I love to bake. I especially love to bake with my kids. Some sparkers have asked how I do it and what I cook with. I've experimented lots and found what works for me. For cookies, I use the real stuff. I almost always half or even quarter the recipe. But I use butter and other real ingredients. I've tried apple sauce and stuff in cookies and they have never turned out and then I don't feel satisfied. Sometimes I throw in flaxseed and I use a little less sugar than the recipe calls for. But cookies are cookies.

Now muffins and breads, here's where we can cut some major calories and fat! Fall is in the air and I am loving it. Yesterday morning I cranked up the Glee station on Pandora and we made some super yummy healthy muffins.
Heres's my substitutions for yesterday's pumpkin choc chip muffins:
Oil - Greek yogurt
Always use whole wheat flour
Use less sugar than the recipe calls for. (Instead of 2 cups, I use 1 and add 1/2 cup of honey, still high in sugar, but less processed means better for your body)
Double the cinnamon, needs the spice kick with less sugar
Half the chocolate chips

We danced around the kitchen, did a little fraction math, threw in some push-ups while they were baking. Voila! Healthy and fun morning with the kids! And the muffins were delicious. I put a few in baggies and froze em. That way I couldn't eat 17 of them.

It's a toss up of what's my favorite thing about Fall: pumpkin goodies or running in gorgeous weather. I seriously just want to run all the time. Today I have another running date with DH. he's going to take me on a route I've never ran. Through NE Minneapolis and over the Stone Arch bridge and around the U of M. I am so excited! 14 miles together. I know I've said it a million times, but its worth saying again. Running is so good for our marriage. :)

The twin cities 10 miler is in 2 weeks. This will be my first repeat race. It's incredible how much has changed in one year. I remember the nerves last Fall, the anxious anticipation. I would wake up at night and not be able to fall back asleep because I was so excited. And now I'm excited because its such a big day for the running community. I know several people that are running the marathon and my plan is to run it next year.

Of course I want to beat last year's time. One of my running buddies reminded me that this isn't my A race for the season, it isn't even my B race. Grandmas marathon in June. Olympic triathlon in August. My focus has not been speed. I've accomplished a lot recently. I need to remind myself of that. It's OK if I don't beat 87 minutes.

Who am I kidding?! I think for those of you that know me, know that I'll be really disappointed if I don't beat that time. I am hard on myself and am very competitive with myself. My goal is 85 minutes.

And if I don't beat that goal, I will console myself with the fact that I can now do 4 pull ups!! And, I am at a new low weight. So, life is good. Life is healthy and strong. Hope the same is true for my sparkfriends.