A Recipe! Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Workout – hmmmmm.  nothing.

I had grand plans to hit up the gym this morning.  I convinced myself that cross training was totally acceptable and it was going to happen.  then I convinced myself that I agreed not to do anything until this weekend.  and I went with that notion.  blar.  no fun.  but that’s the dealio I made with myself.  truthfully, I haven’t been stretching and rolling and my leg kind of hurts.  the whole general area that is my right leg.  so it could use a few more days.  I did run 4 marathons in 6 months.  that’s a lot for this little msfitrunner girl.  I think I am going to have the most fantastic run this weekend.  and I fully expect the weather to completely cooperate and give me nothing but sunshine, 65 degrees and no wind.  thank you very much.

 

I’ve got one down with what seems to be a fever.

sad face.

that puts a little wrench in my day.  but a cute little wrench, because there is really nothing better than being forced to cuddle with a CALM 2 year old boy.  and then having to do everything while holding him.  this is his first fever in his short little 27 month old life.  slowing him down.  kind of a good thing. 

 

and I’ve got one round of dance recital rehearsal done.  one to go tomorrow and then the real deal in a couple weeks. 

she will be on a new episode of ‘toddlers and tiaras’.  look out. 

there might be nothing cuter than a class of 5 and 6 year old little princesses dancing to “I love Getting Dressed for Tea”.  none of them are on the same page and it’s darling.

 

If I didn’t have a little sickly needing his mama, I would talk more about some of the little bits I mentioned yesterday, like running and why it happened this past weekend and why certain races aren’t happening.  but I’m actually needed today, and I give you a quickie recipe instead.  So here it is, a recipe for you people!!!

These are so yummy.  and they are no bake.  because I can’t bake anything.  oven malfunction.

Here’s how it goes peeps:

Peanut Butter Protein Fiberlicious Bars

1c. natural peanut butter

1/2 c. agave nectar

5 scoops whey protein powder (give or take, whatever floats your boat)

2c Nature’s Path Smartbran

 

Almond extract, optional

Microwave peanut butter and agave in bowl for 90 seconds.  Stir well.  Mix in protein powder.  Stir in Smartbran cereal.  It should be very thick.  Put into 9×13 pan.  Spread with spoon.  Cover with wax paper and mat down, smooth out.  Refrigerate. 

Seriously.  It does not get easier than that.

Possible Subs – other sweeteners, honey, or another syrupy sweetener.  I’m not well versed in all of the sweeteners the cool kids use.  You can use other cereals as well, I like the smartbran because it’s really high in fiber.  you can use any crunchy cereal though.  for the kids, I used those Koala Crisps. It was like peanut butter rice krispie treats, but not so bad for you.  You could probably also use kamut puffs, brown rice cereal, anything like that.  You can also use old fashioned oats in replace of cereal.  that’s how this recipe started out once upon a time ago. 

Technorati Tags: peanut butter bars,sick kids

Protein powder – you can use different kinds, you may just have to experiment with the sweetener and the consistency.  I find the whey protein blends the best and gives the best flavor.  The plantfusion works ok as well, but some other vegan powders may not mix as well.  test it out though. 

Here’s the nutrition 411:

 

Plugged it into MyFitnessPal, and voila.  this is for a 9×13 pan cut into 24 pieces.  easy peasy.

 

And I’m off to do this mothering thing and take care of little sicky. 

stay healthy, my friends.  go make some peanut butter bars!

Monday Rundown

Workout – nada.  my girls say that’s an abbreviation for nothing.  much like “agua” is an abbreviation for water.  hmmmm.  glorious rest day.  I enjoy my rest days more and more as I understand the whole training for a race thing.  rest days are in fact still training days, if you think about it.  your body does muscle building work on rest days.  they are very necessary.  enjoy the rest.  this rest day might have included a little bit of strength training.  in my home gym.  which is wherever the kids are.  it may have also included a planking session.  my madre (an abbreviation for “mom”) and I have a friendly plank competition going.  I did 4 minutes the other day.  she did 5.  I let her live in her planking victory for a few days.  today I did 5 minutes and 10 seconds.  I win.

