W.I.A.W: porridge gate

 It has come around so quick, this week has flown by but here is my What I ate wednesday : Porridge gate edition...

Woke up this morning feeling tired and lethargic, instantly scraped my ellipical cardio plans and decided to pick up harrys wieght and pump some iron, arrrrrrghhhh yeah.

Gunz a pumpin'

I have only in the past weak decided to start easing off on running and adding more strength routines and yoga into the mix. I can now do five push ups.... yes FIVE.

R.I.P

Breakfast was a bowl o oats (1/4 cup rice flakes +1/4 cup buckwheat + scoop of protein powder) and nut butter, topped with cranberries, jam and crunchy PB. Unfortunately i left it on my couch arm whilst fetching some more jam and came back to an empty bowl and a shih tzu hugging my spoon. Bad beebz!

 But i cant be mad at that munchkin!
So scratch that....breakfast was a speedy bowl of cereal, protien powder and blueberries. no time to photograph.

O.O.T.D

I knew we were gonna have a day trip today so it was a casual outfit of the day...

Vinatge jumper from the US, Topshop skinny jeans, vintage back pack and my new Vans old schools...

For lunch I took my class on an outing to the beach. I grabbed a M&S Smoked Salmon, Spinach, Watercress and potato salad with obligitary bottle of diet cola... They opted for Mc donalds happy meals.

We walked along the sea front got ice creams then headed back to class for some intense games of hangman and pictionary. 

 

This dude was guarding my front door this evening, the stubburn fellow just wouldnt be moved or shooed and kept shouting at me.  After a good 10 minutes and a firey exhange of shrieks on both sides. the seagull finally  moved on. I win.

DINNAH TIME!
Still morning the loss of this mornings porridge. a bowl of hot cereal had been on my mind all day so once I got in, i decided to finally have my oats and eat em...

Off back into the kitchen now to bake some GF chocolate cupakes!

Under the weather in glorious weather...

 I'm feeling totally run down this weekend, got home from work at 7.30 on friday and fell into a much needed deep coma til 9.30 Saturday morning... I HAD MY FIRST EVER DRIVING LESSON AT 9.45!  my provisional arrived only the other day but I was quick off the mark and got booked in.

Quickly threw a Vitamin C tablet into a glass and chugged it down to boost the old immune system

 Driving outfit...

 cute primark dress, it has foxes printed all over it, it has a peter pan collar and it was 6 pounds... lubbly. I NEED TO CLEAN THAT MIRROR...

note: i have 15 minutes to get ready but I still manage to find my camera and take photos... yup I have my priorites in order.

My driving lesson went swimmingly, got in a pickle learning what all those gears/ clutch/ brake thingys do at first, but after a while I was enjoying my drive and picking things up really quickly... it was all going so well... until i spotted too unbelievably adorable Shih Tzu pups... lost concentration crashed into a curb, stalled and created a mini traffic jam. Nerves a bit frayed, I straighten my self out, and looked out the window in time for a heckler to shout out a profanity about learner drivers... oh well back on the road next weekend... for hill starts... watch out.

Got home and although driving was actually pretty fun and exhillerating, I felt atrocious and collapsed on my couch for pretty much the rest of the day. oh Apart from going to the kitchen to bake these blueberry and chocolate chip cookies (blueberries and chocolate are both good for the immune system riiiiight)

 and those cheese and spinach waffles...

Today I don't feel much better in fact maybe worse,  but decided to get out in the beautiful sunshine with Beebz. sucks feeling under the weather in beautiful weather!

whilst on out walk i picked up some pick me ups!

 

new icing nozzle, cake decorations and cupcake box... and the cashier threw in some complementary truffles... nibble nibble. yum.

 

and picked up 3 punnets of reduced strawberries... nearly worked my way through 2 boxes whilst typing....

Gluten Free healthy spinach and cheezy waffle.

These savoury waffles are so good they have become a daily staple. I realize looking back at other non sugary  sweet baked recipe posts that spinach and cheese seems to be a constant re occurrence ... seemingly my favourite combooooo (oh aside from PB and nanas ...oh or PB and jam or PB and chocolate or PB and honey....) I NEED A PEANUT BUTTER NOOOOAW.

Anyway back to the subject at hand... 
crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. perfect for dipping with guacamole or sour cream. I had mine this afternoon, plonked on my couch as the perfect Saturday afternoon movie snack, with a dollop of warm laughing cow cheese spread all ohhhber each segment.

Ingredients

• 1/4 +1 tbsp of cup skim milk or your favorite milk substitute
• 1/2 tsp active quick yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sweetener
• pinch salt
• pinch pepper
• tsp melted spread
• 3 tbsp Gluten Free flour mix
• 1 egg white
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• tbsp laughing cow light spread
• chopped wilted spinach

1. mix up the batter in a large bowl ...Sift and mix dry ingredients together, make a well and and whisk all the wet ingredients.)
2. add cheese and spinach.
3. leave to stand and fire up the irons!
4. once the waffle iron it hot hot hot pour in batter and cook for 4 mins or until crisp and browned.... then slice up and enjoyyyyy!

oh and I reckon you could also use this batter for pancakes.

190 calories per whole waffle!

W.I.A.W school edition...

So im officially hoping on the band wagon and joining the Peas & Crayons W.I.A.W party!

What I ate Wednesday....Teacher's eats!

