Will Run For Motivation (& Chia Cereal)

just add milk

It seems that I've misplaced my motivation lately.  I don't want to take one more step in sleet, rain, or cold.  I'm clearly not the Jolly Postman.

Lucky for me motivation sometimes shows up at my doorstep in the brightest yellow running jacket that I've ever seen.  Sometimes, motivation is 20 seven and eight year olds who have asked me a million and one times if we're running around the block and how many times and if we're playing crackers and crumbs, and, and, and.  Sometimes motivation meets me at the end of a trail, or for a second loop plus some.  Sometimes motivation heckles me from the sidelines asking how my run went.

When I don't have a lot of motivation chia cereal is the way to go.  Throw some ingredients in a bowl.  Add milk or juice or water.  Wait patiently.  Add some frozen fruit if you wish.  Done.

Chia Cereal

(2 C approximately 16 servings)

1 C chia seeds

1/2 C hulled hemp seeds

1/4 C dried diced apple

1/4 C dried apple juice sweetened cranberries

1/4 C toasted buckwheat (also known as kasha if you're rummaging around the Bulk Barn)

Toast buckwheat in a dry frying pan for approximately 5 minutes. Allow buckwheat a few minutes to cool.  Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

To serve measure 2T of chia cereal + 4T of milk, juice, or water.  Wait patiently for 2-5 minutes.  Top with fruit, additional milk, or enjoy as is.

bouvier hurdles

Will Run For Chocolate Banana Coffee Bites

I will not eat the entire batch.  I repeat, I will not....

I've been trying to convince Farmer that marathons are made out of donuts (homemade coconut creme donuts in particular). She however, assures me that marathons are made out of dahl.  She also thinks that 10K runs are made out of Kraft Dinner.  So, you can't really trust her.

Somewhere in between donuts and dahl are chocolate banana coffee bites.  They're made with dates, dark chocolate and chickpeas.  If this doesn't sound delicious to you that's okay.  I didn't really want to share anyway.

Sunday's run called for chocolate.  It was HORRIBLE! 20K of sleet, water squishing between my toes, trucks that refused to share the road, two loops, puddles and more puddles.  Naturally, the rain stopped not long after I got home.

I decided that chocolate banana coffee bites and coffee would make everything better.  That and picking up my feet.  And, a bag of frozen peas.

Chocolate Banana Coffee Bites

(serves 12)

Adapted from this Chocolate-Chip-Cookie-Pie recipe.

ingredients

1 19oz can chickpeas rinsed and drained

1 C pitted dates + 1/2 C water

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 C mashed ripe banana

1/3 C unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice)

1 tsp instant coffee

1 T vanilla bean paste or extract

1 T + 1 1/2 tsp melted coconut oil

1/2 C oat flour (1/2 C rolled oats ground in blender or coffee grinder)

1/4 tsp salt

1 T Camino cocoa

1/4 C cocoa nibs

1/4 C Camino dark chocolate chips

In a medium sauce pan combine dates & water.  Simmer & stir until you're left with a thick paste.  In your high speed blender combine date paste, mashed banana, soy milk, instant coffee, vanilla bean paste, melted coconut oil and chickpeas.  Blend until smooth (no bean bits allowed!).  In a small bowl combine oat flour, baking soda & powder, salt, & cocoa.   Pour bean mixture into a large bowl and then add oat flour mixture.  Lastly, add cocoa nibs and chocolate chips.  Stir until combined.  Test batter to make sure that it isn't poisonous.  Repeat until you are satisfied.

Divide evenly amongst 12 silicone baking cups.  Bake for 30-35 minutes depending on how gooey you want your bites to be.

Enjoy after a long run.  Or a not so long run.  And/or on a rest day.  

smooth

Bean goodness + chocolate.

Better than cookie dough batter.

Why yes I will, thanks.