Random thoughts and Yummy cream-filled cake bars

Workout- Let's see what did I do today.......nothing, sweet glorious rest. I tried to relish this day because next week I am back at it, but for now I am chillaxin and lovin it.


RANDOMNESS:
I have a little girl that doesn't really eat a full breakfast, it bugs. I mean how is that possible? Maybe she isn't mine.

Maybe she is.
Does anyone else forget if they shampooed their hair? Should I carry on and condition or do I still need to shampoo? That's the question.
Looking in my closet and I say to little man "what should momma wear today?"
He says "SPRINKLES!!" 
Oh yeah, pound it! 
I went to Costco today looking for giant sprinkles. Oh, and peanut butter, their all natural is the best.

Do you see any Kirkland All Natural? Me either. I was informed that is discontinued for now. WHAT? How can that be? I single handedly keep the peanut growers in business, I am sure of it. Ugg, only thing on the shelves, Jiff and Skippy. That stuff will kill ya. Nothing but sugar and hydrogenated oils. Why? It does not need to be in there. Eat all natural, it's good for ya.
Not that you should take nutrition advice from a girl with a cupcake a day habit and a major addiction to cheeseburgers and bourbon. 

Yes, my giant gas guzzling kid mover get 49mpg in town! Eat your heart out Prius. I get this kinda mileage October-May (that's snowbird season here in AZ). You see, if you never have to use your gas pedal, you never use gas. Notice my speed, yeah the limit sign said 45 but who's readin, we got nothing but time.
Yep, still 100 degrees on the last day in September. Super.

This smells the same as an expensive perfume that I love.

Now, I am not a expert but I swear they are very close. One is

$50 one is $15. I am not gonna tell ya what one I am wearing,

but it covers up my eau de chlorine quite nicely.

Let's talk food!
I freeze a lot of meals, but more importantly, I freeze some desserts. Cyber high five!
This is one of my families favorites. You might want to eat it for dinner. I might have, once.


Cream-filled Cake Bars
adapted from Taste of Home
Makes two 9x13 pans

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) chocolate fudge cake mix
• 1-1/3 cups water
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 3 eggs
• 
  FILLING:
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  FROSTING:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup Skim milk
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and eggs. Pour into two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pans. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.
• For filling, in a small saucepan, combine flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool. In another bowl, cream the shortening, butter and sugar. Add the cooled milk mixture and vanilla; beat until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spread evenly over cakes. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• For frosting, in a large saucepan, combine the sugars, butter and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add chocolate chips and vanilla; stir until chips are melted. Transfer to a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Spread over filling. Cut into bars. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Missy's notes:
I think you could make this into 4 square cake pans and have a good outcome and more to share.
I store mine in the refrigerator, we like it cold. It is fine served at room temp though. 
It defrosts quickly on the counter, just make sure to vent it so condensation doesn't form and drip down on the chocolate. Or defrost in the refrigerator.


This is truely a lifesaver! Enjoy!

I kinda swim and kinda eat healthy cereal

Workout- I swam this morning, which was fun because I had company. I know I swam at least 1000m and did a bunch few drills but I lost track of how far I actually went. I think I might be taking this whole rest week thing a little to literally, haha. I do know that JoDee (swim buddy) and I had some pretty deep conversation this morning, as I am sure everyone does at 5:30am, in between gasps of air. 

It was a little gusty today but it didn't really affect my swim. I mean it might have made me a tad slower. Yeah, I swam slower because it was windy. That's it. 
I swim indoors, what's your point.;-)


It's a slow week around here. What's a girl to write about?

Cereal, duh.
We eat a lot of cereal around here. Todd and I both eat cereal at night (not every night) for our snack, it's the bomb shazom!  Todd got me started on nighttime cereal consumption.
It used to upset me that he needed a bowl of cereal at night, I thought it meant he didn't like my cooking. Then I saw the light. It rocks and has to be healthier than cookies, ice cream and such.
Ok, what I am about to show you might not be. I digress.
I try to keep it healthy, as in the above pic, but every once in awhile a box jumps in my cart. 

It would be rude to put it back. It had to take a lot of work to jump into my cart like that. 
I had a bowl. Well, well, well, what is this bowl of peanuty goodness and how could I have not know? I need better friends.

Epiphany!

Oh, now we are talking. Peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas makes my heart skip a beat. The bananas makes it health food, right?


Thank goodness I am not a Nutritionist cause I would get fired.


I may or may not have hid the rest of the box under my bed.


Oh, dear it is snack time, gotta roll.

