You know what I hate about running injuries? After a while it gets SO BORING. My calf is hurting me AGAIN, and I started to write a post yesterday all about it. First I was ranting, then I was wallowing, and then I thought about my husband’s friend who’s dying from ALS, and I deleted the whole post.
Today I read SHU’s post about near-death experiences and how they can change your perspective. It reminded me of something I like to do when I’m feeling down: imagine that I suddenly end up in the hospital, incapacitated in some way, my whole life turned upside-down. Then I think of everything I would miss about my normal life, even in the absence of running.
If I were suddenly out of commission I would miss getting up in the morning and feeding the cats; I would miss driving my daughter to camp; I would miss drinking my cup of Earl Grey in the morning; I would even miss going to work. Hey, my everyday life is pretty great- I don’t want to wait for some tragedy to happen so I can appreciate it in retrospect.
Okay, onto the books! I finished two books this week, The Decagon House Murders and this one:
The Decagon House Murders is another classic Japanese mystery, written by the same author as The Mill House Murders, Yukito Ayatsuji. If you appreciate mysteries, these are good ones! The Decagon House Murders was inspired by Agatha’s Christie’s And Then There Were None, and you will NOT guess the ending.
The Claudia Gray book is the third in her “Jane Austen” series. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s son, Jonathon, is now a young adult. He and Juliet Tilney (also a young adult, daughter of Catherine Moreland of Northanger Abbey) team up to solve another mystery.
If you love Jane Austen, this book couldn’t be more fun. It involves Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who- Pride and Prejudice fans will remember- is the patroness of the fawning and ridiculous Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins and Charlotte, along with their two children, feature prominently in the story.
If you aren’t a fan of Jane Austen, I wouldn’t recommend this book. The mystery is passable, but the real fun is revisiting beloved characters. Gray does a good job of writing in Austen’s style and keeping the characters true to the originals. And one more thing- definitely read this series in order. The third book has spoilers to the two previous mysteries.
Eating- The Return of Kamala Kookies!
Okay, this is a little weird, but if you’ve been reading for a while you know my family has some strange traditions. Right around this time four years ago, my sister and I discovered the Banana Bread Cookie recipe from Cadry’s Kitchen. Neither one of us can remember why, but we started calling them “Kamala Kookies.” I think it was just random silliness- as far as I know, Kamala Harris has no affiliation with bananas, banana bread, or cookies- but the name stuck.
WELL. Obviously, it’s time to bake the Kamala Kookies again! I used this maple syrup and these chocolate chips:
… and used the alternate flax/water mixture in place of applesauce (I also added 1/4 teaspoon salt, which wasn’t called for in the recipe.) I even made this batch with chickpea flour, and they still came out well!
To be clear, these are definitely “healthy” cookies. I wouldn’t bring them to a bake sale, but I’m enjoying them. Many more batches of Kamala Kookies to come! (Note to self- next time, add walnuts or pecans. Yum.)
What are you reading now?
Do you believe in “healthy” cookies? Or do you think cookies should be a delicious treat-not a time to be worrying about health?
25 Responses
I completely get you on the injury thing. I’ve decided to get over myself and just enjoy skimming around the park slowly with friends, at least I’m moving, etc. Counting your blessings is an old favourite for a reason!
I’m reading Susie Dent’s Modern Tribes which is about jargon different groups of people use. It’s interesting but really dense and it’s one of my 20 Books of Summer project so I need to read it and get it out of the way but it’s quite a tough read! I’m interspersing it with a light novel set in Chicago, Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi, and Dara McAnulty’s Diary of a Young Naturalist, he’s an autistic teenager who finds solace in nature.
No cookies in this low saturated fat / diabetic household but they look fun and love the nickname. Keeping our fingers crossed for Kamala over here while unable to do anything!
Liz, I’m also keeping my fingers crossed while feeling semi-helpless as well. Because of the way the electoral college works, and the fact that I live in Florida, my vote probably won’t even count (wait, WHY do we have this system???) But I can at least do my part by eating lots of Kamala Kookies.
