Triple layered!

Evening all, hope you all had a good and warm weekend. My weekend started with hot porridge and then 3 layers (for the first time)- long sleeved base layer tucked into running tights, running t-shirt tucked into shorts, long sleeved top over the top, along with gloves and earwarmer headband. I waited until the dusting of snow had melted, and then set off out. I must confess I felt ever so slightly crazy as I left my warm home for the freezing outdoors. Even with my gloves, the hand holding my water bottle had numb fingers, cue frequent swapping. The pavements were fine, but when I got to the lakes they were still frozen solid. It did look beautiful, but lots of the path was still frozen and icy so I had to take it easy. After about half an hour I did warm up, but then towards the end I got very cold (think the wind picked up)- when I looked on Nike+ after, my last 2 miles were about 9.5 min miles, whereas the rest was about 10.5 I think! All in all I did just under 9 miles in 90 minutes. I actually felt really pleased, as I wanted to keep up the level of fitness that I have built up, but I have promised myself that if I am tired then I will do a shorter weekend run. But although I felt tired in the afternoon, it did not make me as shattered as when I first ran that distance, so I kind of felt a good improvement this week. I suppose for a good few weeks I have run the same, so perhaps the consolidating of the distance has done me some good.

After that, it was time for a clif bar- this one was black cherry almond and had massive whole almonds in it. Plus vegan white chocolate chunks, and delish black cherries. T’was good πŸ™‚

I spent the rest of the afternoon baking (made some more stollen- some delivered to Andy’s parents today), visiting friends and shopping. Yes, I am feeling much less stressed about it now! I did a few bits in the shops (and today walked to the local shops and got a few more bits), and also have ordered a ton of things online. On a side note, I have to say how impressed I am with White Stuff customer services. I had an email for free delivery and free returns with code TWICE, and so I ordered a couple of dress tunic things. But when I got the confirmation email, it had charged me. So I emailed them, and about an hour later I got an email saying they had credited my account with the difference. Amazing how quickly they sorted it πŸ™‚

Today I put marzipan on all the christmas cakes (was going to ice them as I am impatient but turned out that I didn’t have any!), made chocolate chip banana loaf from Veganomicon to take to work (it’s low fat so people will appreciate that) and also more spiced pumpkin gingerbread- yummy.

I have pencilled in a gingerbread house for either next weekend or the weekend after that. Here’s the one I made last year (the roof was too small);

You had to cut out the window and door once it came out of the oven, and I was a bit nervous about it in case it cracked. This year I might go for the double window look! It did have windows in the sides too.

I also made a Mickey and Minnie ;

(Can’t work out how to rotate it).

So, I am now feeling that making stollen, a gingerbread house and the christmas cakes are becoming my tradition, however I feel thatΒ I would never make a christmas pudding! What traditions do you have at this time of year?

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14 thoughts on “Triple layered!”

  1. My mam always makes cheese scones, quiche and beef mince and corned beef and potato pies every year. When my nana was alive we always had her broth. My mam tried making broth but it will never be the same as my nanas πŸ™‚ I actually want to start creating my own traditions this year – I always have bagels with cream cheese for breakfast on Christmas day though, yum!

    1. Bagels for breakfast sound good πŸ™‚
      I always have clementines in my stocking so that is always a morning snack, followed by a few chocolate coins! Look forward to creating your own traditions πŸ™‚

  2. We have so many Christmas traditions, I don’t know where to begin! I used to make Christmas pudddings with my grandad when I was a kid πŸ™‚
    I’d love to try and make a gingerbread house this year! Looks quite tricky to make though…!

  3. I still can’t believe how organised you are! I’m ashamed to say that my Christmas baking is sorely lacking…..

    We do have other christmas traditions though, like going to see FC arrive in the local town every year. That is the ‘real’ start to our christmas and the drinking of Baileys whilst tree decorating is another!

    Rosexx

  4. Emma- It was not as hard as I thought- Rachel Allen’s Bake has all the measurements so you cut out baking paper to the right size, then once the dough is chilled you roll it out and cut the shapes for all the sides. Plus when it comes out of the oven it is soft so you can cut out doors and windows then. Go on, give it a go!
    Rachel- I am looking forward to making it this year πŸ™‚
    Rose- I love a good tradition for decorating the tree! πŸ™‚

    1. Yay I love Disney πŸ™‚ My friend got me a cookie cutter the other year when she visited, and it makes brilliant gingerbread shaped cookies so it has to be done πŸ™‚

  5. Gingerbread house!! We were going to make one of those while I was in D.C., but we never got round to it… How many people are you baking for this Christmas? Room for one more? πŸ˜‰

    1. Ah would love to cook (well, bake) for everyone, but I am off on a holiday over christmas πŸ™‚ So have to make it all before I go away!! πŸ˜‰

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