Monday night chilli

Hey peeps,

How are we all doing?

At the moment I am very much enjoying our Monday night dinners. Andy has been making sweet potato chilli (based on this recipe)- he makes a big batch one week which we then freeze and have for the next few weeks which make for super easy dinners.

Yesterday I had mine with some spinach and an avocado- so tasty and filling. I had just been on a run (4.3 miles- gradually making my after work runs a little longer) and it was cold outside so this was just the ticket.

Last week I made some peanut butter brownies- they went down very well with Andy’s family so here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

100g butter/ spread

160g caster sugar

30g dark brown sugar

125g dark chocolate

1 tbs golden syrup

2 free range eggs

100g plain flour

2 tbs cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tbs peanut butter

Method:

Easy! Put the butter, sugars, syrup and chocolate in a large pan and heat gently- keep stirring until they melt. Leave to cool for a little.

Preheat the oven to 170C and line a brownie pan with baking paper.

Stir in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, and then finally the eggs. It will be quite runny.

Pour into the pan and then spoon over the peanut butter. Feather with a knife so it swirls about a bit. Yes that is a technical term.

Bake for around 20 minutes, depending on how gooey you like them. I check that there is a little wobble in the centre, as they will firm up as they cool (the chocolate will solidify).

Slice once cool.

Optional icing:

Melt together 2 tbs peanut butter and 80g white chocolate (I did it in the microwave). Drizzle over the top. You could do this with dark chocolate for proper chocolate hit but I wanted the colour of the icing to show up, hence the white.

Mmmm, slice into many many slices. This made 28 very rich and delicious brownies.

I had plenty of the icing left, so decided to make pb cups with it, of course. I chilled it in the fridge so I could spoon it into the cups more easily.

Melt some white chocolate in the microwave, spoon into paper cups, fill with a little tsp of the pb mix, and then top. I also found these super cute hearts (from Dr Oetker) so added them to the top of each one.

Yes the white chocolate heart does not show up that well on the white chocolate cup. But they taste pretty addictive- not something to make all the time! You have been warned…

On Sunday evening I did some yoga and it made me feel so much better after. It does have some challenging moves in there, but also some of the stretches just feel so good, almost like a massage from the inside if that makes sense? I must remember to keep up the habit.

Jantastic week 4!

My how time has flown! I can’t believe that 4 weeks of the Jantastic challenge have already been completed.

The first month is all about being consistent, and I am so pleased to have managed 100% of my runs for the entire month.

This week on Monday I headed out after work. I have been keeping those after work runs pretty short, but I have wanted to increase them a bit- I just need to get home a bit earlier! I managed 4.1 miles on Monday, so creeping up slightly. I tried out my new trail shoes by running on the verges a bit- they are weird as the soles are so chunky so my feet feel very high off the ground. Anyway the grip seemed good which is the main thing- hopefully once the evenings get lighter I can use them on the fields a bit.

Tuesday was an evening of work, plus a little bit of baking for some respite:

Mince pie and marzipan slices and peanut butter brownies as alternative birthday cakes

On Wednesday we were going around to see Andy’s family so as soon as I got home I went on a run as I would not have had time for a shower and dinner if I had waited for Sweatshop. This was where Jantastic helped- it was tipping it down with rain and I didn’t really fancy it, but knew that I had to log 3 runs and would fancy it far less on Friday after work. Once I got out there I really enjoyed the majority of it. The first mile was hard as the rain was so cold it was stinging my face, but it then eased off, and I started to warm up and ended up going further than I had planned- 3.7 miles (was going to do 3 miles tops).

Thursday was Pump day- the instructor told us she had to be out on time, whereas usually we finish maybe 5 minutes late (takes a while to pack all the equipment back away) and she had voted to miss out the lunges track. I can’t pretend to be disappointed, but it did then mean we had the shoulder track (which I find the toughest) right after the biceps with no rest for the arms in between, so I really struggled with that this week.

On Friday I went to visit my Nan so was home quite late, and again it was torrential rain so I was very glad of my decision on Wednesday to get the run done.

