So, I’ve been walking lately. A brisk morning walk several times a week, as
well as walking wherever I can vis a vis taking the car. Although I have always espoused a life of decadence (i.e. rationalising my laziness),
a pain au chocolat in one hand and a good book in the other, cozily ensconced in a
mass of duvet covers, I can’t deny that time takes its toll on all of us unless we
do something to counter it. And so, a
little movement is in order to get this old ticker in some semblance of
satisfactory shape so I will be able to one day walk my now-little-ones down the aisle
or take care of some grandchildren.
well as walking wherever I can vis a vis taking the car. Although I have always espoused a life of decadence (i.e. rationalising my laziness),
a pain au chocolat in one hand and a good book in the other, cozily ensconced in a
mass of duvet covers, I can’t deny that time takes its toll on all of us unless we
do something to counter it. And so, a
little movement is in order to get this old ticker in some semblance of
satisfactory shape so I will be able to one day walk my now-little-ones down the aisle
or take care of some grandchildren.
I’m being dramatic.
No, I’m not.
Listen here young and not-so-young parents…our health will one day be
one of the best gifts we give our children.
They (and we) may not realize that now, when she cannot see past the My Little
Pony shelves in the toy store, or the rubber ball he is determined to break
apart with his teeth, but one day they will.
Listen here young and not-so-young parents…our health will one day be
one of the best gifts we give our children.
They (and we) may not realize that now, when she cannot see past the My Little
Pony shelves in the toy store, or the rubber ball he is determined to break
apart with his teeth, but one day they will.
Anyway, enough contemplation for now.
My morning walks…I do love them. Really.
And coming from someone who cannot abide by any physical activity
whatsoever, that is quite an admission. The
inside of a gym literally makes me faint (as does the insides of sports stores
fyi…the smell, it’s that weird smell of rubber). Sports are even worse for me because they
combine two of my least favorite things in life…physical activity and competition
(ironic that both my husband and my best friend are avid sportspeople who thrive in competitive environments). I knew I needed to get moving though, but the
only times I actually don’t mind physical effort is when I’m shopping, exploring,
dancing, or otherwise “just living”. And
so, I’ve decided to build my “fitness plan” on just that…”just living”. Incorporating more activity into what I
already do, or need to do: Turning my regular market trips into “marketcizing”,
walking to pay my bills, using my feet instead of my car to pick up my daughter
from pre-school. So many things can turn
into a walk, just as so many things can turn into an adventure. Yes, doing this has injected more activity in
my life and has (fingers crossed) made me a bit stronger (heart and lungs…I
mean you!), but it’s also yielded some pleasant surprises: corners of my city I
see with new eyes, my daughter’s love of our “little walks” that are now our
own mini-adventures, and the amazing cobweb-clearing quality a good walk in
the outdoors seems to possess.
And coming from someone who cannot abide by any physical activity
whatsoever, that is quite an admission. The
inside of a gym literally makes me faint (as does the insides of sports stores
fyi…the smell, it’s that weird smell of rubber). Sports are even worse for me because they
combine two of my least favorite things in life…physical activity and competition
(ironic that both my husband and my best friend are avid sportspeople who thrive in competitive environments). I knew I needed to get moving though, but the
only times I actually don’t mind physical effort is when I’m shopping, exploring,
dancing, or otherwise “just living”. And
so, I’ve decided to build my “fitness plan” on just that…”just living”. Incorporating more activity into what I
already do, or need to do: Turning my regular market trips into “marketcizing”,
walking to pay my bills, using my feet instead of my car to pick up my daughter
from pre-school. So many things can turn
into a walk, just as so many things can turn into an adventure. Yes, doing this has injected more activity in
my life and has (fingers crossed) made me a bit stronger (heart and lungs…I
mean you!), but it’s also yielded some pleasant surprises: corners of my city I
see with new eyes, my daughter’s love of our “little walks” that are now our
own mini-adventures, and the amazing cobweb-clearing quality a good walk in
the outdoors seems to possess.
