Five Things Friday – Things I’m Loving

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Coco

Today’s Friday Five topic (Friday Favorites) is really broad, but I’m taking it pretty narrow and sharing five things I’m loving right now–this week even. 

5 Things I'm Loving

1. The Weather. It may be cliché, but I just can’t resist raving about our weather. This forecast is unheard of for mid-July in Washington D.C. It makes me want to run every day, and spend as much time outside as possible. (I’m even writing this out on our patio!)

July 19 Weather Forecast

2. Having my son around. My son has been home all summer, but some weeks his social life is busier than others. This week he’s been home for at least part of most evenings, and I am doing my best to soak up every moment I can without annoying him too much. 

3.  Looking forward to seeing my daughter. This may be stretching my “right now” theme, but my daughter is coming to visit next week and I am getting so excited to see her! I’m hoping to take some time off from work, although I’m sure I could work in the morning and she’d never know–between her college student schedule and jet lag she usually sleeps in. 🙂    

4. Chobani Oats. I hadn’t heard of these before I saw them in the grocery store. It looks like Chobani has caught on to the overnight oats craze and now has a yogurt with steel cut oats blended in. I wasn’t sure about the banana maple flavor, so I only picked up two, but I wish I had stocked up. The banana flavor is pretty mild, the sweetness of the maple syrup is a nice change from the fruit-on-the-bottom flavors, and I love the texture of the steel cut oats.

Chobani Oats

5. Gazpacho. My Mom has been overwhelmed by the bounty of her garden, and gave me more tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers than I knew what to do with–until I found a great gazpacho recipe. I’ll save the details for my recipe post next week, but it’s delicious. This week the Washington Post had a recipe for Watermelon-Tomato Gazpacho that I might try this weekend, if I can find some good basil. 

[Tweet “Friday Favorites: new @Chobani Oats, Gazpacho, and more!”]

Check out other Friday Favorites in the Friday Five link up sponsored by Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What!

Have you seen the Chobani Oats? 

Do you like gazpacho?

Posted in Food, Life | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Healthy Banana Bread Recipes Roundup

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Coco

Bananas are one of my grocery store staples, and while my husband usually eats one every day, every few weeks we end up with overripe bananas that are destined for banana bread. Since I make banana bread so frequently, I thought I would put together a collection of my favorite healthy banana bread recipes. 

banana bread recipes

I usually make what I call My Husband’s Favorite Banana Bread. 

Banana Bread
I’ve modified the recipe further so it’s nearly fat-free (using applesauce instead of butter)–see the recipe below.

Another favorite banana bread variation is this pumpkin banana bread. 

Pumpkin Banan Bread

(click picture for recipe page)

This weekend I took my updated banana bread recipe, used it to make muffins,
and added streusel topping leftover from my blueberry crisp.

Banana Bread Muffins

 I used half the batter to make blueberry banana bread mini muffins.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

They were so moist I was afraid they’d get moldy, but they were gone by the next day! 🙂

If you like to bake with protein powder, you also will want to check out my recipe for chocolate chip banana bread muffins made with vanilla protein powder.

[Tweet “Banana Bread #Recipe Roundup”]

Here are some other banana bread recipes you will want to try:

Healthy Banana Bread

A nearly fat-free banana bread recipe made with whole wheat flour and applesauce.

  • 3-4 overripe bananas
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 1 single-serving tub)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1.5 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  1. Preheat over to 350F.
  2. Prepare muffin pans or loaf pans with cooking spray.
  3. Mash bananas in large bowl.
  4. Add applesauce, egg, and vanilla and mix well.
  5. Add sugar and mix until incorporated.
  6. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and stir until thoroughly blended.
  7. Spoon into loaf pan(s).
  8. Bake at 350F until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.
  9. (20 min for muffins, 30-35 minutes for small loaves, 45 minutes for large loaf)

Posted in Food | Tagged , | 12 Comments

When Should I Run? OutSider App Review

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Coco

Around here, our weather changes as often as … the weather. OK, maybe that analogy won’t work because it’s not an analogy, but if you live in the mid-Atlantic region, you know what I mean. In the winter, our high temperatures may vary by 20 degrees on a given day. In the summer, we generally bounce from the mid-to upper-80s to the lower- to mid-90s, but that’s only part of the story. If the humidity is low, a 90 degree day can feel nice, but if the humidity is high, even early morning temperatures in the low 70s can feel oppressive.

weather

Our unpredictable weather makes planning my weekly workouts a real guessing game–when should I run? when should I opt for an air conditioned spinning class? when am I mostly likely to survive a track workout? That’s why I was so excited to hear about a new free app by the people behind the Weather Channel®. I know I’m not the only runner who obsesses about the weather, so I figured others would be interested in an OutSider app review (right now it’s only available for  the iPhone). Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness, Product Reviews | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Running In Washington DC

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Coco

This weekend I joined some fabulous women from my Moms Run This Town group to go running in Washington DC. I brought my phone and took a few pictures along the way, so I can show you how lovely it can be to run in our nation’s capital. 

We started at Roosevelt Island, which actually is in Virginia, no matter what your GPS says. 😉

Roosevelt Island
Then we ran across the Key Bridge, where I took this picture of Georgetown University in the distance. Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Why Should I Go To Church?

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Coco

I don’t think I made it to church once in June. Most weeks I had a good reason for missing church–my son’s lacrosse game or a business trip–but at least once I skipped to church to go for a run with a friend. Running can be a great way to get outside and appreciate the beautiful world that God created. Running can offer quiet time to pray. But at least for me, running is no substitute for going to church. Last weekend, when I was on my way to church again, I started to wonder,
Why do I go to church? Why should I go to church?

Go To Church
While I could read the Bible, study devotional readings, and pray at home, the truth is, I just don’t. I haven’t even been listening to the daily prayer podcasts since Easter. But even when I am being more faithful in these practices, my personal devotional time is no substitute for going church. 

St. Aidans Church Sanctuary

At church, I get to worship in a holy space that sets my mind on God. 

At church, I get to have the Word read to me, and hear old stories in a new way.  

At church, I get to listen to a sermon that challenges me and shifts my perspective.

At church, I get to partake in Holy Communion. 

At church, I get to sing hymns and songs of praise. 

At church, I get to worship with people from similar and different walks of life.

At church, I am welcomed, supported, and loved by my church family.

St. Aidans Church Cross
Why do you go to church? 

If you are religious but don’t go to worship services, what keeps you away?

Posted in My Faith | Tagged , , | 8 Comments