Bread 'n Jam - and a little bit of pesto

No pectin no problem! have no idea what went wrong with my two previous jamming exploits but this time I bypassed the 'added' pectin and my gelée came out tip top.  Just fruit and crystalized sugar.

doesn't this sugar bowl make a nice jam jar!

As Richard's big 100 km mountain race is fast approaching  I have been making my 'pain sportif' or extra energy bread for his morning feast.  I don't recall where I got this recipe so I can't give anyone credit for it.

Pain Sportif

200 ml almond milk

100 ml water

500g bread flour (i use multi-grain)

20 g dried yeast

5 g salt

100 g muesli rehydrated in 100 ml of almond milk

50 g honey

I like to let my bread machine do it's own mixing and rising thing, then knead it by hand and let it rise a second time for approx. 45 mins before cooking it in the oven.  Richard won't eat bread cooked in the bread machine, says it looks like a house brick!

This pesto is an almost permanent addition to my fridge at the moment as we have tons of mint in the garden, and sadly no basil, not for want of trying!   The recipe tends to change slightly with each batch but the basics are fresh mint, almonds, garlic and oil (I have been using an omega 3 mix), I then add bits of whatever else might be lurking in the kitchen or garden - spinach leaves, swiss chard greens,  parmesan, lemon juice, and I think I may very well have put honey in the last lot!

I've often heard my father remark that it would be wonderful if someone could invent a pill so we wouldn't have to bother eating, or more importantly to him, cooking.   No No No No, silly silly idea!!!