Standard Quick White Loaf Recipe

Am starting the week's production run! It's for charity though pop-pickers but I don't like to talk about it (much). This is my standard quick white loaf. I say quick it takes about 2 hours but that's quick in breadmaking land that is.

Yummy white bread, no bother in the Morphy Richard Breadmaking Machine. They rock!

Here's the recipe
350ml water
550g strong white bread flour
2 tablespoon sunflower oil
1 tablespoon dried skimmed milk
3 or four teaspoons sugar
1.5 teaspoon salt
1.5 teaspoon dried fast yeast

Bop em into the breadmaker pan in that order, select the quick option, press start come back in a coupla hours and hey presto, yummy bread. Go easy on it though it's a weight loss nightmare!!!

Week Sunday 30th November to Saturday 6th December

Saturday 6th December
Good news is that have run up town and back this morning. Steady three and a half miles at a moderate sort of a pace - no idea how fast, still haven't found the edge that I lost some weeks back now. Am really getting the hang of the breadmaking though - loaves are looking the absolute business!

Did a steady forty five minutes in the gym yesterday 30 mins of cardio for a good 400 cals and then some weights. Steady, two visits last week, need to get it back to at least every other day and preferably every day.


Friday 5th continued - Quick game of spot the idiot, anyone? Weight's up again - have just noticed something - where there's been gains December and back in August both coincide with periods where haven't been going to group. Well guess, what I'm back next week and week after god knows, what I was thinking. I reckon I think I'm an expert but I obviously ain't.



Friday 5th December
Improved Thursday a little bit by going for a two and a half mile walk last night and did 20 pressups to boot, not much but feels better than nowt. This morning got another four loaves done and did a three and half mile work (jogged last half mile which was good) and still into office for about 8:15 - pleased with that.


Thursday 4th December
Knackered. Got up at 3am set breadmaker off, got up at 5am set breadmaker off. Went back to bed for half an hour, got up late at 7am!! bloody hell, what a rush. Got to work a minute or two late for the 8:30 meeting and then had to bomb off to Wigan as soon as it finished. Bloomin nightmare. No exercise done today whatsoever. Knee's playing up a tiny bit which is kind of good as I don't want to go to Doctors with it not hurting.

Wednesday 3rd December
Well, the new breadmaker didn't arrive yesterday so hopefully it'll come today, we'll see. I did another 3.5 miles walking this morning. Ran the last half mile or so. No problem with knee again. Not playing golf this weekend so might do a whopping big run if knee continues in an okay fashion. Did another three charity loaves last night and one for the homestead!

More on the knee - have got an appointment at Doctors' on Monday 15th after finally getting round to making the phone call. Only problem now is that I've got to lose a load of weight in a hurry - he said stay in the 14s and that'll be good I've gone almost half a stone past that now which is rubbish. Could be just the focus I need!

The Doctor's appointment has set me off now! Been to the gym for the first time this week. Did damn near an hour - 11 minutes on exercise bike on setting 6 for a steady 152 cals, then 10 mins on treadmill at 10km/h for a further acceptable 160 cals and finishing off with a creditable 188 cals in fifteen minutes on the rowing machine. 2 x 12 reps each on triceps pushdown, biceps curl, seated mid-row and that other thing you do on that particular machine (lateral something or other). Anyway, was longest I've done in gym for ages and am reet pleased with it.

Tuesday 2nd December
Another 3.5 miles walking this morning. Knee is okay I think but not going to put too much stress on it just yet. Another four loaves done last night - hopefully bread machine number two should arrive today and then production can go into overdrive. Had to take drums into work today as Xmas is coming and we gotta do a turn so we're getting the band together again. Oh no, not again.


