole 30, count macros, count only calories just find which one makes YOU feel the best.

So you dislike workout videos, try walking, biking, swimming, lifting, yoga, etc. Find something you enjoy doing so you can stick with it.

So you can only run 25 miles a week instead of 40. Throw in a couple speed workouts with your current routine and you can find a way to get faster.

So you can’t get in that devotion every morning. Send up a quick prayer as you hear your little one’s footsteps coming down the hall, and get in your Bible reading some other time that day or set aside a few days a week to make sure you get it in. God enjoys any time with you, whether it is in prayer, with children, or one-on-one.

All in all please ignore anyone who is trying to sell you their “one size fits most” approach and YOU DO YOU. Do what makes YOU feel good, what works with YOUR life, and do what YOU love doing.

Vegan Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

These muffins turned out super moist and my kids LOVED them! They are kind of lumpy when everything is added, but they turn out amazing!

Ingredients:

2 Cups applesauce (I use unsweetened)

1/2 Cup coconut oil (or coconut oil based butter!)

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

2- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degree F, and grease or line muffin pan.

Mix together all the wet ingredients until well combined.

Add dry ingredients and mix well.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full and bake 15-20 minutes, until top springs back when you touch it.

Take out and let cool on rack or serve warm!

Fast and Easy Teriyaki Beef Dinner

So every year we buy at least 1/2 (sometimes 3/4 or a whole) a cow. So this means I have A LOT of beef dinners. This is one of my favorite, its fast, easy, and delicious. Did I mention it’s a “one-pot” meal 😉

1-2 lbs ground beef

1 pack frozen cauliflower rice

1 pack your choice veggie (whatever is on hand, mine is usually frozen peas or broccoli)

1 bottle teriyaki marinade sauce

Cook ground beef, drain off at least some of the grease.

Add in all additional ingredients, stir and cook until everything is hot and and the veggies are soft (usually about 10 minutes).

Viola! Serve it as is or wrap it in a burrito!

Time

Some days drag on while others fly by in a flash. Around here the summer days are “longer” with the sun setting later and later; the winter days are “short” with the sun setting as early as 5 sometimes! It seems that even though the sun is up longer during the spring and summer, there is not enough time to get it all done. You see, during the winter I am able to run, lift, and clean the house easily, along with spend time with my kiddos, and still get them to bed at a decent bed time! During the summer, well, if I don’t get my run in the morning it likely won’t happen (waaaay to hot after about 8:00), and lifting comes second to chores which multiply during the summer. Not only am I supposed to have the house clean (which I dislike staying inside unless it’s 100+ or under 10 degrees Fahrenheit), but during the spring, summer, and into fall, there is mowing to be done (about 3-4 hours worth of it), gardens to be tended, weeds to be picked, projects to be done, wood to be stained, trees to be taken care of, and the list goes on! By the time I realize what happened, it is 7:00 and I still need to make dinner and get the kids to bed!

The house falls behind, my workout routine is all thrown off, and unfortunately my devotional time also falls behind. All of the sudden I realize its been a week since I’ve opened my Bible. For the most part this could be solved by me simply setting my alarm clock, and doing it first thing in the morning. It wouldn’t require much, my kids normally get up around 6:30-7 in the morning, so a simple 6:00 alarm would allow me to get in that much needed daily time in His presence. This “simple” alarm gets harder when my husband is not working, when I need to start my run earlier and earlier, and when my kids wake up earlier. Truth is, I could still make time. My kids are getting old enough (almost 3 and 5) that I can still do my time while they eat breakfast or play around in the morning. I can still cuddle with my husband that extra 30 minutes and go do my devotion during that loll in the morning, in between breakfast and getting outside. If I can get up to go run early, then I can get up an extra 15 minutes earlier to read my Bible as well. That is the truth, and I even though I struggle to keep it in routine year round, I am forced to recognize that it is my priorities that are getting in my way. I need to continue to check in with myself and make sure God is my number one priority, and that I am spending time daily with Him.

Trying to fit it all in is impossible. I cannot possibly get all of the chores done, the house clean, a run, throw some weights around, take the kids to the pool, blah blah blah, and a devotion. However, I can make sure I do a couple things every day that will show where my priorities lie.

  1. Do my devotion first thing in the morning, then it won’t get lost in the day.
  2. Do something fun with my kids (and husband when he is off work).
  3. Run OR Lift (maybe both, maybe not)

These 3 checklists are all I really need. Everything else will work out eventually. The grass will be mowed, even if it grew a bit too tall. The house will get cleaned, even if it really needed it a couple days ago. The chores will be taken care of, and nothing will spiral out of control if they have to wait another day, there are more important things to focus on.

Quick (Vegan) Cinnamon Rolls

Let me start by saying, you will never make another cinnamon roll again after these. These are absolutely delicious, easy, AND you do not have to let them rise more than 30 minutes!! I get requested to make these all the time!

Dough:

4 1/2 tsp rapid rise yeast

1 cup lukewarm water

1 tsp sugar

Combine and set aside.

Let sit 5-10 minutes (if it does not start bubbling use newer yeast)

1/3 cup melted coconut

1 tsp. Salt

2 cups flour (plus 1 1/2 cup to add in increments)

1/4 cup sugar

Combine and stir well, then add the water/yeast mixture. Stir, and keep adding flour in 1/4 cup increments until a dough ball forms. Turn onto a floured surface and knead well for about 3 minutes. Put back in bowl and set aside while you get the filling prepped.

