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.

The Tomato Head celebrates one of Knoxville’s oldest and largest parks.

We invite you to join us throughout June as we fundraise for Knoxville’s most beloved park, Ijams Nature Center. Ijams offers over 300 acres of protected wildlife habitat and natural areas with over 12 miles of trails as well as convenient access to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. As a member and visitor supported nonprofit, your generous donations are needed to continue its ongoing legacy.

“Ijams is excited to partner with Tomato Head and their Loving Spoonful program for the month of June. All of the proceeds for the month will go towards programs to get kids in the Knoxville area active and outdoors,” said Mary Thom Adams, Development Coordinator. “The mission of Ijams is to provide engaging outdoor experiences for all people, and with the help of Tomato Head, we are working towards a happier and healthier community here in East Tennessee.”

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event go directly to Ijams Nature Center.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to Ijams.
• June 12 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Ijams Nature Center sandwich.
• June 17 (Pint Night Fundraiser)Featuring Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company’s “More Than Meets the Rye” double dry hopped IPA.

“Ijams is such a positive force in our community that they were an easy choice as Loving Spoonful partners.  Their work at preserving our natural environment and making their campus open and inviting for all of Knoxville to enjoy is paralleled only by the beauty of the Ijams park itself,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

But the fun doesn’t stop there!

Stop by either Tomato Head location to register to win a pair of tickets to WDVX’s Meadow Lark Festival on June 28 and a family membership to Ijams. The drawing will be held on June 25. You gotta stop by one of the locations to enter.