Today i woke up super tired, watching a Jersey Shore marathon into the small hours wasnt wise on a school night but it sucks me in, its too good and too addictive not too watch the next episode... And then the next...aannnnd the next.

Woke up late and ironically with hair like Pauly D's so much of my morning was spent de-guidoing so it was a quick simple breakfast of natures path mesa sunrise cereal, coconut milk, mr bake n beebz's protein powder, a chopped Nana and frozen strawbuuuurries.

 O.O.T.D... yes this post is full of acronyms....thats outfit of the day.... new specs, topshop shirt and skinnies and some nude loafers...

The kids always give me their fruit and apples that they never eat from their breakfast, as they are usually too stuffed with gummy bears...

 

my snack drawer... I shamlessly crunched and munched my way through those chocolate GF rice cakes whilst the children did work in dead silence.

luckily i live just a stones throw away from the summer school so i came home for lunch inhaled a egg salad sandwich (no time for photos when manic hunger takes hold) down a few cups of tea and leisurely walked Bobbin along the sea front.

 

 For dinner I had a savoury cheesey waffle made with an experimental mix of cornmeal and rice flour. topped with homemade nut butter hummus, olives, sliced avocado and spinach, balsamic dressing and tomatoes.... very tastey combo and very quick to put together... I should of cooked the waffle longer I reckon but I wasss far to haaaaangry for all of that waiting and stuff haha.

Well... Im pooped, gonna pamper myself and get up to date with important gossip and collaspe with a early night in with these new purchases...

little midweek pick me up of... Soap and glory bath gift set, benefit make upsss and lipgloss. oh and its always nice to come back to flowers from harry...

Gluten free stuffed crust pizza

I have been gluten free for 6 weeks now, i feel great but every now and then i crave my favourite stuff crust pizza. This homemade pizza base recipe hit the spot! and filled the cheesey bready void.
It was delicious and the made for a very fluffy dough, but to be honest it was a whole lot of dough to toppings, very filling and thick... so i have adjusted the ratio's to make a perfect gluten free pizza.

 

Fluffy deep pan Gluten free dough recipe:
Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon quick active yeast
• 1 + 1/2 cups brown GF flour mix (I used doves strong wholemeal flour)
• 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 tea spoon brown sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
• 2/3 cup warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• Extra flour for sprinkling

Pepper A for Alice ;) marking my territory, that's my half...

.... crust stuffed with cheese strings!

 Directions
Pre heat oven to its highest setting... you need it very hot.

1. pour the warm water into a bowl and sprinkle over the yeast. Stir to dissolve, then leave to rest in a warm place for ten minutes. thenadd vinegar and Stir the sugar and olive oil into the yeast mixture until well combined.
   
2. Sift the flour, gum, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.
   
3. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture, mixing to form a soft and slightly sticky dough. Add enough of the remaining water, little by little, until you have achieved the correct consistency.
   
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and lightly flour your hands. Knead the dough for ten minutes until it is smooth and pliable.leave to rest for 1/2 an hour at least (the longer the better)
5. grease a tin and push dough into corners. to make it stuffed crust place cheese strings around edge and pull dough over then until securely covered.
6. top with your choice of toppings... i made a tomoate and oregano sauce from scartch and added shredded mozzarella, sliced olives and courgettes...
7. bake in centre of oven for 15 minutes.

A whole lotta gelata and gluten free pizza night

It has been a loooong long week, I have missed blogging and generally normality! Work has been exhausting. I'm working as a English teacher at a foreign language school, the language barrier and sugar fueled, homesick 10 year olds makes for a frazzled and tired Alice. So this weekend I'm indulging in some much need rest and relaxation... and treats!

 

Oh and i picked up my new spectacles this morning! I can see again!

AHHHHH TOO MANY ICE CREAM CHOICES...

The Bake and Beebz family went on a trip to Bexhill for a sunny seaside afternoon. On the walk to the beach we popped in to Di Paolo's Gelato ice cream parlour. it was a tough decision between all of those flaours, but Banoffe and Bubblegum Barbie pink with sprinkles was calling me. we headed to the beach, Bobbin had a run about whilst we sun bathed and napped til late afternoon. A much needed blissful day off.

 

On the way back to the station we picked up some ingredients for a gf pizza, soda for me and beers for Mr Bake and Beebz. all set for a cozy Saturday film night.

 

STUFFED CRUST DEEP PAN GLUTEN FREE PIZZA! 

recipe will follow....

Whirlwind Weekend!

This weekend has been hectic! Made a whirlwind trip back home to attend my friends hen do,  we headed to Hoxton in London for dinner, cocktails and dancing.  Such a fun night but it ain't easy being gluten free at a Italian pizza restaurant... i fought doughy temptation... got myself home at the very small hours and passed out with a half eaten PB+J sandwich.

On Sunday morning, whilst nursing a sore head, I sewed badges, baked and packaged dog treats to sell at a local craft fair. The weather was gorgeous and HAWT. In the evening me and the pup caught the train back down south as today i started a new job teaching. I'm pretty knackered and ready for bed and a hot cocoa but here's a quick picture round up...

 

  

freshly baked bobbin's bones

the badges

 The Hens!

OH AND I RECIEVED MY DEGREE RESULTS!.... 2:1!!!  YES. I HAVE A HONOURS IN KNITTTING.