Stocked up with flour on way home. Tesco's have Hovis Wholemeal Bread Flour cheaper than their own label stuff? Wonder whose I bought? Shame it's twice the cost of white but there you go. Am experimenting with the breadmaking a little bit tonight as I've only got three orders to fill I can cock one up. What I'm investigating is a claim that more oil equals more volume so have upped it from two tablespoons to three of sunflower oil. We'll see what it is? Was going to go for a walk but it's damn cold out and feel knackered so am going to have a kip on sofa while loaf number two finishes. Derby just knocked Stoke out which is great, well done the mighty Rams.

Monday 1st December
Another four loaves done overnight. Am thinking that this going to be getting expensive if not careful, think I'm going to have to get costs back somewhere. Covered 3.5 miles this mornig. Ran maybe 3/4 mile, knee if sort of stiff rather than painful. Will try and ring docs up later although am thinking of going to sporting injuries place where the police station used to be in Ashbourne.

Sunday 30th November
Blimey damn near in December already, what's happened to the rest of the year?? Been walking again this morning I reckon about five miles done overall. Went up the golf course to look for some spare ammo, not the best time of year for this sort of pursuit but still found three nice titleists and a couple of cheapos so not too bad. Used a company called Photobox to order some photoprints this afternoon and by time I got back it said they'd despatched them - if the quality is any good I'll be well impressed, let me tell you.

Took Lucy up for Rugby practice this morning. I tend to have a bit of a stroll round Ashbourne rec while she's training and you can tell when it's cold cause the half the cars in the car park have got parents in 'em! Jeez, it was damned cold, was glad they finished fifteen minutes early for a change.

Light Granary Loaf

At the weekend I get a bit of time to experiment with the Morphy Richards Breadmaker (my personal favourite) so I thought I'd have a crack at a light granary loaf. I think I can tweak it to make it better but it's come out pretty well first go. Here's the ingredients:

• 350ml water
• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 175g strong granary flour
• 400g strong white flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar (I think three/four would give it a better colour although the crust is crisp enough really)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 crushed vitamin C tablet
• 1.5 teaspoons fast dried yeast

Put the ingredients into the bread machine in that order, set to quick program and you get a lovely light granary as picture below shows.

New Morphy Richards Breadmaker Coming

Morphy Richards, bless 'em are helping me out with my London Marathon fund raising by lending me an additional BreadMaking Machine. It should be coming on Tuesday which will be great but before it does arrive I think I ought to mention my current Morphy Richards breadmaker.

It's a 48265 and I think it's seven years old - says 1991 in the manual anyway. Being quite an early one it's not got all the programs you see on some of the newer models but it does exactly what it says on the tin and more. It bakes great bread, over and over again. For me it's been doing four loaves a night over the past week and more without a single duff loaf. I'm going to list the recipes that work best for me soon, might even do some of that fancy dancy photography these foodie types do! So if you're in the market for a really good breadmaker in my view you get great value for money with Morphy Richards kit and they keep going a long, long time!

The Specs for the Morphy Richards 48265 are as follows:-

• Two loaf sizes, 1.5lbs and 2.5lbs
• Light, medium and dark crust settings
• Two kneading paddles for more effective kneading
• Viewing window
• Programmable timer 60-minute keep warm function
• Non-stick traditional shaped breadpan
• Cancel button
• Cake and jam settings
• Non-slip feet
• Removable lid for easy cleaning
• Two year guarantee
• H28cm, W41cm, D28cm

Week Sunday 23rd November to Sat 29th November

Saturday 29th Nov
Christmas Fayre at golf today or 'Fur and Feather' as it is known to most golfers. Me and John did okay for a change accumulating 41 points in a 3/4 handicap better ball. We got 38 last year so definitely an improvement. It was also a good score because we played in thick fog and made a lot of pars considering you couldn't tell where to green was let alone the pin on some holes! Quite pleased. Did a 3.5 mile walk this morning as well so even more pleased.

Friday 28th Nov
Did another four loaves over night. Am chuffed to bits with how it's all going fundraising is now at £115 and best of all have had a call from Morphy Richards and they're sending me one to help out with my capcity issues. Too much demand and not enough time to supply but not no more!!

