Fitness Friday

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal and featured twice in six months in cover stories in Runner's World magazine, FIRST's unique training philosophy makes running easier and more accessible, limits over training and burnout, and substantially cuts the risk of injury-while producing faster race times. The key feature is the "3 plus 2" program, which each week consists of:
3 quality runs, including track repeats, the tempo run, and the long run, which are designed to work together to improve endurance, lactate-threshold running pace, and leg speed
2 aerobic cross-training workouts, such as swimming, rowing, or pedaling a stationary bike, which are designed to improve endurance while helping to avoid burnout With detailed training plans for 5-K, 10-K, half-marathon, and marathon, plus tips for goal-setting, rest, recovery, injury rehab and prevention, strength training, and nutrition, this program will change the way runners think about and train for competitive races.Amby Burfoot, Runner's World executive editor and Boston Marathon winner, calls the FIRST training program "the most detailed, well-organized, and scientific training program for runners that I have ever seen."

I have personally used this book as a resource for my running. I'm not gonna lie to you, the workouts are hard and I stuck with it for 2 months. I could see results with my running times, but I could not motivate myself to stick with it. I will try it again when I train for a race.

The History of Grandmas Apron

The Principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect The dress underneath, because she only had a Few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses And they used less material, but along with That, it served as a potholder for removing Hot pans from the oven.

It was Wonderful for drying children's tears, and on Occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty Ears.

From the Chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying Eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched Eggs to be finished in the warming Oven.

When Company came, those aprons were ideal hiding Places for shy kids.

And when The weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around Her arms.

Those big Old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent Over the hot wood stove.

Chips and Kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in That apron.

From the Garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out The hulls.

In the Fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that Had fallen from the trees.

When Unexpected company drove up the road, it was Surprising how much furniture that old apron Could dust in a matter of seconds.

When Dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the Porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was Time to come in from the fields to Dinner.

It will be A long time before someone invents something That will replace that 'old-time apron' that Served so many purposes.

The story About Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma Used to set her hot baked apple pies on the Window sill to cool.

Her Granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to Thaw.

They would Go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs Were on that apron.

* I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron,except maybe a little Love and caring. *

TWD Sugar-Topped Molasses Cookies dipped in white chocolate

With Chocolate or without you pick..... I have to say I loved the cookies dipped in chocolate the best. They were so so so so good and melted right in your mouth.

I am no stranger when it comes to Molasses cookies. I have a recipe that I have been using for 14 years now. I have never tried any other recipe but that one for Molasses cookies. I actually got the recipe out of a book I read called Shiloh Autumn. In the book the character, Willa Mae Canfield, makes these cookies quite a bit. They posted the recipe for the readers to try. I did and fell in love. The recipe is similar but has less molasses. I'm not going to lie to you I like my recipe better, but I do like this one too! My kids also preferred my recipe. They said the molasses is much stronger in Dorie's recipe.

Here is the recipe for the cookies...

Soft Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening( I use butter Crisco sometimes and butter other times )
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt

Directions :
Combine shortening, sugar, molasses and egg..beat well.
Combine dry ingredients and add to above mixture.
Chill for 10 min.
Roll in 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
Bake at 350* for 8-10 min.
You may want to double this recipe! Enjoy...

Pamela of Cookies with Boys picked the Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies on pages 76 and 77. Thanks Pamela for the great choice! You can check out her blog for Dorie's recipe. http://cookieswithboys.blogspot.com/

SMS Butter Toffee crunchless candy

It's Sweet Melissa Time! Today is...
November 15 and we made Butter Toffee Crunch by Kaitlin of Kait’s Plate!
Thank you Katilin for choosing this recipe. Be sure to check out her blog if you want it! http://www.kaitsplate.com/
My niece Alicia came over for a visit... We made the toffee then went outside....
She loves this old bike I have.

We went for a walk/ride around our block while the toffee was setting up...

My daughter took some random shots of things and me on our walk!

My niece and my daughter....
My other daughter and Alicia having fun talking about soccer...

OK sorry I just wanted to share the photos...on to what you really came to see...

Here is the toffee right after I poured it in to the pan and added the chocolate chips to melt

Here it is sitting and waiting for us to eat it...

My toffee definitely does not have a crunch, it came out soft and chewy like caramel. I was worried about scorching the toffee mixture. I'm pretty sure I took it off the burner to early. No one complained, they enjoyed the soft caramel texture.

Just a quick note. I did half the recipe. I also put it in the freezer ,it firmed right up and gave it the crunch I was looking for!

Moms birthday cake

Today is my Mom's birthday. I made her this yummy carrot cake...it has to be the best carrot cake recipe around..here it is if you want it!

http://homebakedsweetness.blogspot.com/2008/06/best-carrot-cake-ever.html

Thank you

A big thanks to all of our veterans and service men and women today. My father John Murphy served in the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. I have always admired my dad for his strength and calming personality. He has been the best father any girl could ask for. I just wanted to say Thank you Dad on this special day.

TWD ALL in one Holiday Bundt Cake

I love this old vintage plate. I collect old plates and spoons and always seem to cover them up with goodies. I wanted you to see it.....

Thank you Britin of The Nitty Britty for choosing the All in One Holiday Bundt Cake on pages 186 and 187. Be sure to check out all the other wonderful recipes today!

This month we have the luxury of choosing from a list of selected recipes and baking them on whatever Tuesday we desire. I chose the Bundt cake because it sounds wonderful and I'm taking it to a social gathering!

This cake came together very well. I had no problems with the recipe. It's simple and easy to assemble. I loved the taste of this cake especially the wonderful maple glaze and the pecans.