Posted by Jill

Serial and I always try to eat healthy, but a few times a year we decide to add in more raw foods.  Minimally, we like to cut out the processed stuff, wherever possible.  So when I was flipping through one of my raw food books and stumbled on a recipe for a raw cereal made from just two ingredients (three if you count the optional dried fruit), I was all about it.

The book I was flipping through was Raw Food Real World by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis.  It's not a great starter book, it contains the dishes that they serve in their restaurant so they involve more prep work.  If you're looking for a good entry level book for eating raw, check out Everyday Raw by Matthew Kenney. (not sponsored, just my opinion on books I purchased).

I adapted the recipe for Maple Cinnamon Buckwheat Crispies and cut out about half of the ingredients (mainly just the spices and stevia).  I've been making this for a few weeks now, in big batches before the week starts, and we are both loving it.  I forsee this being a regular recipe in our rotation and saying a permanent goodbye to the boxed cereals from the store. 

This recipe is made with Raw Buckwheat Groats, which are available in most health food stores in the bulk bin section.  They are about $2-3 USD per pound, and each pound will yield a TON of cereal. 

Nutritionally, Buckwheat is really great.  It's comparable to other grains in calories, but it really shines in the fiber and protein categories.  A 1/4-cup serving of dry groats contains 32 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fiber, which will help lower cholesterol and keep you feeling full, for a longer time than grains with less fiber.  That same serving contains 1.5 g of total fat and 6 g of protein, which is great for energy and nutrient absorption. 

We like to add dried berries to our cereal, although it would be delicious on it's own as well.  We've tried blueberries and goji and now they are both regular guest stars in our recipe. 

3 cups raw buckwheat groats
1/2 cup raw coconut nectar (or other sweetener like agave or maple syrup)
Dried fruit* - optional (we like goji berries and blueberries)

*you really could add anything that you like in your cereal.  dried fruit is just one suggestion.  we're planning to try versions with cacao powder, flax seeds, vanilla, honey... the list goes on.

1. Soak the buckwheat groats in a large bowl with about 6 cups of water, for at least 2 hours.  The groats will expand and the water will become a little thicker. 
   
2. Drain and rinse the buckwheat groats in a mesh strainer or cheesecloth bag, with fresh water.  Your goal is to rinse them clean of the water they were soaking in.
3. Put the soaked and rinsed groats in a blender or a food processor with the maple syrup and pulse until they are combined.  The texture should be like cake or pancake batter, but not quite as smooth.
4. Spread the mixture on nonstick sheets and dehydrate at low temps (115 F for raw, 175-200 F for non-raw).  If you don't have a dehydrator, check your oven settings.  Ours has a "warm" setting that is low enough for raw foods.
   
5. Let the mixture dry for about 3-4 hours, then check on it.  It should be dry on top, but still somewhat wet on underneath.  Take a spatula and flip the mixture over, leaving it in big pieces, where possible. 
   
6. Continue to let it dry for another 3-4 hours, checking on it every hour or so.  The goal is to dry the cereal out, but not burn it.  
7. Once it is fully dried, mix in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  It should keep for a few weeks.

Enjoy!

Posted by Jill

Damascus, VA is a special place.  It's directly on the Appalachian Trail and the people that live there are so into the outdoors.  Not to mention how welcoming and warm everyone is.  When I moved there in 2009, I didn't know a soul.  I was just a girl in love so I left Chicago and followed a boy (Serial, duh) to the middle of Appalachia.  I knew it would be an adjustment going from a city of 2 million to a town of under a thousand, but I never could have known just how wonderful it would have been.  The three years I spent in that town are filled with cherished memories.

But this post isn't about my sappy love for all things Damascus.  (Although I could ramble on for another 4 or 5 paragraphs, that's for sure).  It's about the amazing trails that are in Dtown.  When we lived there, we got out several times a week for a hike or run and often we didn't even have to leave town.  Most times I could just walk out my door and go.

Asheville is no slouch, don't get me wrong.  But there is nothing like small-town living and hiking.  So when my good friend Meghan suggested we meet in Damascus for a day hike, I jumped on the opportunity.  It's the perfect halfway point between our homes and our friendship really developed on the SWVA trails.  When we both lived in Damascus, we used to go for long runs and catch up on life, while our dogs wore themselves out on the trails.  Perfection.

