Brit readers near the south east – this post is for you π keep reading to the end!
I had a GOOD day today! Lots to talk about (well, it feels like it) so let’s jump straight to it shall we?
The day started off with rain. Lots of rain. Maybe not so good? But I did fit in a lovely Jillian-esque workout and a walk/run, so I’d say that was leaning to the positive, wouldn’t you? There’s nothing like getting your heart rate up early on, it makes the day π
Next good thing – breakfast of course!! It was my third day of baked oats, and it was without a doubt, the best one yet. I did the usual mix (1/2 c. oats, 1.5 c. water, salt, cinnamon, vanilla) and cooked it on the hob, then transferred it to a baking dish, where it was baked for 35mins or something –
– maybe a little crispy round the edges today π I let it sit out for a 1/2 hr whilst I put some slap on for the day, did the horses’ hay in the field, and made a super delicious sauce; a peeled extra ripe pear simmered with blackberries and cinnamon/nutmeg til soft π The result:
Oh. Mydaysmydaysmydays. The TEXTURE you guys! Seriously out of this world! I can’t describe it – so creamy, yet sticky, yet smooth, yet clumpy, yet tasted-like-pancakes, yet sheer amaze………it was eaten with a big smile on my face.
But boy did that smile get bigger – a bloke arrived whilst I was eating the bowl-of-yum. Sadly, he wasn’t holding red roses or bearing an ‘I am your one true love’ sticker, but he WAS holding a big box.
A box?
A box.
Not any old box, but a box from the grand old U S of A! And what was in this box? Why, presents from my wonderful blog friend Jess of course!
Way back when we were but wee nippers, we decided to do a foodie swap – and it sure was worth it! This lady sent me some AMAZING stuff, fresh from the snow covered hills of Vermont π She had made me promises of peanut flour however – but when I read her note, my heart sunk a little. They’d sold out.
That is, until I dug a little deeper into the box –
HAHA! I did an actual real life LOL out loud π I’m not sure if my mum quuuuite got it, but it seriously made my day π
I just know that peanut flour is gonna stay wrapped up in its’ safety bubble for the forseeable future; now that Trader Joe’s has discontinued it, there is no WAY I’m going to risk it getting damaged/stolen/burnt/frozen/anything-negative-whatsoever. In fact, i’ll probably never even break into the packets, purely because I don’t want them ever to end :p that stuff will now officially be known as Peanut Gold Dust.
In my excited daze, I immediately broke into the cookies:
SO delicious! And besides, cookies for breakfast? MMmmm you can’t go wrong! Especially when they’re sliiiightly healthy cookies…
…I see no aspartame, or other poisons, so I’m assuming they’re safe π Plus, how can a cute little lion be bad for you? Nay possible.
The chunk of the day paled in comparison somewhat – the highlight was my lecturer taking a full 30 secs to realise that the video she was playing on the cinema-sized screen in the lecture room was not showing picture (despite watching it herself). And she teaches me? Eh. No logic.
HOWEVER!
Two more exciting things happened!
1) Waitrose, my beloved, have started stocking the other beloved – KABOCHA!! It’s been…ooh…2months? since my last one, so you can imagine the joy. A happy dance may or may not have occurred in the aisle.
I stocked up. (What you don’t see is the other two, hiding out in Meredith :p)
2) RAWR!
If you’ve been reading my blog since August, you’ll know that I quite like raw food. So of course, when a lovely local company, Rawr, sent me some samples of their raw chocolate, I happily obliged π
I broke into the Intensely Dark flavour last night…
LOVE the ingredients list!
It’s really great to see ingredients like mesquite and coconut butter appearing in English products; I so, so rarely ever see them over here. Refreshing!
Well well well! It was SO silky, SO intense, and SO lovely! And I’m not just saying that (I’ve had other brands of raw chocolate before and was distinctly unimpressed – too dusty textured), it truly was the smoothest chocolate ever. Melty deliciousness π Now, I am a serious dark chocolate lover, and this flavour is most definitely for fellow dark chocolaters too – it has a strong, almost fruity taste to it, with tiny tiny bits of crunchiness from the cacao nibs. But yeah, I was a fan π I can’t wait to break into the other flavours (and you’re totally going to know when I do – I never miss an account of a new chocolate breed :p)!
Thank you Kind Folk @ Rawr π
I think raw food is becoming more of a big thing now – so many more companies in Britain seem to be popping up that are raw, and I’ve even seen some raw restaurants in London, albeit not many. I think it’s great though!! It always amazes me what raw foodies can make – ice creams, lasagnes, crackers, soups, cakes…the list is endless. The first time I tried raw food was at the Healthy Living Summit in Chicago last August, and I was seriously blown away by the variety. I remember when I came back home, I was desperate to try to make some of my own raw meals, but I just had no idea where to begin π¦
Whhhiiiich is why I have an idea of sorts! British readers, PRICK YO” EARS UP NOW!
Are you free on a weekend in April? Do you have the ability to travel to London? (Bus, train, super powers – you’ll find a way)
WELL.
I’m going to attend a raw food class, at none other than The Raw Food School!
The amazing people over at Gourmet Raw told me about this, and I thought it sounded BRILLIANT!
