The road to self-improvement is a rocky one, full of ruts and potholes, mudslides and blockages. Oftentimes, you wonder if you’ll arrive at your destination. Should you turn around and go back? Is this even a path you should pursue? It’s never quite as easy as we anticipate.
I’m up to day 21 of my daily exercise challenge. 3 weeks. I thought it would be easier by now. I figured I’d be addicted to the endorphin rush, eager to drive to the gym to get in my daily hit of movement. Instead, I’ve been begging my husband to literally kick me out of bed and my friends to yell at me until I get my butt into those compression tights and through the doors of the local Planet Fitness. My motivation is waning.
It doesn’t help that I haven’t really seen any improvement at all.
I’m not expecting miracles. But I figured that I’d make some gains in my endurance by now, be able to push myself a little further, a little harder. The most I’ve managed were 3 2-minute slow jogging intervals a couple days ago. This is nothing like my Couch-to-5K training in 2008. And I’m a little ticked off by that.
I forget that I have to be kinder to myself. That my body doesn’t bounce back the way it did pre-back injury. And it won’t respond the same way. Patience. It seems I am constantly learning that lesson.
Still… 21 days. I may not feel any different, and I’ve only dropped a few pounds, but it has to be doing something for me. Right? Just keep swimming…
Rocky Road Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup 16 Tablespoons Kerrygold butter, cut into 16 pieces
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped (I used Ghirardelli, which is 60% cacao)
- 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate chopped roughly
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 5 large cage-free eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup toasted almonds chopped roughly
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with coconut oil or butter, line with parchment paper, and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the butter, bittersweet, and unsweetened baking chocolate at 50% power for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is all melted (this is slow going, but it keeps you from accidentally seizing the chocolate). Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat at medium speed for 3-5 minutes, or until lifting the paddle from the bowl produces distinct ribbons.
- On low speed, beat in the slightly cooled melted chocolate.
- Add the salt and flour, mixing only until just combined.
- Remove bowl from mixer and gently fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.
- Spread into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle marshmallows over the top and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out slightly moist. If the marshmallows aren't browned enough for your taste, you can place the brownies under the broiler for a couple of minutes to toast them.
- Cool on a wire rack for at least an hour (preferably until completely cool) before slicing and serving.
Notes
*Be sure the brownies are fully-cooled before you grip the parchment paper and yank them out. Otherwise, you'll be eating brownie trifle.
*If you’re impatient, you can pop the brownies in the freezer to cool faster. Frozen brownies, by the way, are actually really easy to cut.
You have such a beautiful site here! I love it… and these brownies look to. die. for!!! I’m visiting from the CNN and will be pinning and sharing on my facebook page.
Thank you so much for your kind words! The brownies are awesome–no exaggeration. Let me know what you think of them when you bake them!
These look fabulous…thanks for sharing!
These brownies look decadent!
These brownies are gorgeous, Carrie! Keep at it…you’re doing awesome being 3 weeks in already, many don’t last half that long!
If I keep eating brownies like this, I’ll HAVE to keep at it. Endless cycle. 🙂
Stick with it – we don’t bounce back as quickly as we used to but we still bounce! This recipe is just what I need today – sometimes you just need a good hit of chocolate!
Very pretty brownies! When it comes to exercise, not sure if this will help but my road to liking to exercise was very rocky indeed and 21 day doesn’t kick in the love yet… it will take a little longer. Give or take a few months and then the benefits and addiction to movement will set in 🙂
I know, I just have to give myself more time. And keep at it. Nothing easy was ever worth having anyway, right? Thank you!
I adore rocky road ice cream. These look even better
They are awesome–even better than the ice cream!
These are GORGEOUS! Your photos are really beautiful, and the brownies are making my mouth water. My 7-year-old would especially go nuts for these because he loves chocolate and marshmallow. Pinned!