Then on Saturday I headed out with Andy. I wanted to do 10 miles but he only wanted to do 8, so we did the loop together (eg me running a few metres behind him!) and then he headed home while I added a bit on to the end. My final couple of miles were much slower as by then my legs were getting stiff and I kept getting a stitch, which is unlike me. I used to get them sometimes if I had eaten too close to a run, but that morning all I had were a few dates before I got ready, so not sure what that was about.

Anyway, 10.2 miles done in 1hr 40 (100 mins)- even with the slower 2 miles at the end I was very pleased with my average pace- running with Andy really helps.

I had no eggs so made these pumpkin pancakes with Orgran egg replacer and the lovely buckwheat pancake mix- I think I only have a few servings left so might experiment with plain buckwheat flour as I really like them.

I got quite stiff yesterday but I think that is partly because I had a lot of work to do so spent 3 hours after my run sat at the computer, then I popped to town (had a Starbucks as a treat) and then spent another few hours at the computer.

Today we went out for breakfast.

This was a waffle with a poached pear, chocolate sauce and toasted pecans- delicious. Plus a pot of Earl Grey tea.

Then we walked around the lakes and gazed at all the flooding, and popped to see our families. Then we walked to the allotment (our shed had blown over, no idea how) and looked at yet more flooding- half the beds are underwater- one was about 6 inches deep as I stood in it (with my wellies on) and was amazed at how high the water came up! I think the walks have helped, and later on I shall do the yoga DVD again too.

So, Jantastic has been a success, onto Febulous. I have again decided to go for 3 runs per week, and then my long runs will be 11 miles next week, then 12, then 5, then 13 as that will be the Bath half- it is getting close now!

Also, Thoosa are having a flash sale. They are my favourite ever workout gear brand – I love their tights, their “Swift vests” are the most flattering and also cool (temperature wise as they are not tight) tops I have ever tried, plus they have some fab slogan t’s- I am just trying to decide which one to buy. So take a look!

Marmalade and ginger tea loaf (recipe)

Hey peeps,

I was contacted by Sainsbury’s asking if I would like to create a recipe using some of their Basics ingredients, as they are trying to help people make the most of their money and Live Well for Less (see their website for more details and lovely recipes). They kindly sent me a parcel with some products:

Seeing the teabags, flour and mixed dried fruit all together put the idea of a tea loaf in my head- perfect for a relaxing Saturday afternoon.

Ingredients:

250ml hot water

3 teabags (I used 2 Basics- which are Fairtrade- and one chai)

4 tbs marmalade

175g mixed dried fruit (Basics)

3 pieces of stem ginger in syrup, chopped finely

375g plain flour (I used half plain and half wholemeal)

1 tbs baking powder

2 free range eggs

1 tsp mixed spice

Icing- optional- 2 tbs marmalade and 4 tbs icing sugar

Method:

Place the dried fruit, ginger and marmalade in a bowl along with the teabags, and pour over the hot water. Leave for around 10 minutes, then remove the teabags and soak for around an hour.

Preheat the oven to 150C and line a loaf pan (or use a paper loaf case).

Add the rest of the ingredients to the dried fruit mixture and stir well. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for around 75 minutes- test with a skewer; it should come out clean.

Leave to cool on a rack. If making the icing, warm the marmalade in a microwave for around 30 seconds, then stir in the icing sugar and spread on the cake.

It should keep for a week in an airtight container, or you could freeze slices if you left it un-iced.

I love any recipe that includes soaked dried fruit as I think it plumps up so well.

I went on a 10 mile run this morning, and this afternoon was feeling super hungry so had a slice with a cup of tea- perfect.

I love the slight bitterness you get from the marmalade, and the chunks of ginger add a warm spiciness to it.

 Are you a fan of tea loaf?

The Homewares Company

Hey folks,

I am writing a post today in collaboration with The Homewares Company, who have some lovely looking kitchen equipment and appliances on their website.

