Trust me on this one... I don't think you're supposed to spread pizza dough with a spatula

I made pizza yesterday, including a dough mix from Whole Foods  

I followed the directions to the letter, but it seemed kind of sticky and funny so I added flour

Even after letting the dough rise for over an hour,  it was a blobby mess.  I ended up having to spread the dough into the pan with a spatula.  That is not normal.

Fortunately, the pizza came out okay once baked.  Note the "Gluten Free" part on the box- we'll not be trying this one again.  

This is definitely an ego blow... Was it me, or was it the mix?  Was it because I whisked everything by hand because I don't have a mixer?  (And yes, my arms are still a little sore).  Did I mess something up because I was listening and repeating Russian dialogues and vocabulary words while making the dough?

My heart goes out to all the Celiac suffers out there, but I'll take my pizza dough with gluten, thank you very much. 

That'll wake you up

I had enough "sprit points" a few years to get a Senseo coffee maker.  It is super easy to use and clean, makes a cup of coffee in about 90 seconds and makes both coffee and expresso.  Plus, perfect for a single gal like me, my Senseo makes individual cups of coffee.

The single drawback is that it requires pods.  Good news is that I found cases online.  I ordered both the medium roast and the dark roast, which works out to 216 cups of coffee for just under $0.26 a cup.  

That is 216 mornings of alertness for less change than lives under my couch cushions.

Er... make that hot chocolate

I had a 15 mile run this morning to ponder the meaning of life.  My big epiphany was that 20 degrees is, well, a brisk day to be running.  A mug of hot chocolate waiting for me back at home is the only reason I made it through miles 3-15 at all.

The forecast this weekend is for snow, so I wanted to make sure I got my long run in before the weather turned really challenging.  The last 5 miles or so, the snow began sticking on the bridal path, though the roads were just wet.  They were big soft flakes anyway, which is nice because they don't hurt your eyes if you forgot a brimmed hat or sunglasses.

Anyway, my chocolate milk was mixed in a mug instead of a glass, and thrown in the microwave for 1:20.  Delicious.  

Go forth now and recover, muscles. 

Chocolate milk... better than gatorade

During my last marathon training cycle, with 1-2 miles left in every long run, I found myself fantasizing about a tall glass of chocolate milk.  Unfortunately, I seemed to have neither milk nor chocolate on hand during those summer training months.

But this time around, I'm all set.  Heading out the door now for my Parisian-bound 15 mile run, with all the supplies I need when I get back for my lait au chocolate.

Even Runners World cites a study that found chocolate milk to be as effective as Gatorade as a recovery drink.  The official reason is that combining proteins with carbs increases glycogen stores in muscles and reduces the amount of muscle damage from exercise.

Funny, and to think I crave it because it tastes good.  

Oh these? All the better to see you with, my dear...

Check out the spuds.  You need sunglasses for these babies!