Soreness Can Be Good

My legs hurt!  Instead of just doing my typical elliptical and stair stepper work out on Saturday, I decided to throw a little twist on things and actually run a mile on the track.  I used to run four miles about three times a week, but randomly one day my knee started KILLING me...seriously, I was just getting something out of the fridge and it just started hurting.  No pop, no twinge, no nothing...just hurt. 

Ever since then I haven't been able to run consistently because my knee would start "talking" to me.  I really enjoyed running (and actually had a pretty good pace, though I wouldn't have been able to keep it up!) and miss doing it.  Saturday was really nice but today I am realizing how different running is from ellipticating!  My legs hurt (not my knee!), my back hurts, even my arms a little bit!  But it is good!  Hopefully, I'll be able to run again soon...maybe more this week.  So, what does this have to do with food? 

Nothing really, but it does have to do with Eat. Live. Be.  This week we are talking about what healthy tip we have come upon recently.  Saturday made me realize how important changing things up is!  I do a good job at being consistent in exercise, but I'm TOO consistent.  I do the same thing basically, just rotating my times and programs used.  If you really want your body to continue to respond or just to challenge yourself, you've got to change things up every once in a while....make it difficult on yourself!  I was definitely breathing hard at the end of that mile.  You'll never know what you can do unless you change things up!  I even changed things up last month when I made TWO chocolate based cookies. 

As I said in my last post, I'm not the biggest chocolate fan...but these cookies! OH...DIVINE (notice the correct spelling, Daddy!).  I will warn you that these cookies are a bit messy to make as you have to wrap them around a chocolate covered caramel (Rolo is what I used) BUT it is SOOOO worth it.  I honestly thing that having the caramel be chocolate covered makes a big difference.  It adds a third texture to the mix.  If you like turtle chocolates, you'll love these cookies!  Please make them and enjoy!!!

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies from Southern Living Incredible Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package chocolate covered chewy caramels

Bean butter until creamy then add sugars.  Beat well.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in all dry ingredients (flour, soda, cocoa).  Chill for 2 hours or more.  Preheat oven to 375.  When ready, unwrap the caramels (you should need about 48) then combine pecans and tablespoon of sugar.  Pull off a piece of dough (about tablespoon sized).  Working quickly, wrap dough around the unwrapped caramel.  Dip the top of the dough into pecan mixture and place ball, pecan side up on a baking sheet or stone.  Place stone in oven and bake for 8 minutes.  Cool for 1 minute on sheet and then remove to cooling rack to completely cool.  **Be sure to place the remaining dough back in the fridge while these are cooking.  Enjoy!!!


Sarah Caron - http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/
•Cate O’Malley - http://www.sweetnicks.com/
•Chris Arpante - http://www.melecotte.com/
•Patsy - http://familyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com/
Joanne - http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/
Tri-Fit Mom - http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/
•Allison - http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/
Jen - http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/
•Leslie - http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/
•Rivki Locker - http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/
•Jennifer Schulz - http://lick-a-plate.blogspot.com/
•Sarah Rogers - http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/
Denise and Lenny - http://www.chezus.com/