I am a sucker for new gadgets, even though we don’t really have space in our kitchen for what we have, let alone any more. The other day I was ordering some bits from M&S (thermal tops- that’s how I roll) and got distracted by the Homeware section (they had a mini cake stand on offer, but luckily I stayed strong and didn’t add it to my order).

The Homewares Company have a lot of durable kitchen ware on their website. Some of my top picks include this gorgeous cake tin: You can never have too many cake tins!

Typhoon Vintage Kitchen Blue Cake Tin

These cute pinch pots: (Think I would use them for different spices and maybe some pretty pink salt)

Typhoon Ching Pinch Pots; Set of 4

And best of all, this pretty teapot with infuser: Perfect for loose leaf tea.

Typhoon Ching Teapot With Infuser Open Lid

Seriously how pretty is that? Although Andy would be rather cross if I bought another teapot as we have about 6 I think. Excessive I suppose, but we have an individual one, a small one which we use most days at dinner, and a larger one that we use at the weekends for loose leaf tea. And then old ones that I can’t bare to throw away (one has penguins on it). And my gingerbread Christmas one.

Do you collect (or hoard) any kitchen gadgets?

*In collaboration with The Homewares Company, all opinions are my own.

Jantastic weeks 2 and 3

So I am not sure how it happened, but somehow 3 weeks have gone by already. I realised at some point this week that I had not reviewed Jantastic week 2, so decided to combine it with week 3.

So, let’s see if I can remember.

Week 2 went like this:

Monday it was pouring with rain, I left work late with a pile of marking, so I opted for my yoga DVD to de-stress and stretch before tackling my work.

Also got to wear my new yoga socks- they have grips on the bottom so when you are holding certain poses you don’t slide down the mat. 

That meant my first run was on Tuesday- 3.5 miles. I think we went to the cinema on the Wednesday, and then I definitely went to Pump on the Thursday.

So after work Friday I had my second run of the week- 3.65 miles, so slightly longer than the other run but my legs were heavy after pump and the air was  cold.

Saturday I had a sports massage on my back and shoulder which felt so good. Then on Sunday I went out with Andy for a 6.8 mile run- as always it felt too fast but I managed to keep up.

So week 2 was successful with 3 runs out of 3 done.

Week 3 started with a run after work on Monday. I prefer to start the week that way, but took it easy due to running the day before. Normally I am fine to run 2 days in a row but that seemed to be what aggravated my hip over Christmas so I want to be cautious. I think I did 3 miles.

Tuesday was a rest day- we went to see Anchorman 2 at the cinema- so much more lighthearted than all the other films we have seen recently!

Then on Wednesday I braved Sweatshop for the first time in months! It was lovely to see everyone again, but there was no way I was keeping up with the main group. One of the girls came back and ran with me for a bit, then ran back to the person behind me, but most of it was on my own. It was dark when we set off and when my Garmin beeped (hold reset to save activity) I pressed the wrong button so ended up adding to my previous run. I never start it at home, but this time I let it carry on for my run home (which is about .75 of a mile) so in total over those 2 runs I did 6.9 miles, plus the run up there (still adding it up…). It was my fastest run to date so that is good.

Thursday was pump again- I had promised my friend last week that I would go a bit heavier on the weights this week- so tough!

Friday was just a rest day- I was going to do yoga but I had so much work I got on with that and then forgot basically.

Yesterday I went out for a long run on my own but decided I would see if I could keep up a similar pace to last weekend. Each time I noticed that my mile time was creeping over 10 I tried to speed up, and I managed to finish the 8.3 miles with an average pace of 9.54 min miles- I will take it!

Today has been a rest day- I woke up and sat on the sofa underneath the blanket and watched the tennis- totally unlike me to sit about like that but I really felt like I needed it. I was going to have a walk this afternoon but the rain stopped and then we had to pop to the hospital so I didn’t- I shall be doing my yoga DVD again later though, I promise.

So, week 3 done, onto week 4 and soon I have to choose the length of my long runs as Febulous will be here! Love it!

Jantastic runners- how is it going so far?

Everyone  what are you looking forward to in February?