a few hours later, I did 6 minutes and 10 seconds.  just to ensure the victory was mine for awhile.  and because my husband was sitting there telling me not to stop at 5 minutes like I planned.  this is very normal behavior.  don’t be concerned.  so, this was very interesting.  holding a plank for over 5 minutes when every ounce of my being wanted to drop to the floor was VERY much like the feeling at the end of a marathon.  when everything hurts and I’m not sure I can pick up the pace and pull the strength out of somewhere to get to the finish to hit a goal time.  but the strength IS there.  It always is.  You’ve got to dig deep and find it.  So I held out another minute on the plank.  sorry mom.  you’ve got some work to do. 

little factoid – as of last September, the world record for holding plank position was 37 minutes.  she was 71 years old.  you can read about it HERE.

I have approximately 7 minutes to crank out this post – I’ve got icing and rolling on the brain.  all I’ve been able to think about all day is getting ice on my shins and rolling out my calves and my IT band and everything else that wants to be rolled.  but I thoroughly enjoy having a one sided conversation with all of you lovelies out there, and sharing in the shenanigans of my day.  and I really appreciate all of the thoughtful comments in response to my one sided conversations making me feel better about my shin splints and the slight amount of stress it is causing me, in the few weeks before my marathon.  It warms the cockles of my heart.  truly.  the cockles.  another word to be added to the list of words never to be spoken again.  right next to fartlek.  and colon.  done. 

I unleashed my frustration yesterday about how horrible I have been at planning out the week – specifically meals – more specifically dinners.  breakfasts and lunches are fairly easy.  dinners cause me angst.  sometimes.  I just want to have a little temper tantrum and refuse to plan anymore and refuse to cook anymore and refuse to think anymore.  but, today, instead of joining my 2 year old in one of the 5,687 tantrums he has daily – I chose to make a list and figure out some meals.  I think I did it.  I successfully made a little list, went grocery shopping today and got more than the 3 items needed to cover today’s meal.  that’s a mini success.  here’s what it looks like: (I will post recipes only if they turn out ok)

1. Salmon Burgers – staple in my home

2. Chicken chili – with or without the chicken, haven’t decided yet

3. Spinach bread – some sort of side salad or bean dish

4. Mushroom soup with poached eggs – so fancy

5. I lost my grocery list with dinners on it, and I’m sure I had another one.  I’ll remember at the end of the week with whatever is left in the fridge. 

here’s to a week with hopefully less than 8 trips to the store.

and I will share with you a new little snack I came up with….always looking for snacks…because it’s the meals in between the meals that really matter.

One of my favorite things is soggy cereal.  I don’t like cereal that stays crunchy the whole time.  I love cereal that can sit in (almond)milk, soak it up and get nice and soppy.  sounds delicious, doesn’t it.  things like raisin bran and shredded wheat are super conducive to soggy cereal snacks.

I found these two little gems at the store – as we all know I love things packed with protein and fiber, and lacking a crazy amount of added sugar. 

I figured they might do well as a bowl of soggy cereal.  but could also be great for non soggy cereal lovers alike.  I apologize if that bowl of soggy goodness makes you want to vomit.  but It is a protein packed fiber lovin’ snack – here’s what went into it:

1/4 c. Ezekiel 4:9 cereal (there are lentils in that cereal!)

1/3 c. smart bran cereal

2/3 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/2 scoop chocolate plantfusion protein powder

a little dribble of almond extract

mix it all up and stick it in the fridge until it soggifies.  true word.  or gobble it up right away for a crunchy cereal snack.  I can’t give you the exact stats because I didn’t write them down – but rest assured, there is a decent amount of protein and fiber in that bowl.  You could get real crazy and add in some nut butter.  I dare you.

my 7 minutes of blogging are up.  the ice is waiting.  the foam roller is calling.  gonna be a fun night. 

xoxo!!

 

Soggy cereal lover, or keep it crunchy?

Almond Milk or regular milk?

Peanut butter or almond butter?

Do you do the cooking or does the significant other? mother? friend? sister? brother?