Just J.Faye

Hiking & Other Adventures

Bacon Scotcheroos

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On Wednesday night I met my friends for a bacon themed dinner. Yeah, BACON THEMED. It was amazing. My contribution: bacon scotcheroos.

bacon scotcheroos About a year and a half ago two of my friends and I started getting together for themed dinners. The host chooses the theme and prepares the main course. The other two bring an appropriate appetizer/dessert/drink to fit. Our dinners have ranged from Indian to pizza to crockpot to Brazilian to picnic to paleo to seafood.

I don’t know how it took us so long to get to bacon, but it happened. A bacon avocado salad followed by bacon wrapped chicken thighs and then rounded out by these bacon scotcheroos. Yeah. Delicious.

These dinners, I love them. We catch up on each other’s lives. Natalie and I will say something completely random in unison. Senthil will look at us like we are crazy – sometimes it’s hard to tell if he loves or hates us. One time (after a bottle of wine or two) we booked a trip to Atlanta for the Midtown Music Festival. Another time (after a caipirinha or two) we bought concert tickets to Phantogram. Then there was that time (after a vodka soda or two) we “performed” La Bamba over and over again on Rockband. This time we drank a lot of water, discussed Bonnaroo & other music festivals, and called dibs on a trip to India. Our next dinner is French themed. Who knows what will happen there.

bacon scotcheroos Anyways, back to bacon scotcheroos. What you really care about here.

For those of you unfamiliar (who are you?!), scotcheroos are similar to rice krispie bars, but instead of marshmallows they are held together with a mix of peanut butter, Karo syrup, and sugar. Then they are topped with chocolate and butterscotch, so you are left with a sweet, crunchy, chewy bar of deliciousness.

To fit the bacon theme and because there just wasn’t enough calories in the original version of these bars, I added bacon to the rice krispies mixture and sprinkled some sea salt on top. This savory addition helps cut some of the sweetness and also makes them extra delicious. I mean… bacon, chocolate, peanut butter. Triple win.

bacon scotcheroos What you need to do is bake that bacon. Eat one slice, then cut the rest into tiny pieces. Mix together the Karo syrup and brown sugar until it boils. Stir in some chunky peanut butter until it’s melted. Then add in the bacon bits and rice krispies. Press this mixture into a greased pan. I give you permission to taste test here.

Now go melt some chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Pour it over the rice krispies and top with sprinkles of sea salt. Hide the pan somewhere until it sets. Then cut them up and give them to all your friends. Eat one or two and don’t even feel bad about it. But then make sure to workout extra hard later.

bacon scotcheroos These bars are super quick and simple to make. They freeze well. They transport easy. And they taste amazing. I don’t know what else I can say to convince you to try them, except… bacon.

bacon scotcheroos

Bacon Scotcheroos
 
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Adding bacon into classic scotcheroos is just wonderful. These bars are simple treat to put together. Plus, they have bacon, peanut butter, and chocolate. Triple win.
Serves: 20
Ingredients
  • 12oz package thick-cut bacon
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup light Karo syrup
  • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 6 cups rice krispies
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • Sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. Grease a 9x12 cake pan. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with foil.
  2. Spread the bacon out between the foil-lined pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until the bacon is baked to your liking. Chop into pieces and set aside.
  3. In a large saucepan, add the brown sugar and Karo syrup. Stir over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to boil. Remove the pan from the heat.
  4. Stir in the peanut butter until it melts.
  5. Stir in the bacon pieces and rice krispies.
  6. Press mixture into the pan. Set aside.
  7. In a saucepan (it can be the same one as before), add the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Stir on low-medium until melted. This can also be done in the microwave.
  8. Pour the melted chocolate/butterscotch over the rice kripies. Add sprinkles of sea salt.
  9. Cover and set aside until the chocolate has set.
  10. Cut into bar. Serve. Enjoy.

Besides talking about these amazing bacon scotcheroos, I also want to quickly mention a very special cake for a very special person. This cake has been years in the making. It stems from a random and weird conversation at Taco Bell in the fall of 2006, then became an idea at Public Kitchen + Bar this January, and then a reality last night.

Only for one of my very best friends would I ever make a cake in the shape of a tampon that says “Happy Menarche”.

happy birthday! Kenny, happy 28th birthday, you are amazing. Megan and Danielle, I’m glad we dreamed up this cake. Kelly, Zach, Alana, Scott, Scott, Molly, Bethany, Andrew, Chris, and Corey, thank you for eating the cake (this amazing red velvet recipe) despite its shape.

From bacon dinners to tampon cakes, I truly am friends with the greatest people.

