An Inspirational Mom on the Run Giveaway

As my friend Elizabeth reminded me today it is Breast Cancer Awareness month and that it is important that women remember to do their monthly self breast exams. Then an amazing email came from My Blog Spark about a new website that honors breast cancer survivors and supporter within the community. The website pinktogether.com is a part of the the site Pink Together®, a national campaign to support those impacted by breast cancer and to help raise awareness of the disease. To support Pink Together, General Mills is donating $2 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and is turning the packaging pink next month on an assortment of its most beloved brands. General Mills will also donate $1, up to $20,000, each time you post a comment of encouragement, send a virtual flower bouquet or share a story on PinkTogether.com in October.
My Blog Spark is asking bloggers to help us spread the word about this important program.  Visit PinkTogether.com and read some of the inspiring stories. You can also watch these short videos from the 2009 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors talking about their journeys with breast cancer.

Even more exciting… Pink Together is providing in partnership with My Blog Spark, an Inspiring Hope gift basket that includes a sleeved travel mug, a running ribbon charm bracelet, a pink leather strap keychain, a pink cinch bag, and a set of inspirational note cards to one lucky Mom on the Run reader. All of the gift basket items are from ShopKomen.com, where 25 percent of the merchandise purchase price benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the fight against breast cancer.

Here is how you can enter this exciting and inspirational giveaway (you must submit a separate comment for each entry):

Entry #1- Share which women in your life inspire you the most or what you find most inspiring about the PinkTogether.com community.

Entry #2- Become a follower of Mom on the Run. If you are already a follower please comment about that.

Entry#3- Link back to this giveaway on your blog and let me know you have done so.

What an exciting 1st giveaway for Mom on the Run’s  blogging return!!!!! Please visit Pink Together because there a so many inspirational stories of some pretty amazing women.

Contest will end Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:59 PM. Winner will be announced on Sunday, November 1, 2009.

More recipes to get us through hump day tomorrow. Have a great night and I look forward to hearing who inspires you!

Mom on the Run’s Fall Goals

Today is my Manic Monday- wishing it were Sunday Oh how I loved The Bangles growing up.

Mondays I literally run from place to place until finally it is 9:00 and I can relax. I apologize if I ramble or for incomplete thoughts but I am exhausted!

Last week I met with my Naturopathic Doctor to check in and to set up some wellness goals.  She asked me to create and focus on only 3 goals for the next month. I have become so overwhelmed with the very busy life I lead that I have not focused on my own personal health. I thought I would share these goals in hopes that my blog will help me keep on track and achieve them.

1. Drink at least 64 oz of water daily. I have been slacking with my water intake and I was a bit dehydrated when I met with her last week. Any tips on how to get my water in is greatly appreciated!
2. Go to the Gym at least once a week. I have not added back any physical activity back into my life since school started. There is always an excuse for why I can’t go and I need to stop and just do it! I have decided I will use Wednesdays as my day to go to the gym. A little pick me up on hump day. I will keep you posted.
3. Continue blogging!! I have felt so great since re-entering the blogosphere (is that what you call it). I am going to use it as my food diary. I really enjoying sharing the recipes I find and prepare in my kitchen.

What are some goals you have for yourself this fall?

Speaking of wellness I made my own “Energy Bars” last night. I realize how much my husband and I spend a week on organic snack bars. Our favorite are Pure Bars. I like the ingredients that are used and the overall flavor and texture. Here is my first attempt at Mom on the Run Bars.

Lifestyle Bars

Eat Clean Diet Cookbook/Tosca Reno

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raw, unsalted silvered almonds
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup coconut  butter
• 1/2 cup natural almond butter
• 2 tbsp unsulfured blackstrap molasses
• 1 tsp honey
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp best quality vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup of sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup of dried apple slices coarsely chopped

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange pecans and almonds on the cookie sheet in an even layer. Toast nuts in oven until just golden (about 8 minutes). Give them a shake or stir to ensure even browning while baking. Don’t overcook. Remove from oven and let cook for several minutes.

Transfer nuts to a food processor and process until they are coarsely chopped. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine coconut butter, almond butter, molasses, honey, and sea salt. Mix well.

Add vanilla, coffee granules, chopped nuts, and ground sesame seeds, and dried apples to butter mixture. Combine well.

Press mixture into a 8×4 baking ban. Let the dough set in the refrigerator for half an hour.

Cut into bars (recipes yields 9 bars). I wrapped each individually for storage for the week.

This made a great snack for in the car while I rushing to the many places I needed to be. They were fantastic! I already have ideas for next weeks batch that will expand flavors.

Hope everyone had a great Monday

Fall Running and Eating Clean

It has been quite a day full of racing fun and great eats. The weather fully cooperated for us and Boston was full of fall foliage.

Great views from Forest Park, Boston MA

Daijia and Tajiah at the finish line.

Dad on the Run in the middle of the pack

While being surrounded by the smells of fall, I really wanted to make a recipe with a food staple of the fall, Acorn Squash. This is also BSI (Bloggers Secret Ingredient) ingredient this week which is being hosted by MegaNerdRun. I will have to admit that I have never worked with an Acorn Squash before. I thought to myself, “How hard can it be?” I found a great recipe for Eat Clean Rice Pilaf and thought it would make a great filling for these tasty little squashes.

Acorn Squash

Adapted from Simply Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 Acorn squash
• 1 Tbsp Butter (I used Smart Balance)
• Sprinkle of Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoons Maple Syrup
• Dash of Salt

Method

1 Preheat oven to 400°F.

2 Using a strong chef’s knife, and perhaps a rubber mallet to help, cut the acorn squash in half, lengthwise, from stem to end. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff in the center of each half. Score the insides of each half several times with a sharp knife. Place each half in a baking pan, cut side up. Add about a 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the baking pan so that the skins don’t burn and the squash doesn’t get dried out.

3 Coat the inside of each half with 1/2 a Tbsp of butter. Add a dash of salt if you are using unsalted butter. Add a Tbsp of brown sugar to the cavity of each half. Dribble on a teaspoon of maple syrup to each half.

4 Bake in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the squash is very soft and the tops are browned. Do not undercook. When finished, remove from oven and let cool a little before serving. Spoon any buttery sugar sauce that has not already been absorbed by the squash over the exposed areas.

Serves 2 to 4, depending on how much squash you like to eat.

The Stuffing: Eat Clean Rice Pilaf

Adapted from Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook

Note: I was cooking multiple dishes and did not snap any pictures of the procedure

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp of avocado oil or good quality olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 fat carrot
• 2 small, firm zucchini, grated and drained
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tsp cracked coriander
• 1 cup of basmati rice, cooked according to box directions
• 1 tsp sea salt
• Pinch of Black Pepper

Method

In large a skillet, heat oil. Add onion, carrot, and zucchini and cook until soft.

Add garlic and coriander and cook until garlic becomes fragrant.

Add rice and mix vegetables in. Cook through until heated through and flavors meld together. Add scoop of cooked rice into each cooked acorn squash. Serve immediately.

The finished product

Mom on the Run’s Sunday Dinner Plate

The verdict: The acorn squash was a complete hit. Our dinner guests good not stop raving about how well the flavors melded together. I was so excited that the dish was so tasty and that my first experiment with acorn squash was successful

I have lots of great recipes to come this week.

Thank you for all the positive feedback from my ="http://smmuconn.blogspot.com/2009/10/mom-on-run-says-ohm.html">“Ohm” moment story. I really appreciate it!

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