Fully agree about remembering big scale of things. when my ankle acted out 3 weeks out of my paris marathon, I decided that I’ll just do what I can to manage it while focusing on having a good family trip to paris. I love running, as you do too, but they are not essential to life in reality. somedays i do feel it as essential for my mental wellness, but not at the same level as having dinner with my girls, preparing their food, chatting with them type of essential.
Healthy cookies, I am all for it mainly because I find the normal cookies too sweet, too oily, just too much for my taste palate.
you just replace the chickpea flour 1-1 with normal flour? I’ll give it a try.
Yes, I used the same amount of chickpea flour as the white flour the recipe called for. I’ve also made pancakes with chickpea flour- it works well! Just don’t taste the raw batter- it has a funny taste when raw, but you can’t taste it when they’re cooked.
Kamala cookies– love it! I was also struck by SHU’s post and want to use it as a jumping off point for some deeper thinking.
Yes, that post gave me a lot to think about.
I do love Jane Austen, I love her too much to read anything that is “based on,” if that makes sense. I really have trouble reading books that are reimaginings of beloved books or fan fiction-types. AM I A BOOK SNOB? I don’t think I am but I do know that I would hate that book, sorry Jenny! It’s a me problem, not a book problem (also, you know me and mysteries). I’m not yucking your yum though, because I’m happy you liked it!
Isn’t it funny how some things will make you really change your perspective? I felt that way when a former yoga student and friend died in 2021. In her last years she really changed my perspective about things – I picked up Embrace The Season from her, and vowed never to complain about the weather again, even in the depths of the Calgary winters, I didn’t.
I think of cookies and baked goods as a treat, and I don’t worry about them being healthy. I do generally cut back on sugar when I’m baking, but I still think of baking as a nice treat to be enjoyed. Life is too short, and I don’t want to get to the end of life not having a cookie, you know?
Gosh, why am I so “end of life” today? Anyway, I just finished an interesting book and have started Come And Get It, I will report back.
Ha ha, yes maybe we shouldn’t dwell on these morbid subjects TOO much. I get what you’re saying about Jane Austen. When I read books like this, I find myself thinking “Oh so THAT’S what happened with Charlotte…” then I have to remind myself that this is not actual Jane Austen, it’s made up, and THEN I remind myself that all the characters are made up to begin with- so I’m fine with imagining these books are extensions of the actual Jane Austen books.
There is lots of food for thought here! I spent some time in the hospital on Monday, but for a very good reason. I had my first colonoscopy, so I had lots of downtime this week, and spent most of it ruminating on how wonderful it is to be in good health.
I read SHU’s post and the thing that I would do differently if I had a few months, a year, or five years left was screaming out at the universe at me – quit my stupid job immediately.
Yay for Kamala cookies! Generally if I’m having a cookie I want a treat, but I do eat things like cereal bars which are kind of in the neighborhood of healthy cookies.
Me, too, Birchie!! I had my first colonoscopy on Monday! It was a terrible 48 hours! I am so thankful that my body works the way I want it to the vast majority of the time!
Oh, colonoscopy. I hope everything is fine (it sounds like it is) and that it wasn’t TOO unpleasant. The prep isn’t fun but the actual procedure really isn’t that bad.
I can’t be trusted around actual, delicious, sugary-y cookies, so I have to settle for the healthy version, if I have them at all.
I’ll answer based on desserts as I never developed a taste for cookies. I love cake, and will usually follow the recipe, but don’t see why I shouldn’t add some dried fruit and nuts. Family sometimes complains about this, but they still get cake :). I guess, my principle is to add more things that are good for health rather than remove or restrict the things that aren’t?
Had some pretty intense reads this week (57 Bus and The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida), so taking it easy with my backup read, which is an Engie rec _Fall of Giants_.
OOH! I read The 57 Bus, and it made me understand the issue of binary/non-binary like I never understood it before. Great book. And- I’ll be starting Fall of Giants very soon.
I’ve tried that strategy of adding healthy things to desserts, and my family usually complains. They have this uncanny ability to taste the slightest variations, somehow.