Since we had two cars that day, we decided to do the AT/Backbone route that we love.  It's about 7 miles (6.92 according to my Garmin) and there are two options.  The route joins 2 steep miles on the Backbone Rock Trail with 5 gradual miles on the AT.  So you can start at Backbone Rock parking lot and knock out the steep 2 mile climb, then enjoy the 5 mile descent into town on the AT.  Or you can do the gradual climb out of town, then hike the 2 miles down to Backbone. 

One thing to note, there isn't water along the way, even for the dogs.  So we carry a big bottle of water each and share it with our pups.

We chose to climb Backbone first, since we love that route and prefer to start with a good sweat.  So we busted out the tough 2 mile climb.  It starts out friendly enough, but there are 3 false summits and each one gets steeper and steeper.  It's a nice workout though and the scenery is spectacular. 

The whole route took us about 3.5 hours, but we really took our time and were chatting the whole way.  When we used to run the last 5 miles back into town, it took us about 2 hours total.  The first 2 miles consistently take us an hour, the last 5 are pretty dependent on how hard we're pushing it.

Either way though, the dogs have a blast.  This is Rooney's friend, Tucker.  Don't you just want to squish his little face and smother him in kisses? 

Tucker thinks Rooney is a touch crazy.  He's right.

And of course, it always feels good to be reunited with a white blaze.  Hello, old friend. 

We stopped and guzzled some water once we finished our climb.  Then snagged some pics with the pups.  Apparently in the direct sunlight.  Sorry, Roon.

A few miles from Damascus, you cross from TN into VA.  On a thru-hike, this is such a special spot.  You know you're going to be in town shortly, you've crossed another state off the list, and soon you'll get to say you made it to Damascus! 

Then you catch your first glimpse of Damascus through the trees and you start hustlin.  Like, omgpizzabeershower type hustlin. 

You gradually get closer and closer, until finally you are in the town park.  The AT actually runs through the town and it's pretty fantastic.  Only a few trail towns actually have the trail through the town, and it was really nice to call this home for a bit.  I promise you, Damascus is a special place.

Posted by Jill

One of the go-to after work spots for us is the Point Lookout Greenway Bike Trail.  It's a paved trail that runs for 3.62 miles at a gradual incline. 

The trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 and connects Old Fort to Ridgecrest.  There are views the whole way and it's a nice, easy stroll.  The gain is only 900 feet so you can warm up, but not break a crazy sweat.  We've parked at both ends of it and walked in, and both are great.

Rooney loves it too - so many sticks to chase! 

There is also a railway that runs near the trail.  We saw two trains go through on this particular day.

It's nice when we can find a trail that's nearby, but not packed with people.  Just a handful of bikers or runners, but mostly just crisp, open air and beautiful views.

Posted by Jill

One of the best things about living in Asheville is the Blue Ridge Parkway.  A few weeks ago, we took a drive North on the parkway and stopped at a few different places to hike and admire the views.   It was a foggy and amazing day.  Just looking at this picture makes me happy.

We started below the clouds, drove through them and ended up on top of them. 

We ducked through Rhododendron tunnels - one of my favorite parts of the trails around here.

Rooney's a big fan too.  I think he likes that he can run in the smaller tunnels and he knows we won't come in after him.  What can I say, the pup likes his adventures too.

Once we got up to about 5500 feet, the views were breathtaking.  It was so gorgeous to look out and see the mountains that we love poking through the clouds.  It felt like we were a million miles from town, in a world of our own. 

I just want to run my hands through the clouds and walk along those ridges. 

Who's with me?

This post is part of a  Q&A series written by Appalachian Trail hikers.  If you've hiked the AT or are planning to hike the AT, and would like submit a guest post, visit this page for more information.  If you want to read more posts from this series, click here.

Note from Jill:  Misti/Ridley is not only an AT thru-hiker, but she's also a Florida Trail (FT) thru-hiker.  When I first visited her site, I tore through the updates from both hikes.  I've always been curious about the FT and I loved seeing her pictures.  And check out this FAQ post on the FT - so great!  I also love that she and her husband hiked both trails together.  Hiking a trail with a partner is both tough and amazing - I have a lot of respect for couples who find the joy in it and go back for more.  Take it away, Ridley!