Didn't make gym due to being busy as hell but went for a two mile walk when got home. Knee feeling better and better.

Thursday 27th Nov
No run again this morning, am going to get appointment booked with Doctors this afternoon, get em to have a look at me knee. Going to gym in a minute as I got to get something done, did another four loaves of bread today and the fund-raising is currently standing at a little over £108 quid which is going swimmingly well if I do say so myself! Have added a ticker thing to top of screen cause I think it needs a touch of the Blue Peter's!!

Good session in the gym, 15 minutes and 200cals on the exercise bike followed by 25 mins on the rower, legs were really tired and knee held up pretty well, finished off with some weights and then back to business. Didn't manage to get an appointment with doctors.

Breadmaking working a treat have about 18 loaves to make next week. Have picked a breadmaking tip off the net that is to put butter on the kneading paddle which makes the bread easier to get out which seems to work. Also seems to make the loaf a whole lot browner. Can't think of anything else I've done different so it must be the butter?

Wednesday 26th Nov
Didn't actually get to gym yesterday. Was mega busy all day. Didn't get home from work until 7:30 but still managed to do five loaves!! No exercise but fundraising in optimal mode at the moment!!

Tuesday 25th Nov
Am continuing to rest knee from running duties. Am going to do gym at lunchtime and do a solid hour of cardio and weights so will get some exercise. Did 70 odd pressups last night but that's not a whole lot of use really. Bread production is being maintained at 3 loaves a day which with gift aid is raising me 3.84 a day for the marathon fund which is £19.20 a week. I reckon I can squeeze the odd extra loaf here and there which will get the fund up quite nicely! Have got 17 loaves on order for this week which mean five get up at 03:00 to set the breadmaker off, then up at 5:10 to reload etc. Not a problem, am getting used to it!

Monday 24th Nov
Well even if the training has been a little curtailed by the iffy knee the fund-raising is going on great guns. Got up at 3am to set a loaf off and then at 5am to set off another. Got to work and got more orders have 10 orders for the week thus far (current production capacity runs to 3 loaves a day unless can get another bread machine). Training non-existant as nee hurt a wee bit first thing and then have made things worse by forgetting to bring my gym kit with me. Am going to have to either go a ride on bike or out for a run when get home if knee’ll have it.

Sunday 23rd Nov
Did nothing at all, exercise-wise on Sunday. Lucy was playing in the Ashbourne under 9s at the Notss/Leics/Derby qualifier at Derby Rugby club so I was there for 9am and we didn’t get away til about 1:30pm. Ashbourne under-9s absolutely whooped Bakewell and Melbourne so are qualified for the finals at the end of the season which is nice.

Over to me mums to pick Phil up and then home for about 4:30ish. Twisted my knee a little bit during golf on Saturday (we lost again 3 down, shook hands on 17th) so having a rest day.

London Marathon Fundraising - armed and bready

London Marathon Fund Raising - Armed and Bready!
Got the envelope to say am definitely in the Marathon team on Friday together with sponsorship forms and what have you. So the fundraising is now on!

Had a whizzo idea of increasing my London Marathon fund raising potential by baking bread, charging a pound for an 800g loaf with every penny going to the NSPCC. The only problem with this very cunning plan is the first day I've gone and got 11 orders which I can't see me being able to fulfil this week unless I stay up all night as am going to be away on business later in the week. Anyway, as a plan it's working so far (if a little too well)!

Am thinking of contacting the excellent manufacturer of my Breadmaker - Morphy Richards to see if they would consider lending me a Breadmaker for the next three months - will see.

Week of Sun 16th Nov to 22nd Nov

Saturday 22nd Nov
Got back to blighty safely - only a forty minute flight coming back, took longer to drive from East Midlands back to Ashbourne! Got up early again this morning 5:40, loaded up breadmaker watched a bit of telly with Lucy and then ran up town for papers only 3.5 miles but it all counts and keeps me ticking over. Golf later.