PS- after eating tacos and tampon cake we went to see WITS with Brandi Carlile and Eric Stonestreet (AKA Cam from Modern Family). Amazing. Please go listen to WITS, then listen to all the Brandi Carlile songs, and then watch every episode of Modern Family if you haven’t already.

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Thursday Things 2.26.15

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Thursday Things 2.26.15

So I signed up for another marathon: Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN! I was going back and forth and back and forth every day about whether or not I should do it. I really wanted to train and run it, but I wasn’t sure if my body would be ready for another one. After a couple of pain-free runs I decided to just go for it, but made a promise to myself that I would go to yoga once a week. With a commitment to regular yoga and strength training along with a slow increase of weekly mileage I should be able to handle it… and have a lot of fun while doing it.

Now that I am registered I am so, so, so very excited!! The marathon is June 20 and then on June 25 I fly out to Peru to hike the Inca Trail and hang out in Lima with some girlfriends. Basically, June will be an awesome month. Awesome like these things:

Side note: YogaFit just opened a studio in Northeast. They also have studios in Excelsior and Linden Hills and have plans to open 6ish more studios across the metro. You get your first week free, so go check it out!

Annnddd if you ever want to go to yoga, lemme know.

Namaste, jd

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Jumping Jack Circuit Workout

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You guys. What a weekend. So great. There was Betty Danger’s, a run with a friend, the first Minneapolis City Running Tour of 2015, many episodes of Comedy Bang Bang (so funny), freshly baked muffins & coffee followed by yoga at a new studio with some friends, Grandma’s Marathon registration (!!!), this delicious butternut squash macaroni-n-tease pasta, The Oscars, and lots of productivity mixed in between. Basically, perfect. I hope yours was fantastic too.

So now let’s take this [figurative] weekend high and start the week on the right foot. Or in the air… with a lot of jumping jacks.

Jumping Jack Circuit Workout I am really liking this workout routine. For three primary reasons:

  1. You can do it basically anywhere, because all you need is a set of dumbbells, a timer, and a mat; however, you really could do it without any of those things.
  2. It is a full body workout in 30 minutes.
  3. It’s fun.

Need I say more? No. This image says it all:

Jumping Jack Circuit Workout When you are doing this I don’t want to see any lazy jumping jacks. I know I won’t, because A) I won’t be watching you and B) you aren’t lazy, are you?

While jumping jack-ing (I guess that’s probably how you say it?) keep your core tight, make solid movements with your arms and legs, jump high, and make them count.

Make all these exercises count, not just the jumping jacks. Push yourself lower in the squats, do more pushups on your toes than your knees, bump up a weight for the bicep curls, don’t take a break halfway through the plank hold. You can do it. You really, really can. It’s only 30 minutes.

Your body will love you afterwards. And you will love your body. No unrequited love here, people.

Happy Monday!

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Cardamom Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

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How do we make chocolate chip cookies better? Well, we can’t. It’s just a fact of life. But that’s ok. What we can do is make them different. We’re going to add cardamom and pistachios and we’re going to be very happy about it. Trust me on this.

(Side note: different does not mean better or worse, it just means different and different is still good.)

Cardamom Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yum.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies According to my blog index I haven’t made cookies since December 15, but really it was probably at least a week before that. Ok, maybe there was that one time in January… But still, that’s just too many weeks without baking cookies. Eating cookies though, that I have for sure done since December 15 (quantities not to be discussed).

People at General Mills (AKA: the people I give most of my baked goods away to so that I don’t have to eat them all myself) were all like, “Hey Jenna, you haven’t brought in any cookies lately.” And I’m all like “Yeah, I know… weird. Perhaps, soon?” Then I promised I would bring in cookies to the next Twin Cities in Motion marketing committee meeting (which was this past Thursday).

So, cookies just needed to happen. I baked some. And then I ate some. And then I shared some. And then I ate one. And then I shared the rest. But I kept two for myself. And then everyone lived happily ever after.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies Now I’m sharing the recipe with you so that you and those around you (assuming you share, not judging if you don’t) can be happy as well.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies We take a basic, but delicious, chocolate chip cookie recipe with lots of butter and sugar and flour. Then we sneak a teaspoon of cardamom in with the dry ingredients and stir some pistachios in with the chocolate chips. We are also going to refrigerate the dough over night so that all these wonderful flavors can meld together.