Filling:

1/4 cup Coconut Oil (melted)

1 TBS Cinnamon

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

Combine cinnamon and brown sugar and mix well.

Turn dough onto floured surface and roll out into a long rectangle (approximately 10×16). Spread melted coconut oil over the dough with a spoon, then sprinkle on cinnamon/sugar mixture and lightly press down. Roll the dough (starting at the long end close to you). Slice rolls, ~1- 1 1/2 inches thick. Place rolls in a heavily greased pan with a little room between, and set pan on stove top. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, while rolls raise (20-30 minutes).

Bake uncovered 13-15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before icing.

Icing:

1 1/2 cups powered sugar

2-3 TBS water or almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Add more or less water or powdered sugar to desired consistency. Spoon over rolls.

Sub 2

I have enjoyed running (off and on) for about 8 years now. Some years I am more committed than others, and two of those years I did not complete a “bigger” race. My first race ever was a half marathon, the Rock N Roll St. Louis in 2011. I ran for fun, followed a program that just had the basic milage, and finished it feeling great with a 2:10 time. I LOVED it, and I was hooked. I ran another half the next year, 2012, a smaller but beautiful run (the Mother Road Marathon half), and got a 2:03:something and placed 3rd in my age group! (the beauty of a smaller race). I decided to do my first triathlon in 2013, which was a small one in Manhattan, Kansas. It was only a sprint distance, so 500 meter swim, 12 mile bike, and a 5k run. I really enjoyed training for that race and will some day do a half ironman triathlon (though probably when both of my kids are in school). I had my first child in the summer of 2014, and ran in a Go Girl Half marathon that fall. It was so hard, and I really was NOT trained well for it, but I was able to check it off my list and was proud to finish in under 3 hours, without injury. In 2015 I ran the St. Louis Half marathon again, along with the challenge of completing a 5k Saturday and the 1/2 on Sunday. It was fun, and I have no clue what my time was (for some reason that year is not online and they have stopped doing this run in St. Louis) but I think it was around 2:10?? In 2016 I had my second child (late summer) and though I did not complete any “big” races, I walked and ran more local 5k’s during that year than I ever have. 2017 was another year of smaller races plus I completed a couple obstacle races which were a lot of fun but still only 5k in distance. I decided at the end of 2017 that I was going to start running in half marathons again, so I started training and, since I do not do anything half way, I signed up for a series called the Heartland 39.3 Series. It is composed of 3 half marathons within a 3 month period in Kansas. My goal changed during that time, I really wanted to run a Sub 2 hour half and I was hoping to do it in one of those 3 races. Now, I fully understand the stress of running so much, so I decided to make the first two races training runs, and the last race I would go for time. Looking back I should have looked more at the course descriptions before I decided that (haha). I ran the first race in a 2:02:18, unintentionally; I felt so good, and my goal for that race was to have negative splits, but the coarse was relatively flat, and had great vibes. The second half was very close to that one (only a week in between), so I took that one easy, and still finished with a 2:11:12. The last half, I still thought I could break 2 hours, was super hilly, and I didn’t know until half way through that the pacer I was by was getting us there just over 2 hours (the one getting just under was way ahead by then). SO, I tried to catch up, and burnt out with a couple miles of rolling hills left. I finished with a 2:04:08. I signed up for the same series this year, and I recommitted to getting a Sub 2, found a new training plan (80/20 Running), and have had a blast training on this plan (more on this in a later post). This year I knew my goal was to attempt the sub 2 in the one I ran a 2:02 in last year (Rock the Parkway). The first half of the series this year though was in March, and in Liberty, MO. It was the most challenging coarse I have ever raced on! Luckily, I went in knowing it was going to be cold and hilly, and I was just running to get the miles in. I finished with a 2:18:15, and felt good throughout the whole course, despite the hills. Yesterday was the Rock the Parkway half, the second one of the series this year. It was perfect running weather, I stuck with the right pacer this time, and I already knew the course was great! I was diligent and stayed with the pacer until mile 9.5, then my friend and I decided to speed up slightly, still feeling great! I am happy to report that I finished with a 1:57:02!! I am ecstatic to have reached this goal, and though next year I will aim for a new time goal, I will just enjoy the last half of the series as a fun run! (BTW the next race, Running with the Cows, has a BUFFET for post-race eating, I highly recommend it). I also have one more major running goal for this year, but more on that later 😉

Spiritual Gifts

I’m sure you have heard of spiritual gifts at some point in your life. These gifts are given to you by God to enable you to complete His work. The thing is, these gifts are not set in stone. God will give you various spiritual gifts throughout your life to help you complete different tasks and works that He wants to to help Him complete. The key here is to focus on the call not on the gift. Remember God will not always pick something you are comfortable with either. It is more evident that He gave you the gift when it is a weakness of yours and you succeed than if you succeed with something you were already good at.

I have never felt like I have had a specific purpose for Him; I cannot recall a time I knew He gave me a gift or a purpose solely for Him. However the current Bible Study I am reading pointed out, God is always at work around us and sometimes we need to step back and look at what He is doing, and then we can see a way to join in. I am currently trying to figure out what I can do and where I can help. For now I think I am doing good focusing on how to be a loving mother to my children, an obedient wife to my husband, and a shoulder to lean on for my friends. If I can love them and slowly start to spread my love to everyone around me, then maybe I will find out more on what God is doing in my town and how I can help.