1. What is your trail name and what year(s) did you hike?
Ridley---March 13-August 11, 2010

2. Where did you start your hike?
Amicalola Falls State Park and the Approach Trail

3.  Where did you finish your hike?
Mt. Katahdin!

4. Did you start with a group/partner or solo?
I started with my husband, Panther.

5.  What’s the best thing about hiking?
Waking up somewhere new every day. The smells---oh man, the smells of the woods, they changed as we walked north. The little bits of beauty we'd find even if were bone tired---flowers, dew on the leaves, misty mornings, the sounds of the birds or even complete silence.

6.  What’s the worst thing about hiking?
Wet shoes, walking in unrelenting rain, and the inevitable last mile of the day, which seems like it is five miles instead of only one.

7.  Describe your best day on the trail
I think hiking up Katahdin was one of my best days on the trail, maybe *the* best day. We left Katahdin Stream at 2am, the earliest we were allowed to hike up the mountain, and hiked up the mountain in the dark. Coming around those first rocks above treeline in the dark is breathtaking and frightening all at once. It was a clear night but in the distance we saw clouds which freaked us out a bit, not knowing if they were storm clouds. We arrived at The Sign about twenty minutes before sunrise, but there were tinges of light already. It was pretty damn awesome to have the summit to ourselves for several hours, really not seeing anyone else until we descended mid-morning and were just below treeline. Of course the crappy part of that day was trying to hitch out of the park; we waited three long hours for a ride.

8. Describe your hardest day on the trail
I don't know if there was necessarily a hardest day---there were hard moments and hard portions of days. Several moments stick out, climbing up Sassafras Mountain the second day on the trail was eye-opening, a chilly rain in June while hiking through Pennsylvania---there was nowhere to stop for lunch until we came across a small bridge that we huddled under hoping for the rain to stop. It never did and we slept there like hobos with two of our friends for the night. Another hard moment was hiking up the bare Gap. We'd just met a friend in town for lunch at McDonald's and had a full, greasy belly; the humidity and heat from the day was overbearing. We were nearly to the top when a t-storm came up on us and it began to rain. With the heat I thought I was going to pass out. The rain cooled us off and we continued on down the trail after, but it was not a fun moment.

9. Did you ever feel like quitting your hike?
Yes. We had to get off trail for five days to attend the funeral of my baby niece. Being home was exactly what I needed as I had been going through a bout of homesickness and I think this trip home helped me later on in the hike, but it was incredibly difficult to go back to the trail after seeing the anguish of my brother and sister in law. Hiking seemed so frivolous right then.

10. How did you prepare for your hike?
We lived in Florida before hiking the AT so we hiked on flat trails. It might have helped our endurance on some level and to prepare for wearing a pack and using our gear, but nothing can prepare you for hiking up and down and around mountains every day for five months other than hiking up and down mountains for five months.

11. Do you stay in contact with your trail friends?
Yes, as much as I can. Mostly through Facebook, some through email.

12. Would you attempt another long distance hike?
We did do another long distance hike six months post-AT, we hiked the 1,100 miles Florida Trail. We haven't done another trail since then, but our long-long distance trails are probably on hold for awhile. I'd like to do shorter distance long trails in the meantime.

13. Would you thru-hike the AT again?
Yes, probably when I'm older. Part of me wants to do it southbound but another part of me wants to experience the rush of the group heading north again.

14. Do you have any advice for the next class of thru-hikers?
It's all mental. Barring no injuries or bad illness, the mind is what you need to conquer. Take it one day at a time. There will be down days, accept them and battle through. Don't give up, the reward for accomplishing your goal feels awesome!

Posted by Jill

I read a lot of blogs and right now it's all about the goals and resolutions.  Everyone is recapping 2013 and setting their sights on 2014.  I like it. 

I know the long-time notion that resolutions are abandoned by February, but I love this time of year.  Everyone is all geared up and hopeful for what is to come.  Whether it happens or not, I just like the positivity and determination that everyone has this week.  It's contagious.