Lucy has been selected for the 15 man squad for Ashbourne RUFC under 9s to play in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys (NLD) Derbyshire Qualifiers at Derby tomorrow which is a bit of a long old thing starting at 9am and finishing at 1pm but hey-ho. She's the only gal in the side which is good (there's about half a dozen of them turn up for practice every week but Lucy's a good little tackler, bless her).

Friday 21st Nov
Returning to UK tonight. Thank the lord. Went for a run at 6:30 am this morning, Put the map into Bike Route Toaster.com to see how far it was - 8 miles on a there and back route - bit of boring sort of a route from Malahide to Portmarnock but I got mega lost when trying to make it into a circuit so ended up doing retracing my steps to get back! It's probably a bit longer still as I went all over the place coming back. I know I went past the Portmarnock Sports & Leisure Club which is more or less where the end point is on the map before turning round. Will be happier when back home tonight although it's not been altogether unenjoyable either - got 14 miles of runnning done in last two days so that's got to be good for the training effort.



I liked Ireland but don't like the congestion in Dublin, it's cak.

Thursday 20th Nov
Am out of the UK at the moment but still managed an hour running along the coast this morning. Have no idea just how far as have no edge (where the hell's it gone, the swine). Am going to work it out when get back to Blighty. Surprised by the number of herons about.

Wednesday 19th Nov
Am off on travels for work, not back til Friday. Did a 3.5 mile quick run up town and back this morning - needed more time for packing and sorting out before going. Got three more loaves done last night so have only two more to do to fulfil the deficit then get another batch of orders for next week.


View out my window at the moment.

Tuesday 18th Nov
Late posting but been darned busy. Ran 5 miles this morning, this after getting up at 3am and 5am to set breadmaker off. Beginning to regret that cunning plan, however, it's turning into a better plan. With Giftaid ticked on the sponsor sheets, the £1 a loaf becomes £1.28 a loaf which means £1000 target becomes a damned site easier.

Did gym session again at lunch time, 10 mins on exercise bike set on load setting 6, 25 mins on rower set on 10 and a few reps of weights. Good. Weighed before leaving work as am not going to be in office on Friday - 14st 3.5lbs which I think is half pound less than last official weigh so that'll do.

Ed Byrne - half toff, half pikey - Different Class Tour 2008
Been to see Ed Byrne at Derby Assembly Rooms' Darwin Suite - he was bloomin brilliant much much better than crappy Paddy McGuiness. Really enjoyed it and the kiwi warm up act was really good too. When I work out what he was called I'll update the post.

Ed Byrne - if you get chance, go see, he's great.

Monday 17th Nov
Been going to bed at 9pm or earlier since Friday night and it's working a treat. Got up at 5:30 this morning with no problems at all on the road for ten to six and got the requisite six and half miles completed in good time. Well pleased. Have got to go back up attic tonight as have sorted all the summer stuff out that won't be needed for a good few weeks - cycle shorts, running vests etc.etc.

Sunday 16th Nov
Still not found the bloomin Edge GPS tracker gadget which is an irritant really as I ran a bloomin fast six and a half this morning and it would have been nice to know just how fast - certainly under an hour twas!

Rugby training with Lucy at half ten, bacon cob was grand, had three black coffees in two hours as well which was grand. They were practicing on the top playing field so plenty of walking done too. Been up in the attic and got all the winter gloves, scarves and hats down at last so no more cold hands while out running.

Week Sun 9th - Sat 16th November

Roundup of Week gone by
As Eric Morecambe would say - 'Rubbish'. Didn't run nearly enough. Golf was tat. England lost to the ozzies at Rugby due more to stupid mistakes than poor performance. The Australians were being made out to be one of the great Australian sides but they're nothing special. There's no Campeze in that fifteen and that's for sure. England have got some great talent bubbling in there and give 12 months of Johnson moulding them and they'll stuff the Ozzies. What they can't do next time is give away penalty after kickable penalty, that's unforgiveable at that level.

