Guess what I did today!
Yes, the snow was calling to me! I went into my garden and it was so pretty, with only bird foot prints in the snow. So I decided to have a bit of fun 🙂 He is looking up at my window so I can see him from my house! It was so cold out there, luckily my breakfast was keeping me warm;
One packet of plain porridge, 40g pumpkin (left over from pasta), 5g cranberries and some mixed spice. It was delish- the perfect amount of pumpkin 😉
I rang the gym this morning and according to them, body pump class was on (they often shut down over christmas but I didn’t take a leaflet as I wasn’t supposed to be here). SO I will be off to that later on, it is the new one so I am hoping I like the music. I was feeling very productive again today, and cleared out my kitchen cupboards. Do you know I have 12 cans of pumpkin? Yes, 12. I kept adding one each week to the online shopping. Hmm. I also found some chickpea flour and I have no idea what I planned to do with it. Any ideas?
For fresh air, (as well as snowlar bear) I walked up to the post office and boy I was freezing when I got home!
I also packaged up some home-made christmas fudge.
Here is the recipe if you fancy a go (adapted from Rachel Allens Home Cooking
The trick is to get it all ready, so- line a brownie pan with baking paper. Get your electric whisk out of the cupboard, attack the whisks and check it works! Assemble add-in ingredients (for me, 50g cranberries, 50g pistachios and 50g chopped white chocolate for those christmas colours). Also get a side plate to put the hot stuff on.
In a big pan, put 100g butter, 450g soft light brown sugar (or caster sugar) and 1 tin condensed milk. Put the sugar thermometer in there so it heats up slowly. Stir until it all melts, then keep the heat low and keep it bubbling (for about 7 minutes) until it reaches the soft ball stage on the sugar thermometer. (Or fiddle about with a saucer from the freezer or some water or something.).
Once it reaches that temp, remove the thermometer and spoon, (place on side plate) and beat with the mixer. It will take a while, 5- 10 minutes, until it is not runny, but thicker and harder to mix. The beaters should leave a thick trail in the mix.
Then, quickly pour half into the tin, sprinkle on the add-ins, and then cover with the rest of the mixture. It will start to harden quickly, but I find that pushing it down firmly with a non stick spatula works well. It will not set for a while, but the quicker you work, the smoother the final fudge will look. Leave to cool for a bit (lick excess fudge from beaters before washing up) and then place in the fridge. I find that you need to take it out of the fridge for a bit before you slice it. Then cut it into pieces, put into bags or tubs or whatever. It keeps fine at room temp or in the fridge. Enjoy 🙂
I keep reading that Emma keeps getting bargains from Sweatshop with codes from Womens Running mag. Well, I subscribe to the mag but never noticed the codes- luckily I looked as there is a code for 10% off, plus free postage, which expires tomorrow. I looked and they have my fave running trainers for £60 (the other day they were £80) and so I have ordered some yay 🙂
Although I am not sure if it is torturing myself by ordering shoes when I can’t go running? Hurry up and melt snow!
Mmm homemade fudge!! I havent made any since junior high..but I remember everyone going crazy over it. No wonder either, that stuff sure is addicting.
It is so tasty! I kept a little bit for me and Andy (as no more would fit in the gift bags!) and it is delish 🙂
Aww, so cute! That’s a brilliant snow sculpture. I think you genuinely have a talent for creative ventures, particularly with your gingerbread houses.
Have you ever considered investing in some Yak Trax? Or some spikes? They’re pretty good for snow running, particularly if you have a fairly consistent or long stride pattern.
Hope Body Pump was on ~ my gym doesn’t start the new release until January 8th so we’re still doing old mixes at the moment. Would love to hear what you think of it.
Woah the new body pump was hard! We had to go down a weight for the bicep curls.
I have looked at shoe sole things for ice etc, but as it is for 2 weeks of the year (and I was planning on a 2 week break from running as it was meant to be a holiday) I have so far decided not to spend the money. But if the weather continues like this then I would look into it for sure. 🙂
That fudge does look yummy!
It is tasty! And also christmas colours which is very important haha 🙂
Love your snowlar bear, he’s so cute 🙂
I’ve been ringing around about body pump classes – going to give them a try in the new year EEEEEKKKK!
laraxx
Yeah try a body pump class! I love it! I only went because the class I liked was cancelled, and the same instructor did a body pump class on the same day. It is so different to other exercise that I do, but I really really love it 🙂 Go for it!
Aww cute snowlar bear! 🙂
My BodyPump class has been cancelled! I’ll just do some weights in the gym instead, but its not the same! 🙁
YES glad you used the Sweatshop codes! They’re great! And that’s a great saving!! What shoes, out of interest?
These shoes; http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/details.cfm?ProdID=5971
I have a pair already and they are so comfy and springy. I like Nike shoes as they are wider at the front- they must fit the shape of my feet just right.
Shame your class was cancelled. Yeah I try doing weights at home but I give up so easily whereas in body pump I manage to push myself much further.
I’ve only just caught up… I’m so sorry you got caught in the airport nightmare 🙁
A bloke at work had the same; he was trying to get to San Francisco to see his girlfriend for Christmas and hasn’t been able to go at all. I read in the paper today that the boss of BAA isn’t going to take his bonus or his Christmas break. Bless him, he’ll have to manage on “just” his salary, which I believe is more than £900,000…! Plus, it’s not like he could have flown anywhere for a break – unless he went via Gatwick 🙂
Hope you have a lovely Christmas anyway xx
Ps, love the bear!
Aw thanks 🙂
It is annoying but it could have been worse- some people had spent several days in the airport but we managed to get home. I am certainly going to still have a lovely christmas, just much colder!!
🙂
Fudge looks amaze! You can make a kind of falafel with chickpea / gram flour and sweet potatoes, you can also make socca (a pancake / wrap type thing) from gram flour too. Glad you got a bargain for your trainers, I got some discounted sports bras a couple of months ago! Hope you have a great Christmas xx
Oh yeah good idea about the falafel. I made mini chickpea burgers before, but I added some millet or something I think. The chickpea flour would go with the flavour and make sense.
Thanks 🙂
aww, love your snolar bear! You almost made me want to make fudge too but then I remembered that I don’t have your will power so making would probably equal eating a fair bit of it too and I do like my roasties, pigs in blankets, yorkshires etc etc etc so perhaps I won’t after all!
Have a lovely Christmas and hope it’s a really good one for the two of you despite not being where you wanted to be!
Rosexxx
Thanks so much 🙂
Yeah the fudge in the reindeer tub is for us, and the rest is safely tied up in gift bags (some I have posted off) so there is only a limited amount! That is the trick- package it all up right away so then you can’t have loads even if you wanted to!
😉
You are not torturing yourself; merely making yourself more excited for when you can run! I am so unfamiliar with snow; your creation is SO cute!
Thanks 🙂 I had fun making it too!
I like your Snowlar Bear, very cute. 🙂
Thanks 🙂