Category: General ramblings

Protein pancake experiment

So a while back I was sent some Cherry recovery mix to try. It is basically a protein powder, and although I tried it as a drink I was not that keen. I kept seeing recipes for pancakes using protein powder, so thought I would have a try. On Sunday morning I went on a run with Andy- we did the short loop which is around 6.7 miles. After stretching, showering and warming up, I attempted the batter.

The recipe I found was 2 scoop of protein powder, 2 eggs and some fruit. I went for 1 egg, a little of the buckwheat pancake mix, and some soya milk so it made a normal looking batter. It smelled a lot like cherry!

I added some blueberries to the pan, but this didn’t work out so well as they were huge and so the pancake split when I flipped them.

They didn’t look very appetising (I burnt them a bit by being impatient and turning up the heat), but they tasted quite nice (and after running nearly 7 miles I am not that fussy!). They had a different texture to normal pancakes, but I much preferred that way of eating the protein powder than in a drink.

After that I tried out my new compression socks- I love them!

After pottering about a bit we headed to the cinema to see Wolf of Wall Street- much more light-hearted than our earlier cinema trip. I smuggled in some nuts and chocolate as it was 3 hours long (and no interval!) and we had missed lunch.

Do you tend to eat in the cinema? We don’t usually- sometimes I take a little chocolate bar with me for us to share, but I usually forget about it.

* I was sent the powder in exchange for a review- all opinions are my own.

First try at polenta

On our National Parks holiday in the summer I ended up eating polenta quite a few times, as often it was the only veggie option on the menu. I have never tried it before but I really enjoyed it, so a few weeks ago I bought some to try. Then I realised that it might be a bit complicated, plus I found a recipe in The Clandestine Cake Club book for lemon polenta cake that I wanted to try out. I mean, making a cake must be easier, right?

It was a pretty standard cake recipe (I have found a similar one here if you are tempted), but instead of flour it used a mixture of ground almonds and polenta(this also makes it gluten free)- I didn’t have quite enough ground almonds, so used a bit more polenta so the overall weight was the same.

I was asked to try some Clover Immunity Support for the blog, so I used that in the cake. It is rich in Vitamin A and a source of Folic Acid, so it helps support a healthy immune system whilst its Vitamin E content also helps protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress.

The batter was so yellow!

It had to cool upside down (not sure why?) before being topped with a lemon syrup- basically lemon juice and a few tsp icing sugar all boiled up for a few minutes.

The syrup pooled on the cake instead of sinking in, but still had a lovely lemony taste.

Anyway, I should have halved the recipe as it made a huge cake, but luckily last Sunday we had people to help us eat it!

It was a really moist cake- I love lemon cake anyway, especially with ground almonds, but the polenta adds a bit of texture too.

So, I might try “real” (savoury) polenta another day, but for now I am content in using it in a cake.

Have you ever had polenta before? Any good recipes, point them my way! On holiday I had some lovely savoury polenta served with balsamic roasted veggies- I fancy recreating something like that at some point.

*I was sent compensation to cover the cost of the Clover spread, all opinions are my own.

A better sports massage

But first up, the rest of the week. On Wednesday instead of Sweatshop we went to the cinema to see Twelve Years a Slave (well we were going to see Anchorman but it was on too late for a school night). Now, I am not someone into romantic comedies, and I do like films based on true stories. But this film felt exhausting from beginning to end. I hope this is not a spoiler (but if you are worried then skip down to the next paragraph) but when it finished all I wanted to do was watch Django Unchained to see slaves getting some retribution. It was very claustrophobic to watch, and worse as it is all true (and apparently toned down for the film).

On Thursday I went to pump and upped my weights a bit as I have been feeling fine. Oh my word that shoulder track is so tough. I wimped out and kept the lightest weight but have promised next week I will go up one- not sure how I am going to manage that! The lunges were even more painful and I had to stop- I thought it was because I had chosen a heavier weight but then our instructor realised she had swapped legs too late- no wonder the first leg was so tough! When I got home I had a hot chocolate and some mango and papaya.

On Friday after work it was time for run number 2 of the week- I did 3.6 miles in the end, and was pleased as I managed to keep my average pace as 9.58- just sneaking in under the 10 mark! It was so cold and my legs felt like lead (a combination of post pump legs and the cold air I think) so I was even more pleased to have managed it. Then after dinner we watched The Little Mermaid and enjoyed some of this gorgeous vanilla and coconut popcorn.

This morning I was off for my sports massage- I was super nervous but when I got there I explained that the last ones I had were quite painful so he promised to take it easy. As the physio had said that my lower back was tight, he focused on that, and also my left shoulder as I have a problem with that- sometimes I can’t turn my neck to look over my left shoulder as it seems to freeze. Now, I was a bit worried that it would be weird, him being a man and all (last time I had a woman) but it was actually OK and pretty relaxing. There were some tender spots, but generally it felt just like good tension release. I did feel a bit dizzy when I got back up again after, but apparently that is normal. I am going to leave it for a bit before I book my next one (his advice) but I am not dreading it now!

Also, look what came this week in the post! Pretty compression socks! I ordered them after Christmas (from running skirts UK)- going to wear them after my run tomorrow. Well, one pair.

As for the half marathon training, I feel like I have had now nearly 2 weeks of good running (well no pain or soreness in my hip or anything) so I think I can start getting into it properly. My plan says an 8 mile run this weekend, but then next weekend is only 6 (because really I am joining the plan almost half way through- not advised but I know that I can cope with that)- so I am going to swap them over, do the loop tomorrow that is just over 6 miles and see how I get on.