Anyway, Derby won.


Saturday 15th Nov
Went to bed at 8:30 last night as have been feeling knackered all week. Got up at 5:30 feeling okay, catching up now on work that was missed yesterday due to Children in Need. No Problem. Going to fetch papers on the FCR1 this morning if it's dry or a little bit of a run if it's not.

Golf - we got thrashed today - shook hands on the 14th - but in fairness both John and meself struggled today and the pair we played Ray and Stuart both hit it a long, long way off 15 and 18 handicaps and it nailed it down with rain. Awful golf but England vs Australia on the rugby which should be juicy.

Friday 14th Nov
Friday was Children in Need fund raising at SW so was drafted in to be a slave for a couple of hours. Meant missing group which this week is not a bad thing cause am sure to have put on although alcohol consumption for last week was near as damnit non-existant. Ended up cleaning I think 11 or so cars for the web team and then working for the Field Admin team in the afternoon making drinks and doing some programming work (can't beat a blast from the past, what!) for them. Good stuff - think we raised getting on for a grand overall at Head Office, although I may well be wrong - update on monday with added accuracy I should think.

Bit better this morning got out of bed for 5:40 and got out the house for 6:05, did five miles up Ashbourne and back. Very slow, am absolutely knackered at the moment it has to be said.

Thursday 13th Nov - Evening
Did a solid session in the Gym at lunchtim. James was hogging the rower so did 12 minutes on exercise bike for some 130kcals. Then loads of weights. Which made up for not doing a full run in the morning I like to think.

Boat Multiplier
I got a dirty big multiplier off Ebay for £12. Loaded up with 60lb line, it's a monster ! It's a Shakespeare Sigma something or other. Problem was it would only wind a couple of foot in and then jammed. Opened it up and there's a spring caught in the gears - not good. So pulled out the spring and it's fully functional again - good. Have a thought to use it off the rocks close in at Church Bay next year. With 60lb line on it snags should be much less of an issue.


Thursday 13th Nov
Same again, couldn't get out of bed. Gone six before I was up. Still went for a bit of a run though. Did three and a half again which is better than nowt. Did a solid session in Gym yesterday to make up and intend to do the same again today.

Wednesday 12th Nov
Couldn't get out of bed again. Just gone six before I got downstairs. Anyway got dressed for running double quick as I thought could get the five miler in. Didn't count on absolute crap weather so went back in and did a bit of programming. Weather had improved a wee bit by 6:30 so ran up town fetched papers and then back home. On the clock in Jewitt's papershop it looked like it said 6:40 which seems insane - a mile and a half in ten minutes so I reckon their clock is wrong, any way certainly did three and a half miles in just over thirty minutes so it's the old thing of if running late you run quicker!! Lateness that's the future.

Tuesday 11th Nov
Blimey, don't go to Basingstoke it's bloomin miles away and it rains a lot. . got back gone 8 o'clock last night so not a lot of time to do owt when got home. Anyway, it's a new day. Did the 6.5 mile Okeover, Mappleton, Ashbourne, Clifton run - the new usual run. Pace was okay I think, must admit I'm not missing the edge as much as I thought I would and in some ways it makes the runs less pressure in that I'm not looking down and thinking "gotta go quicker, it's slower than 10 minute miles". Sod that, distance is king now and getting me little legs used to the miles is the main thing. 18 miles on the clock in three days, things are good.

Monday 10th Nov
Couldn't get out of bed early enough. Am off down to Basingstoke this morning so felt like I hadn't as much time so have only done 5 miles this morning. No idea of pace but felt a bit on the slow side. Not to worry. Have had naff-all beer over the weekend which is good but been experimenting with the bread-maker which is less good. Will see what the effect of all that is at weighin but will try and bump up the exercise levels a bit this week to offset the bread!

