Mmmm Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

One of my favorite fall recipes - so quick, easy and lowfat.

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup fat-free vanilla pudding (I use those little pudding cups)
4 large egg whites
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Stuff To Do
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Spoon batter into 2 (8x4-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

152 calories, 5g fat, 2g protein, 20g carbs, 0 cholesterol, 137mg sodium.

Best of all, your house will smell amazing! Enjoy!

Unique Gift for the Endurance Athlete

I stumbled across this cool little gift idea from the barrage of etsy emails I receive each week. Very unique and fun gift for the endurance athlete/cyclist on your holiday shopping list. And if your person loves chocolate, then he/she is really going to love these edible candy gears! While you're at it, check out the scrabble tiles in white chocolate - so neat!

Running in the Rain

The weather forecast here in Northern Ohio is calling for wet, wet, and more wet. As long as I can have this lovely visual of Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong running in the rain, I will have more bounce in my mudpuddle step. Running in the rain, baby!

I Love My Bike

While spending a little R&R time in Chautauqua this weekend, I found the most wonderful little book called I Love My Bike. Authors Matt Finkle and Brittain Sullivan photograph and provide brief interviews of cyclists all over the United States who love their bikes. I have enjoyed the amazing photographs, as well as where people are from (hometown and current home), and their bike choice. Anyone who has a kinship with their bike could clearly relate to this book. There's no bike snobbery here, either. People are not featured with $10,000 bikes. It's everyday bike owners, which made this book so much more enjoyable. Well, enough about the book. Got a date with Mama Violet (Bridget's bike is Little Violet) and it's time for a ride!

Feels Like It To Me

Finally, a little less summer...a little more Autumn. So excited since it's my absolutely favorite time of the year!

Intervals and New Music

Had a really good speed session today. I needed to get in 8x400 workout, but time only allowed for 6x400. I completed all 400 sets at 7.0mph or 8:32 mile with recovery at 6.0. I can't believe how good this pace felt. Very manageable. I told Greg it's got to be the biking and the addition of squats/lunges. Next week I'll be tackling 800s and I'm going to see if I can hold this same pace for longer intervals.

On a music note, I'm listening to the new album from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Love this group ad I'm really enjoying what I'm hearing so far!

Easy Snack Using Chickpeas

Garbanzo beans. Chickpeas. Whatever you call them, they make a nutritious post-workout snack. And best of all, this recipe is super simple.

Short ingredient list: can of garbanzo beans, sea salt, garlic peppercorn mix (or seasoning of your choice), aluminum foil lined pan.



Rinse beans.



Dry with paper towels.



Spread on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Shake half way through.



Done! A 1/2 cup serving size has just 120 cal, 2g fat, 20g carbs, 6g protein.

Enjoy!