You know what, let’s not even sneak in that cardamom. Let’s conspicuously add it and blatantly stir in those pistachios. No one likes sneaking around anyways.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies If you don’t want to wait for the cookies to refrigerate overnight, you should probably work on your patience. But, I understand. When you want a cookie, you want a cookie. I feel you. You can go ahead and bake them right away if you want, I’m sure they will still be delicious. But just know that good things take time and you could be missing out on some even better cookies. #FOMO

We can compromise: bake a couple (example: 3) right away. Eat one straight from the oven. Eat one completely cooled. Give the last one to your significant other/best friend/cat/yourself. Let the rest of the dough sit overnight and bake them ALL the next day. You could even wait an entire 72 hours if you really wanted to.

But let’s be real, in whose fridge does cookie dough even last 72 hours?! A handful of carrots, a spoonful of cookie dough. A bunch of grapes, a bunch of cookie dough. This is why I bring cookies into work!

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies This recipe makes 3 ½ dozen cookies. 3 dozen if you taste test the dough a lot…

And then I ran 10 miles. And then I found $5.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies Oh, and don’t forget to sprinkle on some sea salt after pulling them out of the oven. Game changer.

Cardamom Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies have all the deliciousness of regular chocolate chip cookies, but also some added flair from the cardamom and pistachios.
Serves: 3½ dozen
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup unsalted shelled pistachios
  • Sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cardamom, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
  4. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  5. Stir in the chocolate chips and pistachios (feel free to chop up the pistachios a bit).
  6. Transfer dough to a sealed container and refrigerate for 24-72 hours.
  7. When ready to bake preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  8. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons (or cookie scoop) on the cookie sheets, leaving an inch or two between each cookie.
  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on the cookies, then let them sit on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
The more you let the dough soften after pulling it out of the fridge, then more they will spread in the oven.

cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies cardamom pistachio chocolate chip cookies

 

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33 Things

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Today, instead of the typical Thursday Things, I have for you 33 Things. This special edition is a link up to my friend Jessie over at The Right Fits.

I met Jessie through Calhoun Beach Run Club. She is pretty awesome and so is her blog. The Right Fits focuses on fashion and fitness where Jessie writes all about fitness apparel, race reviews, fitness classes around Minneapolis, marathon training, and her and her husband’s quest to run a marathon in all 50 states! If you haven’t checked out The Right Fits go do it right now (or after you finish reading this post).

When Jessie asked if I wanted to link up and share 33 random things about myself, I said sure. So, here I go…

