Happy Thanksgiving!!! (Canada) ;) and recipe!!!

Hi Everyone!

For all of my Canadian friends and family... Happy Thanksgiving!!! and for all of my American peeps, I will celebrate all over again in November in your honour! lol (any excuse for TURKEY!!!)

This pretty much sums up how I feel about this time of year! (wait til winter hits ;) lol

Wanted to share with you all some photos from my new favourite spot...

There is this great natural area just up the road from my house. Its been outfitted with some paved and unpaved trails, bridges, lookouts....

and strategically placed flat boulders which just beg to be jumped on! lol

I seriously ran past these my first time on the trail and backtracked to do plyo jumps!!! :P It was almost a moment of WWSD (what would Sam do?!) hahahaaaa

There are 6 of them in this spot, 10 reps on each = better legs and backside! :D

This is the view from one of the lookouts onto the pond.

As many of you know, I'm not a natural "runner", I force every step. BUT, for whatever reason, running is where I end up when I'm missing my Dad. This place has just become very welcoming for me :) 

I find trail running a great challenge! Because of the constant change of terrain, its not "boring" and I find myself being continuously challenged with inclines, declines and ever appearing branches! lol

I didn't go to the trails here once during the spring or summer but the lure of fall colours were too much to resist. Low and behold, I have a new "home" to add to my list. Being that this is my first Thanksgiving without Dad, it's perfect.

Ok! I also promised many of you the recipe for my Clean Pumpkin Muffins!!!

So here it is...

Clean Pumpkin Muffins

Preheat oven to 350*F

1 egg + 2 whites

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) canned OR homemade

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup wheat bran

1 cup oats (not instant)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup dark organic chocolate chips (at least 70%cocoa)

approx 1/2 cup skim milk

*optional 3/4 cup mild cheddar cheese cut into mini cubes

1. In a medium bowl, beat together eggs and honey

2. Add olive oil, pumpkin and vanilla

3. In a large bowl, mix remaining dry ingredients and make a well in the centre

4. Pour liquid ingredients into well and mix just until combined using the skim milk to loosen the batter if its too stiff

5. Divide batter into a lined muffin tin and bake for 25-30min 

*it may sound weird but the cheese is really yummy, especially for kids!

Try substituting the pumpkin for mashed bananas, applesauce or even organic carrot baby food!

And if you don't know what to do with leftover pumpkin puree...

I freeze it in ice cube trays!!! Each cube is approx. 1oz 

Try adding 2-3 cubes to your vanilla protein shake with some cinnamon! Mmmmmmmm!!! 

Again, hoping you all had a blessed Thanksgiving weekend!

Warm, fuzzy autumn hugs...

-Crystal :) xo