Baking

We have quite a busy day considering its a Sunday. First things first and we take a walk to the post box to return our hired out DVDs so we can get some more in for next week. It was quite a nice walk too, and we manage to enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts.

When we get back home we nip out in the car and go to one of the local gyms here in the town which I'd found on the internet. The main reason for choosing them to have a look-see is because they provide personal trainers, something which I've been considering for a while now. You see I'm fine doing exercise here at home, but the videos and things I have only go to a certain level before your left floundering in a regime that doesn't intensify as you get fitter. So my thinking is that if I've got someone who can monitor me as I go, and adjust my programme as I get healthier that that's got to be a good thing.

The gym it's self is very nice, but typically gym like - loud music and protein shakes galore. They do have a good array of equipment however which is always a plus because most gyms that I've been to there is always a queue for popular machinery, where as here they have plenty of everything. Unfortunately the personal trainer was in the middle of session so I couldn't get to speak to him, but I did get a business card and number to ring to arrange an appointment.

After our mini-excursion we then do a bit of pottering in the garden. Phil attacks the tree in the front which needs a regular annual pruning whilst I set about tidying up out the back. Our path way has been shrouded in rotting leaf mulch since the autumn and so that all needed tidying up, and I also pruned back some of the plants, that if left to their own devices would take over the entirety of our small back yard.

Wet, and somewhat muddy I finally finish the job and after getting changed because most of the water I'd used to hose down the path had now been absorbed into my jeans I then set about doing some baking.

I'd decided to make hot cross buns, and I mean make them from scratch - with yeast and everything! As you can imagine the recipe is a bit fiddly, with allowing yeast to ferment, and rising the dough etc etc but some 3 hours later I'm taking them out of the oven and hurrah! They look almost palatable :)

It doesn't take me long to tuck into one, and they taste pretty darn good for a "healthy" recipe, I'm quite proud of my baby dough balls!

We also watch The Interpreter today, which IMHO is again far to long to hold the interest of most viewers, to I have to give credit for Nicole Kidman who managed a very convincing South African accent.

Posted by Abi on the January 15, 2006 9:07 PM