Hey guys
Due to the rain forecast Saturday morning (and I know I could have gone out Sunday instead, but I look forward to Saturday mornings) I was super speedy at getting ready. After breakfast I still managed to clean the bathrooms, but was ready nice and quick (normally I will listen to the radio, potter around at home and before I know it, 2 hours has passed). I was going to do the same 8.5 mile route as last weekend, and decided I would go on how I felt. I did wear my Nike+ but did not look at it once. I had a load of work to do Saturday afternoon, so knew I would feel all antsy and cooped up later. So it was lovely to run and really think about how good it felt to be out in the fresh air, filling up my lungs and feeling wide awake. I also saw some teeny baby bunnies- very tempted to put one (or two, or three) in my garden! I could see the black clouds gathering, and it got much darker as I went on. I also got accosted by someone from “Regiment Fitness”- (I was watching the people do their sit ups and circuits on a patch of grass when I ran past)- the man actually ran up to me and alongside me and asked if I wanted to join in! Must have seen me staring whoops! I declined politely! Anyway, I was about 2 mins from home when the heavens opened. Cue a sprint finish for me (not easy after over 8 miles)- luckily there is a little bit of covered tarmac where I stopped to get out my key before sprinting to the front door! What great timing!
Anyway, the whole run took me 89 mins, which is a whole 4 mins faster than last Saturday. Those black clouds must be some good motivation!
Once home I was thirsty so it was time for some lovely coconut water. Can you see the rain in the background? I do not mind running in the rain (I have a baseball hat or tennis visor as I still wear my glasses) but I do not like the torrential rain as it ruins my shoes etc. It was totally coming down in bucket loads.
Other exciting news- I made some cupcakes!!!!!! (I should have really chosen running cookie as my name, as I much prefer baking and eating cookies, but it did not sound as good in my opinion!) On Friday I was given a fab belated birthday present:
There are so many amazing looking recipes in here, but due to my current tea obsession, it had to be Earl Grey Cupcakes! Perfect for Father’s day too I thought. Although I think I will try it again with different teabags- Chai cupcakes anyone?
Now these puffed up like crazy in the oven, and the icing went very drippy, as you can see (not like in the picture in the recipe book) but we had one at Sunday tea and they were fab. The rest have been given to my family and Andy’s family.
Saturday evening we had burgers for tea (operation use up stuff in the freezer is still going on- I found a lonely bean burger which I made in February according to the bag!)- so I made rolls to go with them.
I was actually amazed at how the rolls turned out 🙂
Gotta love a burger with some gherkins in it! Yum yum. Plus my first fresh sweetcorn cob of this year. I love the summer time 🙂
Fave summer food?
And don’t forget to enter the Bloom Tea giveaway– one week to go 🙂
Cannelini bean, lentil and veg chilli with nutritional yeast. (Trying to empty the freezer a little).
Coconut chocolate cookies from the Vegan cookie book (these were amazing- you had to toast the coconut first, and also they used coconut butter in the recipe and melted with the chocolate). They were a hit at work 🙂
And some dried peaches. I was a little alarmed when I opened it and they were quite black, but they taste like peach jam. Yum.
Yes, that really is all just tea. Or as Peter from Family Guy would say, “All the tea”. Is that too much tea for two people?
Many various Teapigs teas, a lot of Equal Exchange Chai (it was cheaper to buy 6 boxes and we will drink it in the end), all the Whitards bargains. And hidden under all the boxes, a container for boring teabags!
One container for chai teabags (yes, we used to have only 2 containers for teabags, now we have a cupboard full). Three tins of loose leaf Whitards Christmas tea (one now contains Teapigs Assam loose leaf tea)- one was super cheap as it had a dent in the tin. Plus loads of other teas- Cosy teas from when I reviewed them, Twinnings, Rooibos chai, mint… Perhaps I should leave teaching and open a tearoom in my living room instead?
Random samples and yogi chai (which I find very strong smelling, kind of like aniseed, so I keep it in another cupboard so it doesn’t make the other tea smell like it).
Cereal bars (what can I say, I like variety). If we had other Clif bar flavours over here you know I would have boxes and boxes of them!!
Nut and seed spreads. I also have some pumpkin seed butter which I found in my cupboard after too.
Yum. This was to warm me up before heading out to the St Albans half marathon (to cheer the children on and give out the medals). Bronagh I hope you got on OK and didn’t get too wet!.
This was 150g dates, 45g cashews, 2tbs cocoa and a drop of peppermint essence. Yum they are delicious. 🙂 (and 65 cals a piece according to WLR )although I think I would use a different nut next time as I was not so keen on the cashews- maybe almonds or brazils. The original recipe uses walnuts, but I don’t like them and I don’t have any, hence the cashews. I could go crazy with my dried fruit collection- I reckon brazil and cranberry with cocoa for rocky road ones would be good.
Yum! I am pretty sure the rice milk made it delicious, and I think I should have left the agave out as it was quite sweet (the rice milk is sweetened). I did feel weird drinking cold tea (although it was a nice spicy flavour that it added)- I think my brain needs to get around that! I am sure the caffeine helped me work super fast too!