Hey!
So I enjoyed the cinnamon raisin bread I had for lunch the other week so before my run I started getting it ready. Even though I use quick yeast I prefer to start it off without all the flour- it seems to work better.
So in a cup I put a tbs wholemeal bread flour, 1tsp yeast, 1tsp sugar and about 15g raisins. I poured on warm water (probably around 90-100ml) and left for a bit. In a bowl I put 150g bread flour (half white, half wholemeal), and a ton of spices (cloves, cinnamon, ginger, mixed spice, cardamom). I also added 10g pumpkin seeds to see how they would go.
Then after a bit (when the yeast goes all bubbly) I pour this onto the flour mixture and mix it around a bit.
Then I put it on a board and knead it together- lots of stretching and folding etc. It does come together if you keep on kneading.
Once it looks all smooth (like the pic below) put it in an oiled loaf tin (I have a mini one)- or you could leave it on a baking tray and have a free-form bread).
It looks so small in the tin! Cover with cling-film and then go out on a run (or do something else for a few hours).
It will look a little like that! Put on the oven to 200C while you drink some coconut milk/ do some stretching/ make some peanut butter with cinnamon and raisins (or all 3) and then bake for 35 minutes (remove the cling film!). Have a shower.
Remove from oven and leave to cool while you dry your hair and eat a pear. Then slice and enjoy.
Yum! The verdict on the pumpkin seeds is more more more! Oh and you might guess that some of the steps mentioned above are not essential for actually making the bread! Guess which ones!
And the cinnamon raisin pb is also amazing! I didn’t take any pictures but I basically put some crunchy pb, raisins, cinnamon and some brown rice syrup in the mini chopper and whizzed it up. The raisins turn to sweet pulp, although I think they maybe soaked up some of the oil as the pb went super thick (and I did add some of the oil from the top of the tub). Anyway, this is the perfect topping for that bread.
So my 12 mile run yesterday went fine. Despite last week I still overdressed as when I got up it was quite cool, so as well as my vest I put on a jacket (it’s a long sleeve zip up top), and wore tights instead of capris (in the week I wore my joggers and forgot how annoying flappy trousers are when running). I need some kind of alarm that goes off if I wear too many clothes, as after a mile I had taken off my jacket and was wishing I didn’t have the tights on. Oh well. I found it really hard to get into a rhythm for some reason. My first 2 miles were under 10 minutes, so I knew I had to slow down, but then I slowed down too much (12.05), then got too fast again (2 miles at 9.54), so then I slowed again, too much (11.54), and then sped up too much (10.28- alright, then 2 more miles at 9.54). I sometimes have it at the beginning where my breathing goes all funny, and I have to really concentrate to breathe properly and not hyperventilate, but for some reason this continued yesterday. Maybe I was over thinking it.
The run itself was still enjoyable- there were daffodils everywhere, rabbits, and loads of daisies all over the grass at the park by the lake. And no scary geese this week (phew). The sun came out for a bit, and I even had a runnner say “hello” to me half way round, and I passed her in the same place on my way back (so she said “hello again”). I love friendly runners.
Anyway, it took me 2 hours 13 minutes in the end, so not a bad average time for me! Just a bit erratic with the pacing. I had my compression socks on (actually, I still do now- I went on a hen night last night and kept then on all through that- under my boots so no-one can see!) but I feel the need to foam roll- they feel a little stiff.
Onto the rambling (“what?” I hear you cry, ” has the rambling part not already been?”) (no friends, that was the bread and running part)- I made rice pudding with coconut milk and it worked perfectly! 25g flaked rice, 150ml Kara coconut milk soaked for several hours in the fridge (probably 6 hours)- I was cautious with my cooking- 1 min in the microwave, then 10 seconds, then 10 more seconds, and it was delicious. Plus no explosions which is always a bonus. I added a few chocolate drops to it, and left them to melt and it was scrummy.
I am also excited as I saw 2 friends last night at the hen do, and they were asking about running because they want to give it a go! So I am going to send them my plan! I am so excited! 🙂
Final ramble- how things in different sized containers look different. E.g. I cook the rice pudding in a cup, and it looks small, and then I put it in a bowl, and it looks like loads. I cook my porridge in a bowl and it looks like loads, then I spoon it into a pb jar and it looks tiny! Here is my teapot which looks the same size as one of these massive cups.
But you can actually get 3 cups (these massive cups not normal cups) from the teapot as I have one and Andy has 2.
It does not look possible to my eyes, but it works every Saturday.
Might be back for the weekly review later! 🙂
Ok so the picture is rubbish! But it is thick and creamy (helped to cool my mouth down after my home made bean burgers- I think this batch had twice the amount of chilli than normal whoopsie!). I added a drizzle of maple syrup but actually the vanilla and raisins make it nice and sweet anyway.
Cooked they look like this;
They smell so good, and I think they are pretty healthy as the recipe does not have much sugar or marg in it 🙂
This simmered away for 25 minutes. I was so stuffed after that (it made 2 portions so half is in the freezer now- and it doesn’t look that big but trust me it was a massive food pile!). It is lovely and I liked the addition of the spinach.
These are hazelnut caramel squares, from one of my Rachel Allen books. They are similar to millionaire’s shortbread, but the base is almost cakey- it’s flour, sugar, butter, eggs and cocoa powder. The caramel has toasted hazelnuts in it, and then it’s topped with dark chocolate. Yes a total sugar bomb but also pretty amazing!
I cooked it by adding hot water to it, and the cinnamon smelled lovely, but it didn’t really taste very strong. Oh well.
Yum! I have reviewed all the bars so if you want to, check it out 
They looked pretty anyway, and the cranberries were lovely in there.