Sunday 9th Nov
Weekends? Relaxing? You're having a laugh . Got back from Slimming World's Awards last night at 12am, up early doors, running - 6 miler, no edge, round Mappleton, over to Darley pick up Lucy, over to Bakewell, Rugby practice and on and on it goes. There's no rest for the wicked.

The do last night was something else and just goes to show what Slimming World is all about, The Man of the Year winner had lost 25stones for heaven's sake! Two of the Woman of the Year finalists had lost in excess of 10 stones - double figure weight losses and I'm mucking about maintaining most weeks? Fool of a Took, I am.

Hey ho.

Week - Sunday 1st Nov to Saturday 8th Nov 08

Saturday 8th Nov
Yesterday was a damned nightmare. Stress city start to finish but it's done now. Saturday is a new day. Big Company do down in Birmingham later, got another 6.5miler done this morning. No idea of time after losing the edge earlier in the week but in a way that matters not a jot. I've got to run 26 miles and 385 yards next April so the speed is no longer the issue any more, staying power and endurance is wat I've got to start working towards. Kathryn my marathon guru is going to give me a training plan soon. If she don't soon I'll be getting one from t'internet!

Friday 7th The Weight Stays the Same
Had a weigh-in at Nics lil group on Wednesday weight and weight was down at 15st 2.5lbs which I was surprised and pleased about. Today it's 15st 4lbs which is same as last week and a bit rubbish. However, I drank a fair bit last weekend so a maintain isn't the end of the world at this stage. Now the goal is to keep away from anything like beer! Work has been mega hectic this week and have not made the gym all week but am going to make an effort to get there today


Friday 7th November - British Steel
Not showing any British Steel today! 5:30 til now (6:05) it's been chucking it down with rain. Took some stuff to me car just in case it's only messing about rain but it's not, so at the moment running is off. In summer I could run in the light rain no problem but winter rain is just not worth it and I've not had a rest day for ages so will give the joints a break.

Have got some big, big news that involves London and April but am not sure I'm allowed to mention it yet, so forget you've even read London and April on a blog that mentions running a lot, okay?

If it's all done by 6:25 I can run up town and back to go get papers but otherwise it looks like I'm definitely going to be in the gym later today to get some cardio done. Thus far today it's just press-ups and what have you at home.

Thursday 6th November - Disaster Strikes!
Have lost my edge quite literally. Can't find the Garmin Edge GPS computer that has been tracking my runs/cycle rides for the past 14 months this morning. Still, did the 6.5 miles round Mappleton and back through Ashbourne - same route at Monday, set off at 5:53 got back a fraction after 7:00 so about normal pace.


Wednesday 5th November
Absolute rubbish run today. Edge played up for a start so it looks like I didn't start running until over a mile from home and then texted son at 6:30 to tell him to do something (which he didn't, the little toad) and forgot to restart the Edge so lost a load of distance there as well. Edge says run was rubbish pace wise and I'd have to agree am slower at minute cause me legs are knackered but not that damn slow! Anyway, day can only get better (please).

Tuesday 4th November
Did a five mile run this morning but the Edge played up again a bit so it looks like 4 and a half miles. Didn't get up til 5:50 so running too late for the six miler.

Monday 2nd November
Well, while watching the Derby v Forest Game yesterday, I partook of a beer or two which was bloomin silly, but hey-ho that's what I did. That's it for alcohol now uptil Xmas. Hopefully the weight will start dropping again here on in. Did six and a half miles this morning which is the regime now.

Sunday 1st November
Started off with an okay sort of a six mile run. Cold and drizzly which is what I'm blaming for my much reduced pace! Then went off to Chellaston with Lucy to play Melbourne Juniors at rugby. Damned cold again but Lucy got stuck in and had a good game so was nice to see.

Amazed at the Derby v Forest game on Sky. What was the ref on? High octane stuff and nice to see Lee Camp doing well. Why ever we let him go I don't know? Anyroad spilt milk and all that.