And of course, there is that carbon footprint decreasing.
It must be said that I have nothing, absolutely nothing,
against organized exercise. My husband
is wildly in love with biking and has also just started a passionate
affair with cross-fit. This is on top of
his lifelong devotion to football. And
he is one of my favorite people in the world.
So more power to all that I say.
But I know that it is not for me.
against organized exercise. My husband
is wildly in love with biking and has also just started a passionate
affair with cross-fit. This is on top of
his lifelong devotion to football. And
he is one of my favorite people in the world.
So more power to all that I say.
But I know that it is not for me.
And truly, I am well aware that this sort of thing is not
going to land me washboard abs or the ability to wear a short skirt. I am satisfied with the extra activity my
heart (and lungs!) is getting…which will hopefully help me avoid keeling over on my next trip up some stairs.
going to land me washboard abs or the ability to wear a short skirt. I am satisfied with the extra activity my
heart (and lungs!) is getting…which will hopefully help me avoid keeling over on my next trip up some stairs.
It hopefully also gives me a little extra leeway for a
few treats…like this one.
few treats…like this one.
Guava Bars
(adapted from Simply Anne’s)
- 215 grams all purpose flour
- 140 grams rolled oats
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 200 grams butter
- 300 grams brown sugar
- 1 cup guava jelly
– In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, oats, baking
powder, and salt. Set aside.
powder, and salt. Set aside.
– With an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the
butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the mixture
of dry ingredients. Continue mixing
until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but is still crumbly.
butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the mixture
of dry ingredients. Continue mixing
until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but is still crumbly.
– Line a 9×9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper
– I like to make sure the paper hangs a bit over the edge of the pan because
this is what I use to lift the baked product out of the pan. Press a little over half the dough into the
pan, firmly and evenly.
– I like to make sure the paper hangs a bit over the edge of the pan because
this is what I use to lift the baked product out of the pan. Press a little over half the dough into the
pan, firmly and evenly.
– In a clean mixing bowl whisk the guava jelly until
light and smooth, about 3 minutes. This
makes the sticky jelly much easier to spread.
light and smooth, about 3 minutes. This
makes the sticky jelly much easier to spread.
– Spread the whipped guava jelly over the dough base, and
then using your fingers, break up the remaining dough over the jelly. You don’t have to cover everything; it’s ok
(and actually quite nice) if the jelly peeks out here and there.
then using your fingers, break up the remaining dough over the jelly. You don’t have to cover everything; it’s ok
(and actually quite nice) if the jelly peeks out here and there.
– Bake this in a pre-heated 325F oven for about 25-30
minutes or until the top is golden brown.
minutes or until the top is golden brown.
– Let this cool completely in the pan, then use the
parchment paper to sling it out onto a chopping board. Cut into squares.
parchment paper to sling it out onto a chopping board. Cut into squares.
Now, I know that guava bars may not be classified as
health food by any standards but mine, where I file it neatly between fruit and
oatmeal. If you practice the same such
standards, please indulge! This is both
simple to make and yummy to snack on if you like guava jelly (which I do,
irrevocably). In my old school they make a tart with guava jelly…and I like to think this is reminiscent of
that.
health food by any standards but mine, where I file it neatly between fruit and
oatmeal. If you practice the same such
standards, please indulge! This is both
simple to make and yummy to snack on if you like guava jelly (which I do,
irrevocably). In my old school they make a tart with guava jelly…and I like to think this is reminiscent of
that.
This got a 3 out of 4 vote in my household: everyone
liking it except for my choco-phile little girl. She did get me thinking about doing this with
chocolate chips, nuts, and marshmallows instead of the jam so she may just get
her wish one day. I am certainly going
to try this with other jams as well; off the bat I am thinking a mangosteen or
a mango version would be delicious.
liking it except for my choco-phile little girl. She did get me thinking about doing this with
chocolate chips, nuts, and marshmallows instead of the jam so she may just get
her wish one day. I am certainly going
to try this with other jams as well; off the bat I am thinking a mangosteen or
a mango version would be delicious.