I got nothing to say

Workout-18mile bike, 1hr weights (The sickness is gone, it was short, and so far no one else got it, thank goodness) The girls and I had an easy ride today. It was nice and we got to catch up on each others happenings. We also discovered that we communicate well, we just don't hear well. 
Amber-"We are turning right up here, right?" 
Me- "Uh huh"
Amber turns right.
Jocelyn- "Aren't we going left here?"
Me-"Uh huh"
Jocelyn and I- "Amber, go left"
Amber-"Huh?"
Me- "I thought she said left."
Jocelyn- "Didn't she say left?"
Me- "That's what I said."
Amber- "I said right"
Jocelyn and I-" What?"
Insert circus music
We finally got going in the right direction, it wasn't pretty, but it's how we roll.
10min later, no joke, Amber asks "Am I hard to follow?"
Heehee. Jocelyn and I both knew she was asking if she was hard to draft off of, like if she made to many jerky movements, didn't point out stuff, things like that. 
It was funny to me after the comical charades we played just moments earlier. 
The thing is we have been riding together for so long that we trust each other, we work together, we know each others moves and can predict them pretty well, we really do communicate without saying anything. I guess this morning we messed it up with talking. :-)

This was us last year at the Tour de Scottsdale. Amber, on the left, is racing it again this year and she is gonna kick some booty for sure. Good Luck Amber! 


Well, I got nothing else to say. Weird, mark your calendar.

Oh, except this one thing. You remember those cookies I made from Joy the Baker on Monday. They were good. Then I took the few remaining ones and sandwiched some chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream between them and they were Super, Duper, Cartwheel good.
Do it!


Did you do anything Super Duper today?

A run gone bad and a dinner gone good

Workout- 45min run (4.8miles) I had an easy run with a few 20 second pickups added in for fun.

I spent the first half of my run euphoric. That happens after a rest day. Wheee! 
I spend the second half, lookin at every bush as a possibility, every tree as opportunity, cursing the desert (seriously there is no cover in the desert) and all the people out this morning (so many witnesses), questioning my commitment to running and fiber, singing Christmas carols (it is what I do to distract myself, try it) and hovering over the line of walk (you feel better) or run (you get home faster). 
You see, sometimes when you run, you gotta go. Not go, as in run behind an itty bitty desert bush then keep going, but GO, as in I should have packed a roll of TP in my spi belt. Would I have been a runner if I would have known this before I started? Hmmm?
I made it home and all was well. That is until....
To my surprise, two little people in the house had to GO and they didn't run! Oh, dear. It's sick school season!
Running gets off the hook for this one.

Seriously, where would you go? 

Yeah right, that's not a bush. It's a tumble weed.

Since we spent most of the day doing this and praying the rest of the fam doesn't get this special gift, I don't have much to share. 
So I will tell you what happened on Sunday night.

This happened. It was glorious!
Bourbon (I might need an intervention) barbecue pulled pork on a biscuit with slaw and a side of sweet potato fries. Yummy!
I didn't have a plan for dinner but I had a pork roast so I knew we were going to be a-ok. 

I got this giant sized cookbook from my foodie friend, she said it would be a life saver. She was right, it has saved me 3 times already. Get this book!! 


I put the roast in the crock pot with some chopped onions, then tried to figure where I was gonna go from there.
I referenced the book-o-knowledge and found a BBQ sauce recipe and a biscuit recipe. * LIGHT BULB* I made the sauce and put half on top of the roast and refrigerated the rest. I cooked the roast on low until tender about 5hrs (my crockpot cooks hot) then shredded and returned it back to the crock with a touch more sauce. I made the biscuits and threw some sweet potato fries in the oven. I had made the slaw earlier when I made the BBq sauce. Presto! A great Sunday dinner.

Here is the BBQ sauce recipe and the Biscuit recipe. I made a basic slaw, I don't have a recipe. Just a little of this and a little of that, but don't forget the celery seed, trust me.


Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup Bourbon

1/4 cup wine vinegar or rice vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste

1 tablespoon minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced or crushed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine all the ingredients except the salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have a chance to blend, about 10 minutes.

2. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Use immediately or cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to a week.

Basic Biscuits

from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2-5 tablespoons of butter
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain yogurt or buttermilk 

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and cut in butter until you have a coarse meal (this could also be done in a food processor). Mix in yogurt until a soft ball forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, kneed 10 times and no more.(add more flour if it’s too sticky to handle but it should be slightly sticky)

Pat or roll out dough so it is about 3/4 inch thick rectangle. Cut into 2in rounds. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 7-10 minute, depending on the size of the biscuits, until golden. Best served right out of the oven.

Missy's notes

The bourbon is strong if you use it right away, but cooking down in the crockpot adds a woody flavor. 

Todd and I topped the pork with more sauce after we put it on the biscuits. It would probably be too strong for the kids. 
You could do half bourbon, half water or omit the bourbon all together.

Getting stronger, getting refreshed and getting a cookie

WORKOUT- I worked on resting today. It was wonderful.

Not this wonderful, but good. Aw memories.

I have been racing for 8 years (holy moly, I should be faster) and it has taken me a long time to learn to love a rest day. It used to make me feel restless, like I could feel my fitness slipping away with each passing minute. Silly.
I now understand how important resting your body is. The benefits are pretty amazing. Resting helps prevent injuries, restores glycogen stores, lets your muscles repair themselves and helps prevent burnout. Cool. 
Alrighty then, I'll rest and love it!