After the sports massage this morning I popped into town- I wanted to look at some trail shoes in John Lewis (I have vouchers and I like to buy big things with vouchers, not lots of little things)- anyway they only had them in the clearance in a size 4- too small for me.  I started to feel quite drained, and saw this chai latte when I was getting some flowers for my mum. We went to my parents to watch the football, and then late afternoon I had it as a rather late pick me up. I think I have had it before, and I really should write it down that I am not a fan of powdery drinks. I even used my little frother to mix it up, but still the texture is grainy, plus I don’t like the idea of powdered milk. This is the perfect example of why I should not go in a shop when I am tired and/or hungry.

Ready for tomorrow I have been baking from my Clandestine Cake club book- this is a spiced cake with a fresh marzipan filling (icing sugar, ground almonds and egg)- smells pretty good.

It was a bit of a faff to do the layers- the cake batter is very thick and you had to put half on the bottom, then the marzipan filling (which was thick and crumbly) and then top with the rest of the cake mixture. I think it will be worth it though. The only trouble with making a big cake is that I can’t try a small bit first (for quality control purposes you understand)…

Would you prefer a male or female sports masseur? When I booked my second physio appointment originally they had swapped me to a male one, but I worried so much about it I ended up changing the appointment. I was a bit apprehensive about it today, but it was fine and I am glad I went.

Tea flowers!

Hey peeps! Where has the week gone??
Before Christmas I bought some little tea flowers from Ikea. I finally got around to trying them out this week!

I used some of the posh tea I bought at the Cake and Bake show- anyway the flower floated about a bit an infused really well, plus it was very easy to snap open to clean the tea leaves out after. Plus it is so pretty!

On Sunday I was up early doing work- I had a mint tea but was so busy that about 3 hours passed before I realised I had not had breakfast. I fancied pumpkin pancakes but couldn’t be bothered to wait for each one to cook, so I cooked all the batter in one for a super pancake. The problem was it was so thick it took ages to cook- I am sure it would have been quicker to just cook in batches!

On Monday I was planning on going for a run, but I left work later than I had planned, and it the rain was torrential (plus I had a big pile of marking)- I don’t mind running in the rain but had so much to do, so I did some of the yoga DVD again, did some marking while dinner cooked and felt much less stressed.

We had some sweet potato chilli in the freezer, so we heated it back up and I had mine with a gorgeous avocado. So tasty.

Yesterday the weather was much better so when I got home I headed out on a run. I have a 3.5 mile route so went for that. I didn’t want to go out too fast (although I was tempted) but I was pleased I managed to keep it steady, and ended up being just over 10 min miles for the average (including stopping to cross roads)- much better.

I am not going to Sweatshop tonight, but think I will go next week if I have another week of feeling fine.

We are making the most of a run-free evening by heading to the cinema later.

How do you relax/ de-stress? I found the yoga DVD good partly because it is not too long- the section I did was around 20/25 minutes- any longer and my mind would start thinking about what else I need to do once it finishes.

The Top 5 Home Remedy Cures For The Cold

I don’t know about you, but at this time of year I am generally bound to get the sniffles at some point (in fact I had a cold when we got back from Cologne in December)- working with children certainly doesn’t help. I don’t usually take cold tablets or anything like that, I much prefer to have soothing things like hot water with lemon and honey. I have a guest post for you today about other home remedies to help with colds:

1. Garlic
Garlic contains a number of antiseptic properties that are capable of protecting your immune system against the common cold, and according to scientific research, the allocine contained in garlic is very active in stimulating the white blood cells in the body. In addition, the oil in garlic plays a major role in opening up the respiratory passages.

Note that garlic loses its potency when cooked. So, you should always take it raw during times of sickness. Crush 3 to 4 cloves of garlic, mix with a glass of warm water and drink the mixture quickly in one sip. For effective treatment, take this medication at least three times a day until you start feeling better.

2. Noodle Soup
If you are not aware of it, chicken soup contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are very effective in fighting the common cold. Scientific research reveals that it contains cysteines, which can actually thin mucus secretions in your nose and help your body fight against opportunistic viral invaders. In addition, the carbohydrates present in the soup are easy to absorb and can help maintain the energy levels in your body.

Even though non-organic noodle soup can reduce some symptoms of cold, it supplies the body with herbicides, growth hormones and pesticides that are not recommended for your well-being. So, make sure you take organic noodle soup. 

3. Saline Nose Sprays
The inflammation in the nose during a cold is caused by molecules called lymphokines or cytokines, which are produced by the body as it tries to fight the infection. Washing these molecules with a saline solution can reduce the inflammation. You can make your own saline solution by adding 1 teaspoon of salt to 7 ounces of water in a clean nasal spray bottle or dropper. Spray or drop the solution in each nostril at least four to five times a day. 

4. Pepper
If you have a runny or stuffed up nose, gargling pepper in hot water, eating pepper with a meal or even simply smelling pepper can help break apart any congestion in your lungs or sinuses. The hot substance pepper called capsaicin is pharmacologically similar to guaifenesin. It is very active in thinning mucus secretions and helping get rid of the germs present in the nasal passages. 

5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Adding 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water helps to alkalinise your cherished body. Creating an alkaline environment in your body helps kill dangerous viruses and bacteria that cause the common cold. For effective treatment, start taking it at the first sign of infection and repeat several times a day until the symptoms start subsiding.

About the author:

Charlotte Rivington loves to blog about health-related topics, in particular her favourite recipes and nutritional advice. For all her food supplies she uses milk&more – a dairy and grocery delivery service. You can read a Milk and More review here.

I keep reading brilliant things about apple cider vinegar- it is something I need to try I think as prevention is better than cure.

What is your favourite cold remedy?