If you’d like to see my non-workout workout attempts,
whether to inspire you (because if I can do it…), or to make you feel more
virtuous (because you are already doing so much more I am sure!), or even just
so we can virtually laugh together, you can follow me on Instagram and look for
my hashtags #the80breakfastsfitnessplan and #idontthinkyourereadyforthisjellydonut
🙂 You can also look for #marketcizing
for specific market-centered “working-out” 🙂
whether to inspire you (because if I can do it…), or to make you feel more
virtuous (because you are already doing so much more I am sure!), or even just
so we can virtually laugh together, you can follow me on Instagram and look for
my hashtags #the80breakfastsfitnessplan and #idontthinkyourereadyforthisjellydonut
🙂 You can also look for #marketcizing
for specific market-centered “working-out” 🙂
And…if you are like me, and have always been avoiding
exercise, why not strap on those neglected sneakers and just…go. Explore, wander, pick up a bag of pan de sal
from the bakery two streets down, walk to the mall and buy yourself some killer
shoes…discover, but on foot! (and if you are so inclined, go ahead and tag your
photos with any of the hashtags above so we can all enjoy our glorious attempts
at being more active together 😉)
exercise, why not strap on those neglected sneakers and just…go. Explore, wander, pick up a bag of pan de sal
from the bakery two streets down, walk to the mall and buy yourself some killer
shoes…discover, but on foot! (and if you are so inclined, go ahead and tag your
photos with any of the hashtags above so we can all enjoy our glorious attempts
at being more active together 😉)
Your husband is sooo sporty! I wish I had that drive (I used to have it). But as I told my husband, I think food now receives my utmost priority. LOL
I use my household chores as an excuse to get physical activity into my life. Though walking the dog helps, except that there are days that are too cold for my comfort (Obi enjoys it though).
I love reading your blog because we have things in common.. we both love beans, oatmeal, sweets, & banana bread <3
Just a thought, have you tried making banana jam? 😉
Hi Didi! He is!! I have never been athletic, but he always has been, it's such a big part of who he is…I guess opposites attract 🙂 Working around the house is definitely a workout in my book!
Hi Christine! Thank you!! So happy you enjoy the blog 🙂 Great minds think alike, heehee 🙂 I've never tried making banana jam…I've never even thought you could until I tasted the one from Antonio's (Tagaytay) last year. I loved it! Do you have a recipe?? 🙂
Love this idea. I'm going to try making this. And once mango season comes around in the spring, I'll make these with mango jam. Do you think I could use steel cut oats instead? Thanks for sharing, Joey!
I saw this recipe from Averie Cooks Blog
http://www.averiecooks.com/2014/01/vanilla-bean-and-brown-sugar-caramelized-banana-jam.html
But I have yet to try this one haha!
Hope to see you post your first ever banana jam recipe soon 🙂
These look so delicious, and I can't wait to try this recipe out. I've been looking for a new breakfast recipe, and I'm so glad I've found it now. Thanks for sharing!
These look absolutely scrumptious, even though I'm not that big a fan of guava jelly. But the rest of my family are guava die-hards; they'll adore these.
Hi Betty Ann! I'm sure this will be fantastic with mango jam! I don't know if you can use steel cut oats though since it takes much longer to cook…
Thanks Christine for sharing the link! I've bookmarked it! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Valerie! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hi Midge! Hope they do! I love guava jam!! I have maybe 3 jars right now…lol! 🙂
Hi, I really like the blog. It made me very hungry. If I can get the ingredients for this I might just have to make it. Is there a food that Is similar to this that way I can kind of compare? Anyways I really liked to read this blog and I hope you keep on blogging so that I can read more of them.