I saw Mandisa this weekend. I fell in love with her. While I rested, I listened to this. Stronger indeed!


Speaking of things that are good for your body. I went to the Women of Faith Conference this weekend. Amazing!
Just like I train for a race, I have to train for life. I would never go out for a long run or bike ride without food and water to help me get through. I can't go out into the world with out help either. My help comes from the Lord and I try everyday to workout with him. It might be in bible readings, maybe a book, or a study and sometimes all I can do is read a page from my favorite devotional book in the bathroom (with little fingers under the door). The conference is like attending boot camp. I left feeling rejuvenated, inspired and ready to tackle my life. If you ever get a chance to attend one of these you should, it will be a great two days.
Oh, and there was some cheese,

a cheese board to exact, 

and a fall Sangria (genius), 

a pretty tasty sandwich (the bread was soo good), 

and fro yo (mango, coconut, da bomb)! Yep, I was replenished for sure. 
Thank goodness cause today was Monday.

There were sad stories,

bad owies,

and lots of messes!

But there were cookies!
God is good people!


What kind of cookie did I make? I thought you'd never ask. Ok, I knew you would.
I made Joy the Baker's  Brown Sugar cookies! You should head over there and check them out, then make them, ASAP.

I loved them. They were crispy, chewy, and slightly cinnamony/gingery.  Cookies and milk make for a superb Monday. 

Changing of the Skogebo's and Chicken Potpie

Workout- bike (68 miles) Not sure how long it took me because you need to remember to hit start when you start. I'm a dork. 


Buckingham palace ain't got nothin on me! They have their neat, tidy, fancy and well orchestrated guards, I got the Skogebo's! I bet the Queen is jealous.

  You remember the Skogebos, right? Yeah, we do stuff together sometimes. I am grateful for them and today was no exception. 


I had a long ride to do today.(my last one, HAPPY!) My cycling buddies who are racing next weekend, were going to preride the course this morning (40min away). I wouldn't be able to make it back in time for church and I wanted to do this last (HAPPY) long ride on my tri-bike so I stayed home and rode here.


Insert the Skogebo's. I was gonna have to do the ride alone. Boring. Jocelyn (the head Skogebo) is recovering from a cold. Good news for me, bad news for her. She wasn't going to be able to hammer out the coarse with the group, so she hooked up with me for the 1st half of my ride.

She rides barefoot cause she's cool, and into the whole barefoot movement. heehee
We hadn't ridden together since Friday, so we were totally over due. :-)

The sunrise on this beautiful, warm (it was 78degrees at 5:30am) morning. We had a good ride of about 35miles.


I rode home, refilled my water bottles (it was a hot morning), and met Dave (the other Skogebo) at the end of my street. 
It was the Changing of the Skogebo's. 

We headed toward these mountains, which were hazing looking due to a dust storm last night. I rode down that road slow and steady, while Dave rode fast and hard (he had to do 5 intervals at a fast pace, me not so much, but I encouraged). 

We met up at a rock quarry, or something. The stuff you stumble upon in the desert, crazy. Dave said this is a quartz sorter,I think. Ya learn something new everyday.

Then we headed home. See that Ironman tattoo? I think it makes his butt look big, but I'm not saying. Haha! Just jealous. Seriously though, when you are riding behind someone with one of those, you really can't complain about your legs being tired, or your butt hurting or what ever else you wanted to whine about. He is weeks away from his 3rd Ironman, so he probably ran to Mexico yesterday and swam back home up the Colorado river.


It was a good morning and a good ride. I am grateful that the Skogebo's came out to share some misery and keep my from going crazy, I mean, more crazy.


I bet I get a call from the Queen tomorrow, but I ain't sharing.

Here is my salt collection today, I knew you were dying to see how much I collected on a hot day. Impressive, I know. 
Ignore the pimple, I'm going through puberty, it's pretty exciting. 


I gotta tell ya bout my weekend but I will tell ya tomorrow. Tonight I need to share the best chicken pot pie recipe. You make two and eat one, freeze one, or you eat one, give one. Either way it's awesome! I should probably make one for the Skogebo's.

Chicken Potpie
from Cook Once...Eat for a month

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced peeled potatoes
• 1-3/4 cups sliced carrots
• 2/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen corn
• Pastry for two double-crust pies (9 inches)

Directions

• Place potatoes and carrots in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, salt, thyme and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the chicken, peas, corn, potatoes and carrots; remove from the heat.
• Line two 9-in. pie plates with bottom pastry; trim pastry even with edge. Fill pastry shells with chicken mixture. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pies. Cut slits or decorative cutouts in pastry. Place over filling; trim, seal and flute edges.
• Bake one potpie at 425° for 35-40 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Cover and freeze remaining potpie for up to 3 months.
• To Use Frozen Pot Pie: Shield frozen pie crust edges with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 70-80 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown. Yield: 2 potpies (6-8 servings each). 

Missy's notes:
I use 1% milk.
I like to use shredded chicken but if I don't have it I use cubed. The shredded holds on to the sauce better I think and I like sauce.
Enjoy!