Each week in Metro Pulse, contributor Benjamin Pounds explores often overlooked trails located outside of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Quite a few are around an hour’s drive from Knoxville making sure you spend more time on foot exploring abandoned farmlands or admiring mountain views than being trapped in the gridlock that sometimes overwhelms a trip to the Smokies.

Whether headed west to the Black Mountain section of the Cumberland Trail or north on I-75 to Cove Lake State Park in Cumberland County, it’s important to bring food that travels well and doesn’t add too much weight to your pack.

While out on the trail, Mahasti’s Appalachian Trail Mix Cookies are the added sweetness (white chocolate chips!) and crunchiness (Flour Head Bakery Honey Almond Granola!) your hike needs.

Take these cookies on your next outdoor adventure and share photos of your gang on Instagram with us. We’d love to see the satisfied faces after a few hours in the woods.

FHB Honey Almond Granola is available at both Tomato Head locations as well as Butler and Bailey Market, Kroger Bearden, and Three Rivers Market.

1 stick unsalted butter

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

2  cups Flour Head Bakery Honey Almond Granola *

1 cup dried cranberries

½ cup white chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and the sugars. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.

In another bowl mix together the flour with cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and mix well until everything is well combined.

Add the granola, dried cranberries and the white chocolate chips. Mix the batter until the ingredients are mixed in well.

Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving 1-½ inches between each ball.

Bake the cookies in a 350 degree oven for 12 – 14 minutes or until they are golden brown around the edges. Remove from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool.

December is a wonderful month for using those late-season greens from your CSA, like Swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula and kale. Inspired by our first craft beer dinner, Mahasti visited one of our favorite local farms, Hines Valley Farm, to see what seasonal greens were available and what would pair best with a selection of beers from Oskar Blues Brewery.

The fine folks at Hines Valley had a great selection of tasty kale and collard greens. Both greens partner well with the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the reduced balsamic vinegar. Rye berries offer health benefits such as being low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. They also serve as a source of fiber and Vitamin B6. Although we served this salad as a side to English-style bangers, it could work very well as an entree on its own.

1.5 cups Rye berries

3 cups Water

3 cups Kale

3 cups Collards

½ cup Onion

2 Tbl Vegetable Oil

½ cup + 1 Tbl Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbl Olive Oil

1.5 tsp Salt

1 ½ cup Dried Cranberries

Soak rye in 3 cups of water overnight. Bring 2 cups of water to boil, drain the rye berries and add to boiling water. Boil berries for 5 minutes, drain , run under cold water and set aside in a large bowl.

Meanwhile dice onions. Cut greens in half lengthwise then into thin strips.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, bring to boil, and boil for 2 – 3 minutes until reduced by ½ . Add greens and lightly sauté. Add  sautéed greens to bowl with rye berries. Add remaining tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, 1.5 tsp salt and dried cranberries. Toss until all ingredients are mixed together well.

Serve at room temperature – or refrigerate and serve cold.