Food, food and yes, ... more food

I'm lovin' this weather! I'm just not a hot & humid weather lover so this is just great. A little less wind would be appreciated, though. Spent much of yesterday outside pulling weeds. This evening we're going to be enjoying a friend's outdoor wood-fired pizza/bread oven for dinner. Can't wait! I'm bringing, in addition to our pizza toppings, raspberry cake! Can't remember if I posted this previously or not, but Paul Thomford inspired me to resurrect the recipe. I'd not made it in a while, but it's pretty wonderful.

Raspberry Cake

1 white cake mix (18 1/4 ounces)

Filling:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese (I used light)
1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 c. whipping cream, whipped (there is no light version!)
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 package Raspberry Danish Dessert (Junket)--HyVee, by the Jell-O

2 to 3 c. raspberries (frozen, defrosted works as well)

Prepare cake according to package directions. Bake in greased and floured 13x9-inch pan. Set aside to cool. Mix cream cheese and 1 cup confectioners' sugar; fold in whipped cream combined with 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar. Spread filling on cool cake and chill in refrigerator. Mix Danish Dessert with 1 1/2 cups cold water; cook as directed. Cool. Mix in berries; spread over filling layer on cake. Refrigerate overnight.

So ... back to Friday. It was a harvest day from the garden.


I picked what remained of the shell peas (minus a few), broccoli, the first sugar snap and snow peas and the first 4 cherry tomatoes. The peas were eaten for dinner and frozen. The rest remains for eating fresh. Then I went foraging for black raspberries. Found enough for a batch of jam (3 Cool Whip tubs full). But it cost me ... in scratched up legs and very itchy bug bites, and they're not mosquito bites, but they're not tick bites either. But it was totally worth it! Momentarily I think I will venture out on foot to see where there are more ripe berries for the picking. The challenge is to not eat so many when I'm out picking.

Next on my foodie agenda was cookies for the morning run. Recipe is the one from the Post-Bulletin back in April or this month's Running Room eMagazine.

Saturday we were scheduled for 13 miles. I added a few early miles as I'm scheduled to run a 30K in a couple of weeks. Was a good day for a run even though I felt kind of sluggish. We stopped by Caribou Coffee downtown for the LUABC event. Laura Lenz was staffing the tables as we ran by and several of us returned later after the run to enjoy some more carbs and coffee, all to benefit breast cancer research at Mayo. Photos posted below in yesterday's post. Using alternate transportation to get to the run yesterday? Dan Strain (biking from way out in SE Rochester), Tom Williamson (biking), Mike Schmitt (on foot). Way to go!

Yesterday I also had to make treats (tripe-layer brownies) for the VBS workers at church this week. Good thing it was a cool day as it seemed the oven was on all day.

Triple layer brownies

1/2 c. margarine
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 T. cocoa
1/4 c. nuts (optional)
1 jar marshmallow creme

Mix above ingredients together. Bake at 350 in a 9 x 13-inch greased pan for 15 minutes. (You can also prepare brownies from a mix, for a 9 x 13 pan, and bake as directed). Remove from oven; spread 1 jar marshmallow creme over brownie layer. Bake until melted (2-3 minutes). Spread marshmallow over brownies. Cool.

12 oz. milk-chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups Rice Krispies

Melt the chips and peanut butter over low heat; stir in Rice Krispies. Spread over marshmallow layer. Allow to cool and set (takes a long time to set--for faster cooling/setting, may be refrigerated).

From my son Matt:

From Judy Weller: Skirts, skirts, skirts! On clearance for great (less than half) price at REI outlet. Cute patterned ones, too. Search for Sporthill skirts and you should find them. Selection is still very good.

A big thank you to race directors Jeanne Block (Rochester Women's Race) and Paul Anderson (Douglas Trail) for directing their respective races for 25 years!! What a great service, and great quality events, they've provided to the running community for so many years.

There's still time to sign up for the 20-minute Challenge at Running Room. It's FREE!! And you get a very nice hat. All you have to do is walk or run for 20 minutes on Wednesday at 6:00. Bring your family! Bring your friends!

Old news: 'Runner' completes the London marathon in 8:25, setting a record for running a marathon ... on stilts. Pre-race story.

Yesterday I did a little 'good deed for the day'. I was on my way to HyVee and saw a gal running as fast as she could, down the street, in bare feet. So I look toward where she's running, and she was chasing a dog. The dog was winning, and gaining ground. So I decided to chase the dog in the car, hoping it would stay close to the street. It did. Caught the dog for her. She was very happy. I'm sure her bare feet were too. ;-)

Tomorrow, it's Cooking Light for dinner. On the menu:

Tomato and Basil-Topped Garlic Bruschetta--Barb Giles
Peach Mojitos--Kelly
Grilled Peaches over Arugula with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto--Kathryn
Sliders with Shallot-Dijon Relish--Mary
Tangy Mustard Coleslaw--Barbara Kermisch
Simple Black Beans (Caraotas Negras)--Pam
Pistachio Biscotti--Renee
Orange-Buttermilk Cake with Summer Fruit--Margo
Wine--Mary, Kathryn

Fun facts to know and tell: The price of a gallon of skim milk @ Aldi: $2.69. The price of a gallon of skim milk @ Kwik Trip (beltline and 3rd Ave SE): $3.50.

I'm seeing that the majority of you who have voted on the current poll never stretch. If I don't, I eventually get injured so I'm pretty diligent about it. To each his own as they say...

"Make dust, or eat dust." --Unknown

Have a good one!