Tuesday, February 28, 2012

7.36K Run, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies and Burt's Bees

Tonight I ran 7.36K in 1hour.  I just wanted to get my run in.  I didn't care about speed.  I had a rough day at work, so it was not a happy run, but I felt better after.
Yesterday I made some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies for a potluck at work tomorrow.
Here's the recipe:
Prep time: 30mins + cooking time Cook time: 25mins
Ingredients:
Brownies:
4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup of butter, melted
2 cups of light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup of all-purposed flour
Cookie Dough (Egg free):
3/4 cup of butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup of light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup of granulated white sugar
3 tablespoons of milk
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup of semisweet chips + 1 teaspoon of shortening for drizzle, optional
Directions
Prepare the brownies:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F
Spray a 9x13inch pan with non stick spray
In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in short bursts of 30seconds, stir after each burst and remove from microwave when melted and smooth
Set aside to cool slightly
In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and brown sugar
Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk those in too
Mix in melted chocolate
Whisk in the flour and mix just until combined (don't over mix)
Spread batter into prepared pan
Bake for 25-35mins
Watch closely and remove from oven when toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean
Let cool completely
Prepare the cookie dough:
In a medium bowl use an electric mixer to combine butter, brown sugar and white sugar
Mix in milk and vanilla
Mix in flour just until combined
Stir in chocolate chips
Spread cookie dough over the cooled brownies
Refrigerate until the dough is quite form
The firmer the dough, the easier it will be to cut into neat squares
Use a sharp knife to cut the brownies
If you's like to add chocolate drizzle on top, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon of shortening in the microwave, stir until smooth
Scoop the melted chocolate into a zip lock bag and snip off the corner
Squeeze the bag to drizzle the chocolate on top of each brownie

I am also a member of BzzAgent and received my first BzzCampaign!  Review Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions. 

I will star using the facial cleanser and moisturizer tomorrow and report back soon!  This is a big change for me as I have been religiously using Clean and Clear for 10 years.
Disclosure:  As a BzzAgent, I received a free product sample of Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser and Sensitive Daily Moisturizer in exchange for my review of the products and my opinion.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Cross Train #2

Tonight I went to the gym after work to get some cross training in.  I have not been to the gym in a while so I am pretty proud of myself.  I did half an hour on the Cybex.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Really Chilly 10K Road Race


Today I ran the Really Chilly 10K Road Race in 1hour 10mins and 59secs!  This is 8mins faster then the Halloween Haunting 10K in October!
This is what was in our race packet!

The course had a monster hill at the end.  Here is a picture of the down portion before you run up the other side.
Me at the finish line!
Here is my training schedule for this week:
 
Monday: Cross Train
Tuesday: 7K Run
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: 10K Run with the Running Group
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: 6K Pack Run
Sunday: 16K Run with the Running Group