Tuesday 26 October 2010

Joy's 20-minutes Meals!

Just when I think nobody is reading what I write each week, a friend from Australia complains that I haven't written anything for ages!  That is enough incentive for me to get the thinking cap on!
Actually that is the reason for my absence - the thinking cap has been bogged down in the depths of a dissertation for my degree that finally comes to an end in precisely 68 days - not that I'm counting you understand!
The subject I have chosen for the 7000 exciting words is the effect that hydration has on athletic performance.  So, for all you would-be athletes out there you need to know that it does have an effect and yes, you do need to drink even more than the average sedentary person - at least 2 litres, possibly up to 3-4 litres depending on how much you are training.  It is a well-known fact that most athletes start their training dehydrated, and a mere 2% dehydration will effect your performance, so get drinking!

There comes a certain time of day when my head really cannot face any more studying, and lately that has been around the time that Jamie's 30-minute Meals is showing on TV, so I sit myself in front of that to see if I can get any ideas for my own recipes.  And every evening I get wound up, not only by the fact that his 30 minutes does not include getting out all your kitchen equipment (that can take a good 5 minutes!), but also that the programme is cut in certain places when something takes too long!  Why not just call it 45-minute meals then everyone would be happy?!
Anyway, I decided I would do a 20-minute lunch today - beat that Jamie!  And mine is healthy too.




Gazpacho with Avocado and Softly Boiled Egg
This is such a simple recipe and really you can add the ingredients you like, in whatever amounts you like - just taste it as you go.  Normally I would use fresh tomatoes but didn't have any, so used tomato juice instead - it really is that easy.
It's a great antioxidant-rich recipe, full of fibre and vitamins, but don't forget to add some protein - top with an egg or even some cooked, flaked salmon would be great.


Serves 2


2 red peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped
1/2 red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cucumber, roughly chopped
handful basil leaves
handful parsley leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tbsp sherry or Balsamic vinegar
100mls olive oil
200-300mls tomato juice
seasoning to taste
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
2 eggs, softly boiled


Place all the vegetables and herbs in the food processor and process until finely chopped.
Add the liquids and seasoning to taste and process again briefly.
Serve chilled, topped with chopped avocado and egg.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Lazy Sunday mornings...............

The day finally dawned - as wet and soggy as it was the last time I attempted this crazy triathlon, The Rowers Revenge - 4km rowing (on an erg), 25km cycling and 7km run.  But this year the course was shortened slightly as Marlow bridge was closed to pedestrians and the river tow path was so muddy it wasn't really safe to run on, so we only had to complete 5km run on tarmac, which nobody complained about!
First challenge of the day - would the bike fit in the back of a mini?  I really should have checked this out before I realise.  Luckily, it just squeezed in.

After that my main concern was who I had to beat.  I had previously quickly scanned the previous years' results and figured there was a chance of winning my category (if I didn't fall off the bike, or blow up on the erg to start with).  On arrival I checked out the competition and spotted a very lean, seriously kitted out, obviously a triathlete, woman of my age - this was my competition!  I figured if she was a 'normal' triathlete she would be a swimmer and not a rower, so my original timing goal on the erg had to be revised - I had to up my game and make sure I beat her on this, and then just stay ahead for the next hour and a half cycling and running - sounds simple really!
The first bit went according to plan, I was the first to jump (OK, crawl) off the erg and head out to the bikes.  Not my strongest part of the race mainly due to inexperience and general nervousness going down steep hills on such a tiny bit of machinery, I gave it my all - for the first time ever I didn't even break going downhill.  Every time I saw somebody in front of me I made it my mission to get past them, and this I did pretty much the whole way around.  Alas, after around 12km I heard a bike coming up behind me and despite all my efforts was overtaken by my competition.  I was not deterred however and kept up the pace until the end and had to be content with second place.
Those people that say that it's just the taking part that counts really don't get it.  I felt very satisfied having completed the course but would have felt so much more satisfied had I won!