Sooo, I wondered – would any readers/bloggers want to join me? It would be on a Saturday in April in London, and I’d be there (OBVIOUSLY the best bit :p). Oh, and you’d get to learn about raw food :p
‘This class is designed for those that are curious about or new to Raw Food. Theyβll guide you through everything you need to know about raw food, the whyβs, the benefits and even overcoming the challenges. They then talk in depth about ingredients, preparation techniques, equipment as well as how to set your kitchen up. Then, through live demonstrations walk you through, step by step, how to create the most delicious raw food dishes on the planet. Their objective? To send you away from the class knowing how to take control of your health through raw food. Get ready to be inspired! http://www.therawfoodschool.com ‘
What do youz reckon!? If you’re interested, shoot me an email or leave a comment!!! π
And with that – I fare yee well.
Goodnight!
PS – follow me on Twitter yeah? BritChickRuns. You know you want to π
Wow wow wow, so many delicious things in one day!! I think I would totally love that chocolate. I like all the raw chocolate I’ve tasted so far, it seems to be more ‘truffley’ than ordinary chocolate?? I am super jealous of the maple cream and pb flour. If you freeze it (like in a glass jar or just ziploc bag, it should keep really well even if you open the bag and take forever to use it up (otherwise it might go rancid). I love your rice pudding oats- I’m definitely going to try them over the weekend. And finally, kabocha in the supermarket? You are killing me! We don’t have Waitrose in Northern Ireland :'((((( I got hooked on it when I grew it last summer, having never tasted it before, and I have ran out. Very sad about that. Maybe Sainsburys or more like M&S might stock it. Probably would be pricey but so worth it. Do you mind me asking how much it cost you at Waitrose?
Truffle-y – good description!I’m not sure how much it cost – I don’t have the receipt anymore π¦ if you go on their website it should say. I don’t think it was that expensive at all, but tbh I really do think kabocha is worth splashing out on, it’s THAT good π
YOur food swap idea is so AWESOME!!! Hehe, I’m glad you got your peanut flour. π
I’m glad you liked everything, even the out of date cookies π I was so mad when I saw that and almost didn’t send them but figured they’d still be fine lol.
The Rawr company sounds so cool – and the raw cooking class very exciting!!
Oooh ooh ooooh!!! You got such yummy goods from your blogger foodie swap!! I’m so jealous; I need to get on one of those myself… π I’ve still never had peanut flour, and I’m FROM the states!! Let me know how you like it girl, all your goods look fab! π
I really want to try peanut flour. It looks so good. Ive been sent some RAWR chocolate too. I’m currently working through the Zest bar. Its super good! Yum!!!!!
i would definitely be interested in that raw food class!!!!!
also… WHAT A BOX- oh my gosh you are so so lucky!! those goodies look amazing!!
i promise im not about to order rawr chocolate online at 10 past 8 in the morning π its never to early for chocolate! and im a leo so RAWR!
im glad there south east-y england based (im south east england) its nice to see stuff like rawr poppin up!
x
that breakfast looks seriously delish – love love love hot berries with my porridge!
raw food class sounds awesome (and right up your street if you’re still planning on culinary school?) count me in! although i’ve got paris marathon on 10th so hopefully not that weekend…
Your breakfast looks amazing – it has made me want to go and find some blackberries lol.
Love the sound of that raw chocolate as well. Good luck with the raw cooking class! π
I would SO have been on that raw food class! However I can’t afford it right now ;-( BUT I would happily meet you and the other bloggers/readers afterwards for maybe… a Whole Foods trip, seeing as you’ll be in London!?
Oh i agree, the raw foods thing is awesome. im glad its finally spilling over into the uk, why are we always the last to catch on eh!?! Im def interested, but is it pricey?? im feeling the pincheroo at the mo, so it depends on the cost…
otherwise as floppenfold above me said (LOVE that name btw, it made me chuckle :-p) id be up for a blogger meet up afterwards, cos i can get upto london quite easily…
x
Um, I kind of want to fly to London just to go to that with you!! Wish I could- it sounds AMAZING. As does the chocolate. I’ve tried raw chocolate a few times before and it’s delicious. So much smoother than regular!
I’m so jealous of you getting some peanut flour to try!
Here in Ireland we don’t have any of the foods i see bloggers eat – flours, bars, oils, milks, etc. And there are few websites that deliver here either!
And we don’t get many squash varieties although i did manage to pick up a spagetti squash once or twice, in a little gourmet food shop.
Enjoy your goodies! I’m about to try your baked porridge idea but with roasted plums and cinnamon! nom nom nom..
Ha ha I was devastated for you when I read that they were sold out of peanut butter flour… I also LOLed when I saw the note! That raw food school sounds so exciting! I’v never actually tried Raw food before (you know, beyond the typical salad and apple eating…), so I am intrigued! Don’t know if I could afford the trip down though! Its something I am definitely going to put some thought into!
im up for the london thing π xx
Awesome foodie swap!! And that raw class thing sounds amazing!! Do you know the exact date? I have two Saturday races in April so hopefully they won’t clash…it’d be SO much fun to see ya and make some foood! π
I thiiiink the 16th, but I’m not certain
In for the raw food class! I am really interested in Raw food, have always wanted to go to that restaurant Saf bt learning to prepare my oen raw stuff would be even better!!
oh and waitrose is ace at the mo kabocha and canned pumpkin- brilliant!!!! I always buy multiple cans of pumpkin each time I go but I will look out for kabocha next time!
Too funny about your lecture, go technology?
I’d def be up for learning more about raw foods! I’m living in London right now and havn’t seen many raw places and would love to try!
Hello!
That raw food class actually sounds like A LOT of fun, and i can get to london in A FIFFY! ha fiffy? Jiffy i say.
Interested! π x