33 Things

  1. I don’t take selfies. I just can’t. I never know what to do with my hands… or my face. Here and there I’ll Snapchat [unattractive] selfies to my sister, but those disappear (hopefully?). So if I am ever in a picture by myself it is either very candid or I am concentrating very hard on trying to look normal.
  2. My birthday is April 18. I’ll be turning 28 this year and am super excited about it.
  3. I grew up on a farm in Hutchinson, MN. It’s been in the family for over 100 years. Growing up I enjoyed afternoons of building forts in the hay barn, singing to the baby calves, hanging out with my pygmy goat, finding barn cats, and playing hide and seek throughout the farm with my siblings, but then there was the rock picking, unloading bails, sorting cows, chores, etc, etc…
  4. My dad is a farmer and my mom is a high school Family and Consumer Sciences (AKA Home Ec) teacher. They are the coolest.
  5. I have 3 siblings and we are all J’s: Jon, Jaci, Jordan (and me, Jenna). They are all amazing. We have a lot of inside jokes about The Simpsons. Then there is my sister-in-law Kristin. Her name doesn’t start with a J, but we still love her very much. 33 Things - Family
  6. My two favorite hobbies are (if it’s not obvious from my blog content) working out and baking. I like to think this leads to a balanced life.
  7. I tend to be very optimistic and rarely complain.
  8. From 1st through 8th grade I went to a small Lutheran school in the country. There were 5 people in my class.
  9. When I was younger I used to want glasses, so I would occasionally shine a flashlight in my eyes. I still have 20/20 vision, but no longer try to blind myself.
  10. In 5th grade I started band and played the clarinet. In 7th grade I switched to the oboe, then switched to the bassoon in 9th grade, which I played through the remainder of high school. I have been playing the piano since I was 5.
  11. In high school my friends and I dubbed ourselves as the “Steady Sexy”. We were significantly more awkward than sexy in high school, but we loved alliteration more than we loved accuracy. We are still super close to this day and just celebrated our 11th Annual Christmas Extravaganza this past December. 33 Things - Steady Sexy
  12. My worst grade in high school was an A-. One was in Keyboarding 1 and the other in PE. My favorite class was AP Calculus. Then I went to college and got a C in Geology fall of my Freshman year. I had other priorities. Don’t worry, it all worked out.
  13. When I started college I received a free housing scholarship to live in the Alpha Kappa Psi co-ed business fraternity house. I ended up pledging the fraternity. It truly shaped my college career (the people, the leadership experiences, the professional development, the parties). I lived in the house for 3 years. It was dirty and gross, but I loved it.
  14. I graduated for the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management in May 2009 with majors in Marketing and Supply Chain Management and a minor in German Studies. I was super involved at Carlson all through college and currently serve on the young alumni board (GOLD).
  15. I drink my wine red, my coffee black, my beer hoppy, and my water lukewarm. 33 Things - Beverages
  16. I love musicals. I wish life was a musical, but I can’t sing, nor can I dance. EXCEPT for my signature moves: One, Two, and Twone.
  17. I have low blood pressure and tend to stay very calm and mellow.
  18. During my freshman year of college I won a trip to Europe (crazy, I know!). Since then I have travelled to 15 countries and 22 states.
  19. In college I studied abroad in Berlin, Germany. It was the most amazing experience.
  20. I still have my wisdom teeth and am scared to get them pulled out.
  21. Breakfast foods are my favorite foods. Hands down. Mediterranean and pizza tie for second. All other foods come in third.
  22. My best friend and I go on an international trip ever year. Next up: Peru! 33 Things - Travel
  23. My first job (outside of working on the Duesterhoeft farm) was corn de-tasseling (for other farms). Other previous jobs include McCormick’s Hostess, JO Volleyball coach, Minnesota Daily Marketing Coordinator, U of MN Child Care Center employee, OMS 2550 Peer Assistant, and GAP sales associate. I like having jobs. Usually more than one. Right now I have three.
  24. I started working at General Mills as an intern at our Belvidere, IL plant and then started full time in August 2009. Since then I have had 4 different job titles, 9 different roles, and 10 different managers. In February I just started my newest role as the Customer Service Facility (CSF) Operations Lead for Canada.
  25. I became a Certified Personal Trainer in February 2014. Now I am a backup personal trainer at Custom Fitness. I also manage City Running Tours in Minneapolis.
  26. My first “race” was a 5K in 2006 that I had to run/walk. My next race was a half marathon in 2010. Since then I have run many 5Ks, 3 half marathons, 3 full marathons, a Ragnar Relay, a Tough Mudder, and other races of various lengths (1 mile, 7K, 10 mile, 30K, 20 mile, etc). 33 Things - Races
  27. I bought my condo in September 2011 and am still so in love with it.
  28. I like knitting, cross-stitching, and quilting. Basically, I’m as cool as your grandmother.
  29. I am terrible at making appointments: oil change, dentist, doctor, haircut, you name it. I also only check my mail about once a month and wash my car… rarely.
  30. I am an extroverted introvert.
  31. Will Ferrell is my #1 celebrity crush.
  32. I am a terrible storyteller. Sometimes it is too detailed, sometimes it is too vague, sometimes it is too long and I just want to quit in the middle of telling it. BUT I always find $5.
  33. I really have the coolest friends. 33 Things - Friends

So that’s me in a nutshell of 33 random things. I hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks to Jessie – who is, by the way, en route to Tokyo to run the TOKYO MARATHON!!!! – for letting me link up with her. Don’t forget to check out The Right Fits!

www.therightfits.com
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Run + Strength 30-Minute Workout

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A full body 30-minute workout that alternates between treadmill running and strength training circuits.

30-Minute Run + Strength Workout On Saturday it was -3 degrees outside with a -20 degree wind chill. That’s not ok. I was volunteering at the photo stop for the Valentine’s Day TC 5K and it was so, so, so very cold. I bundled up in lots of layers, but my poor feet were frozen. Despite putting hand warmer packets between my layers of socks I still lost all feeling. It felt like I was walking on nubs.

BUT despite the cold, it was such a great event! There were hundreds of volunteers and runners out there making the most of the day. Evidence here. The running community in Minnesota never ceases to amaze me.

After my body fully thawed I hit the treadmill for 10 miles. That is the most I have ever run on a treadmill and the longest I’ve run since the Philadelphia Marathon. I’m not going to lie, it was hard. I went slow and took a few short breaks (for mental not physical purposes), but I’m glad I did it. Even though my hips are still a little mad at me right now.

Anyways, I put together a workout involving the treadmill; however, instead of running 10 miles we are only going to be doing three 5-minute sets. Between those sets we are going to do a strength circuit. It’ll be fun.

30-Minute Run + Strength Workout With this routine you will get a full body workout, plus some cardio, in under 30 minutes.

Pretty cool, huh?

I think so. Not as cool at -20 degrees though, which is a good thing.

PS – Did you watch last night’s 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?! Oh.My.Goodness. I was dying.

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