I have a few goals for the year, but I also like to recognize what we did well in 2013 too.  I like the idea of continuing what works and improving on what doesn't.  It makes it all feel more attainable.

HEALTH
Overall, I like where we are with our eating.  Sure, we could cut back on the sweets and snacking, but in general we're pretty healthy.  I'd like to continue juicing each day and eating healthy, vegan meals together at home. 

One goal I have for 2014 is to increase our raw food consumption.  We both have raw breakfasts and sometimes raw lunch too, but once the days get a little warmer I'd like to bump it up to 75%-80% raw overall. 

FITNESS
I love that we live in a hiking paradise.  We get out often for shorter hikes, on our days off and after work.  I have no doubt that this will continue, but I'd love to add in more longer hikes and camping trips.  And trail magic on the AT.  (eeks I cannot wait for Spring!)

One of my personal goals is to bump up the resistance and weight training.  Jillian Michaels, come to mama.  I recently signed up for Amazon Prime and they have a bunch of her DVDs available so I plan on letting her beat me up a little.  I toyed with the idea of joining a Crossfit (I've wanted to for so long), but until we have two cars, it's just not feasible.

Another goal is to really sink into yoga.  I practice now, but only a little bit each day and while I love it, I don't really feel like I'm connecting with it like I want to.  I'd like to really push myself and see where it takes me.

LIFE
I'm really content and happy with our life and the people in it.  Last year was so full of changes with the move to NC and us both starting new jobs, this year feels like it should just be focused on enjoying this life we established and connecting with the people we love.  I want to make an effort to see friends and family, and continue to enjoy each day with Serial and Rooney.

My biggest life goal for this year, and the one that I feel will help out so much, is to get organized.  At work, I am an organizational machine.  Everything is labeled, scheduled and on point.  It's fantastic.  At home, I'm so-so.  I start to get organized, and then stop mid-point.  Or I do enough to get by, but not enough to really get ahead of the curve.  I know how to be organized.  Shoot, someone else actually pays me for my skills.  Why don't I d service for my own life and home?  It's silly. 


What are your goals for 2014?  What did you love about 2013 that you're going to continue doing?

Posted by Jill

It's been a long time since we have put up a post.  Frankly, I've missed the blog.  We were away from it for good reasons (work, life, yada, yada), but I find that I really do miss the outlet and the connection with others.  So, I'm back.  Hello!  How have you been?  Let's catch up!

Here's what we have been up to lately. 

The holiday celebrations have been fantastic and hectic.  Both of us started new jobs this year so we hadn't accrued much time off.  Fortunately, I work remotely and just need an internet connection (and some peace & quiet) and Serial was able to get a few days here and there.  So we made the best of it and squeezed in family time whenever we could.

For Thanksgiving, we really went for it.  Full-blown travel craziness.  I flew back to Chicago and spent a few days with my bestie and her family and then went to my brothers to spend the rest of the week with my family.  Serial and Rooney drove to Ohio and spent the holiday with his family, then drove to Chicago to round out the visit.  Then we gathered up all our favorite Chicago vegan treats and beers and drove home all together. 

Right before Christmas, I flew back to Chicago for a super quick visit and soaked up some time with my brother and parents.  Then I flew home to NC on Christmas eve to spend Christmas day with Serial and Rooney.  We went for a hike (it was a gorgeous day) and lounged on the couch with movies and good food. 

After a few quick days of work, Serial's parents came to stay with us for the weekend after the holiday and we got to extend the Christmas celebration for a few more days.  It has been a whirlwind of a holiday season, but oh so worth it to see the people we care about. 

Now we sit here on New Years Day, at the start of a fresh calendar.  I have a few resolutions and goals, but I'm really just looking forward to seeing what happens in the coming months.  I'm thankful that I have my handsome man and adorably crazy pooch and that I get to share a home with them.  And that I have a great family and group of friends to that I'm able to share experiences with (that includes you, blog friends!). 

Predictably, one of my resolutions is to blog more.  I've even got a planner notebook and some structure around it.  Organization for the win.  I'll share the rest of my resolutions in the coming days.  Until then, Happy New Years, friends!