Friday, May 15, 2015

Food Friday: Rhubarb Crisp


Rhubarb Crisp - Hot out of the oven!
It’s rhubarb season!  This Food Friday post is an old family recipe for Rhubarb Crisp. It is colorful and oh, so tasty! The crumb topping works well for apple or cherry crisp, but rhubarb is my favorite! Bake up a pan of this sweet and tart dessert tonight!

Rhubarb Crisp

Crumb Topping
1 Cup sifted flour
¾ Cup rolled oats
1 Cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ Cup melted butter

Combine dry ingredients. Pour melted butter over dry ingredients and stir until texture is uniform.  Set aside.

Fruit Filling 
4 Cups diced rhubarb
1 Cup sugar
2 Tbs cornstarch
1 Cup water
1tsp vanilla

Place rhubarb in an 8x8 inch baking pan. Combine sugar, cornstarch and water in a saucepan.  Heat and stir until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour over rhubarb.  Top with crumb topping.  Bake at 350◦ for one hour.  Serve warm as is or top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Yum!

This recipe can easily be doubled for larger crowds.

Find more of my favorite recipes HERE.

Question: Do you have a recipe to share?  Comment below.


Happy Running!

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Monday, May 11, 2015

Burned Cookies, Running Stores and Breakfast in Bed

Huckleberry Croissant French Toast
Last week was a busy one – so busy in fact that I burned a batch of cookies! I paid two visits to two running stores, and was pampered with a delicious breakfast in bed (well, almost) for Mother’s Day! 

Uh-oh!
Those that know me or follow me on Facebook also know that I bake a lot of cookies.  In some ways it is a coping skill, but truthfully, I love to bake cookies and I love to share them. I also love to eat them!  I believe these things about cookie baking ...

a) Offerings of food show love, and
b) Service, aka cookie baking, has a way of lifting ones spirit, and
c) as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.” 
That’s why I am a great cookie baker!  However, I did get a little distracted this week and this was the result!
What is the lesson?  Pay attention to the task at hand.
I visited two running stores and I didn’t walk out of either with new shoes. That required much self-control! I had the pleasure of visiting Pocatello Running Co. for the first time this week. I have noticed that Poky has a growing running community and I am excited that they now have a running specialty store, as well. Be assured I will be directing all my running and walking friends in that corner of the state to pay a visit to Pocatello Running Co. Give them some love and follow them on Facebook.  I will be visiting again in July for a book signing event to promote The Hard Run. I am looking forward to catching up with some old and new friends. I was so excited about the store that I forgot to take photos!  However, I did snap this shot of McKee’s Pet, Garden and Feed Centers!  I know someone there who likes to run!
Shoes at Shu's!
My second visit was to Shu’s Idaho Running Co. where I was fortunate to spend a few hours at a book signing on Saturday.  In addition to selling some books, I witnessed many happy faces as they walked out of the store with new running shoes!  I was tempted to do the same, but I really am not in the market right now.  My newest pair of Asics have not logged enough miles to warrant another pair!  Thanks to Mike and the gang for a warm welcome and a fun afternoon! Give them a follow, too!
Sunday. Mother’s Day. Breakfast in bed.  And see by the photo that this fancy breakfast prepared by my husband may have been a little messy in bed – however, he did prepare it while I slept in! It’s a variation of a French Toast recipe from OurBestBites.  He added huckleberries (my favorite) to the filling and topped it with fresh huckleberry syrup.  Notice the orchid garnish? He also fixed dinner and dessert and presented me with a coupon for a massage with this therapist. The kids all called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day and I received chocolates at church!  It was a great way to top off a busy week.
It’s Monday now and I am back to my usual Monday tasks – lawn mowing, correspondence, lab work, and laundry – and I am looking forward to another busy week of writing, running, and of course, cookie baking. No more breakfast in bed! Have a Happy Monday!
Happy Running!

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

I Don't Love Running: Explaining the Shirt


"I Don't Love Running" Shirt
What does someone who calls herself Running Granny Green think she is doing by offering a shirt that reads, “I Don’t Love Running …?”  The answer?  I am being honest. I don’t ALWAYS love running – at least not every step. However, as the back of the shirt reads, “Running Loves Me,” I have discovered that running has done some very positive things for me. I don’t run because it is easy, I run because it is good.
  • Running has lowered my blood pressure. It wasn’t ever high, but for someone with several strokes in her family health history, this is a very good thing.
  • Running has broadened my social circle. Let’s face it, just because I developed a new interest doesn’t mean my loved ones wanted to join me. I have made new friends as I have collected running buddies.
  • Running gives me an excuse to buy new shoes.
  • Running helps me keep my weight under control thus evading age onset Diabetes – another family health issue.
  • Running has introduced me to new adventures like the Grand Teton Relay and Burley Spudman Triathlon.
  • Running gives me positive writing material and writing is something I do LOVE!
The shirt sums it up.  I’m not out there running because I get a runner’s high – I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced that – or because it’s easy or I’m really fast. I’m running because it’s good for me. It could be good for you, too. You don’t have to love running, but you might have to give it a try. If I can do it, you can do it! I don’t love running, running loves me!

Question: What difficult things do you do because they are good for you?

Happy Running!

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Monday, May 4, 2015

Monday Mood Mender: Gary Learns to Skate



http://www.amazon.com/Gary-Learns-Skate-Carol-Green/dp/1511794976/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

On this Monday Mood Mender I want to introduce my newest book, GaryLearns to Skate, a collaboration of efforts with my granddaughter, Margaret Marie Olson.  I had been delaying publishing it and waiting for just the right illustrator. Maggie often sends me her artwork as a gift or thank you. While she was visiting it occurred to me that she might be the “right illustrator” for this project. She worked hard to capture the feel of the book and I am pleased to be able to share it with you.
Skating Flamingo!
In case you have any doubts about the artistic abilities of a six year-old, take a look at this little guy!
He's cute enough to steal, but notice he has a copyright!
This is just a sample of the fun illustrations that make this book special. (It doesn't hurt that the illustrator has a special place in my heart!)
 
You can find the book, Gary Learns to Skate, in all the usual places - send me a message, or visit me on Etsy, or Amazon. Stop by my Author Page on Amazon and see what else is new!

Happy Running!


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Friday, May 1, 2015

It’s May! How did the time pass so quickly?


 
I am surprised how quickly the first third of 2015 has passed!  It’s already May.  “May Day!” Perhaps that distress call was coined because those in peril felt sudden panic similar to the surprise that the rest of us feel when we realize the month of May is suddenly upon us. Where did the time go? Where did April go? My attention must have been directed to uncommon things.  Here are a few of them.
We’ve had a life altering experience in that my husband changed jobs this spring.  It has been both challenging and rewarding. We are growing through the experience while both of us learn to adjust to new skills (I’ve been packing him a lunch every day!) and schedules.
I’ve taken on new business opportunities like this one and I am learning to “put myself out there” a little more. I’m also venturing into the realm of book coaching and that is another learning experience.

Some of my favorite people

My illustrator, Margaret.
I had a visit from some of my favorite people throughout April and my focus was on spending time with them.  I didn’t neglect all of my work!  In fact, my favorite little illustrator and I published my first children’s book. What fun we had! Stay tuned to learn more!

Now it is May.  My company is gone.  I harvested new spinach from my garden yesterday. I’ve committed myself and some friends to the Grand Teton Relay in August for which I must prepare! It’s time to mow lawns and market books and continue to learn new things. It will soon be autumn!
This sudden arrival of May leaves me thinking …
Does time pass while we are living life or do we let life pass while we are watching the time?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
 
HAPPY RUNNING!

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