Today was supposed to be spent doing a 12-mile loop hike in the mountains, tagging two more 4,000 footers. But it rained. And yes, we could have gone in the rain. But it's so much more fun on a nice day. So it turned into a (much needed) day at home. Having just finished my first week at a new job, I needed some down time. In the midst of working through a large sorting/cleaning/moving project, I decided to make some banana muffins. What I really wanted was banana bread, but even the GF flours bother me sometimes, so I decided to go with a grain free recipe. This is one that I've made once before, but I tweaked it a bit and it came out much better. The coolest thing about this recipe is that it has NO FLOUR. None. Not coconut. Not almond meal. Not rice flour. So I don't have to worry about the nut issue (son is allergic to tree nuts) or the "funny taste" of coconut that both kids complain about. This is a 6-ingredient recipe, and you won't believe it unless you try it. I throw my browning bananas into the freezer and save them for smoothies or baking. Today I happened to have 3. They thaw very quickly if you put them in a bowl of water...it took about 15 minutes this morning. I used peanut butter (not paleo, strictly) because we have a kid with tree nut allergies, but I'd love to try this with cashew or almond butter. And I used maple syrup that my older son made this spring when he and a friend tapped some trees on the property and boiled it down. Ingredients 1 cup nut butter 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla 3 eggs, beaten 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey 1 cup chocolate chips (optional) 1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. 2. Grease 12 muffin tins, and fill 3/4 full with batter. 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. The muffins will need to sit and cool for about 15 minutes until you attempt to eat them. They are initially quite soft, but will become a consistency such that you can pick it up and eat it just like a regular muffin. If you can't wait that long, I recommend a plate and a fork (from personal experience...).
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After spending some time in and at the river, we continued on route 49 to the Mad River Tavern, where we had a great late lunch. If you stick to burgers, sandwiches, and salads, the meals are about $10 per person. The food was delicious and the service was efficient. There is also a little ice cream shop in a small building next to the restaurant that boasts 20 flavors. We didn't get ice cream this time, but we have stopped there before. It's a great alternative to having a full meal out. Hike-Swim-Eat Series: North and South Mountain Loop - Pawtuckaway Lake - The Tuckaway Tavern6/6/2015 If you're looking for a nice day trip in southern New Hampshire, you should definitely check out Pawtuckaway State Park, a 5000-acre preserve that spans Deerfield, Raymond, and Nottingham. We live about a 10 minutes' drive from a trail head on the western side of the park, making it a quick and easy hiking option. Within the preserve, there is a state park that includes camping, swimming, canoe and kayak rentals, and hiking trails. There are two small mountains in Pawtuckaway, part of a ring dike, or the remains of an ancient volcano. North Mountain is located on one side of this ring dike, South Mountain on the other. Today we hiked both of the mountains via a loop trail that connects them. Here is a link to a trail map. Interestingly, as a ring dike weathers, the process supports the formation of a large number of plant species. This has resulted in this preserve boasting a large number of rare plants, as well as offering several different types of ecological niches. This loop hike takes you through a hemlock forest, an Appalachian oak rocky ridge system, and an oak-sugar maple forest. It never gets monotonous. At the base of North Mountain is an area called Boulder Field, where boulders are scattered across the terrain like gigantic cookie crumbs. Some of them are 30 feet tall. This is a popular place for rock climbers to come and practice different techniques.
This longer loop hike features about 7 miles of what I would classify as "ambling" trails, with a few good climbs that will get your heart racing. It's nothing like hiking in the Whites, but it's close to home for me, and lovely. There are some beautiful views from outcroppings of the ring dike as you go along. The summit of North Mountain is fairly anti-climactic, the many outcroppings you pass over on the way up being much more scenic. The summit of South Mountain is more open and features a fire tower that is climb-able, as well. I noticed yesterday that there are blueberry bushes everywhere, and so I completely intend to return again throughout berry season. We park at the Reservation Road trail head. Reservation Road is located off of route 107 between Deerfield and Raymond. Follow it, even after it becomes a dirt road, and you will find a small dirt area with room for cars to park, with signage for North Mountain Trail on either side of the road. We've hiked the loop in both directions. North Mountain is the more vigorous climb of the two, so it depends on if you prefer to do the harder work at the beginning or the end of the loop. The trail is enjoyable and beautiful in different ways, depending on which direction you go. Just like Bear Brook State Park, the trails are not always dependably labeled. I printed out the map and carried it with me, as there are a number of junctions and it can get confusing. Starting at the Reservation Road parking area, jump onto North Mountain Trail. This will carry you over North Mountain, then on an enchanting wander through a hemlock forest. At the bottom of North Mountain, get onto Boulder Trail which passes by Boulder Field and around Round Pond, to join with South Ridge Trail. South Ridge Trail guides you over the summit of South Mountain. From there, continue on South Ridge Trail to Mountain Trail to Tower Road. You can either walk back to the parking area via Tower Road and Reservation Road, or jump back onto North Mountain trail and walk in the woods back to the parking area. After hiking on a hot day, a swim in Pawtuckaway Lake is refreshing. There is no access from the western side of the park, and you'll need to drive about 15 minutes to the main park entrance in order to get beach access. For a nice meal out, check out The Tuckaway Tavern for yummy food and drinks. Expect to wait a little bit for a table at this popular restaurant. A good friend at work and I have recently started a "salad club". We take turns bringing in salads for each other to eat at lunch time. This has a number of benefits, including not needing to pack a lunch once in a while, and giving both of us, busy moms and teachers, a great excuse to try new recipes. I'm much more apt to whip up an exciting salad when I'm making it for someone besides, well, me. It's been successful so far, except for that one time when I dumped half of one of her beautiful salad onto my lap and the floor of my office. (Classic move for me, by the way.)
Balsamic vinagrette+ feta cheese + sandals = slimy toes for the rest of the day. And a stained skirt. And a big spot on my office carpet. Oops. I decided to experiment with a Waldorf salad this week. It's very simple, and satisfying. I used a rotisserie chicken, but you could always just gently cook chicken, let it cool, and chop it up. Ingredients 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces 1 cup celery, diced 1 cup grapes, halved 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup chopped or halved walnuts 4 Tbsp mayonnaise, sour cream, or yogurt, depending on your dairy/paleo preferences Salt and pepper to taste Serve over a bed of lettuce greens, or wrapped up in Romaine leaves with pickles and other salad toppings. |
AuthorI'm Emily. I currently work in online education management, but I also have a Masters degree in Nutritional Sciences (my true passion). In addition, I am a mom, cook, avid reader, novice gardener, and enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities. On my blog, you will find articles on food, fitness, weight management, and eating issues. ALL recipes on my blog are gluten-free. Many are low-carbohydrate. Most are grain free. Enjoy! Categories
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