Things can be healthy and delicious. My boss just brought some potato-based fudge from her vacation in Canada and it’s only 20 calories a piece! Also, carrots. They’re healthy and delicious. Oh, and sun gold cherry tomatoes. They are sooo good. Tomato season is HERE!! Okay, I’m back. I got distracted by thinking about produce for a minute.
Okay, true. But I still say if I’m craving a cookie, I probably won’t be satisfied by a tomato. But I get what you’re saying. And btw you and Birchie had a colonoscopy on the same day? Did you coordinate that? Seems like quite a coincidence.
Some good food for thought (and eating!) here! Death or illness can really shift our perspective when it comes to appreciating the little things in life. Besides running, there are definitely things about my day to day life that I would miss if I was suddenly unable to do them, like just being outside for one thing!
The cookies look really good and I love the name! I think there’s definitely a place for healthier desserts, like if you want to be able to eat them more often than just special occasions. I’m not a huge cookie or cake person though — vegan ice cream is my dessert of choice — so I’m more likely to choose the healthier option when it comes to those and splurge on the ice cream!
Ah, vegan ice cream. I can’t get over how many amazing flavors there are now! There’s even a vegan, sugar-free ice cream that So Delicious makes. But it has erythritol, and somehow the combo of that sweetener and… maybe the cold of the ice cream?… sometimes makes my stomach hurt. But I eat it every once in a while anyway. Why is ice cream so good???
That is sad about your friend’s husband that has ALS. When we think about things like that, it makes our problems seem pretty small. BUT they are still our problems and deserve some attention because they make life harder for us. So I try to balance having some compassion towards myself for things that are making my life hard right now (basically my RA) with realizing that I am lucky that my problems are not more serious.
I am reading “Same as it ever was” which is such a long book and it’s character driven so I would not recommend it for you. I am enjoying it but wondering if it really needed to be over 500 pages long??
I don’t make many “healthy” cookies. I don’t make many cookies in general, so when I make them, they are the real deal. I would be up for making healthier cookies if they are something my kids would eat that has some fiber in it because both boys struggle w/ constipation. But I fear neither of them would eat a healthy cookie!
Hmm. They MIGHT like these because of the chocolate chips. And I think you could eat them if you make them with chickpea flour instead of regular flour, right?
That’s a good way of putting it- our problems are still there and we can’t ignore them. Just because someone else can’t get out of bed doesn’t mean you can’t be upset about the ongoing flare in your finger that makes everyday life difficult. Like you said, it has to be a balance.
When you are injured and unable to run, everything just feels so hard and depressing. It can be so difficult to put it into perspective. I believe it was you who once told me: you have recovered from 100% of your previous injuries. And you were right 🙂
I know Deborah- that was me. Why is it so easy to say it to other people, and so hard to hear it myself?
I am of the school of thought that if a cookie tastes great, I am good with whatever it is made with, haha! So true on your ruminating thoughts. I feel like I’ve spent the last few weeks in a bit of a funk, but it all really is a moment that will pass – I have my little family and cups of tea and books and this whole life to savor and a moment is just a moment by design…
I’m so sorry your calf is still bothering you. I used to love Agatha Christie books. I just finished “End Of Story” which has several references to specific novels. I should check out those Japanese mysteries.
Injuries are so hard, but it’s always good to have a little perspective. Your hard is still hard, but you can also be grateful that this is what you’re dealing with rather than something else. I hope the calf gets better SOON!
Perspective is good, but it doesn’t negate the hard, for me. Just makes it a little less… painful? Literally, sometimes, and figuratively.
I hope you are on the mend now, but I also think – and this is not what you probably want to hear – that you may need to make a hard stop to your attempts to come back so quickly. Just my 0.02, and you can obviously ignore me as I am not an orthopedist or a PT. 🙂
I prefer healthy options BUT am a moderator so am usually able to eat a small amount of whatever non-healthy thing is available (For me, it’s ICE CREAM all the way!) and then supplement with healthy (whole fruit, usually). It works for me, but it would not work for all.