THE BEGINNER'S BLOG - TIFFINGATE

Why is it that at the moment, every time I attempt to write the Beginners’ Blog I feel as though I have to start with a confession? So, the weather...I know I keep offering tips on how to motivate and be inspired but it appears I’m not following my own advice. Or, to be more precise, the rain keeps washing all good intentions away.

Yesterday, the only thing I could talk to anyone about, or wanted to write about, was the weather, so apologies. It’s cold and wet, just in case you hadn’t noticed. My trainers seem to be slumped in the corner of my room, or was that just me, and the only thing motivating me is a blanket and the television. Not a great start to the week.

Caroline emailed to see how my run was. I confessed that I had managed to leave the house but only to walk to my local CostCutters to buy some Digestives! In fact it gets worse. I didn’t tell the whole truth. I bought dark chocolate and sultanas and instead of running I made tiffin. For a certain sense of satisfaction you could follow this recipe below. I’m not going to pretend this recipe is in anyway healthy. It’s packed full of sultanas, which I think are good, and at least it’s dark chocolate, which is better than milk. However, whichever way you try to spin it, these are a treat to be modified, but I love them. And guess what? Having eaten five of these bites I suddenly found the inspiration for the run. I have to work work work off these calories somehow!

Thoosa’s Inspirational Tiffin


170 gm of Plain Chocolate;
50 gm of Butter;
225 gm of Digestive Biscuits;
125 gm of Sultanas;
50 gm of Glace Cherries; and
The rind and juice of one orange (optional)


Melt the chocolate and butter in a heat proof bowl over a pan of warm water. In the meantime, crush the digestives into crumbs. When the chocolate and butter is melted mix together and stir in the biscuit crumbs, the sultanas and the cherries (you could also add in the orange if you like chocolate and orange). Once all mixed, place in a greased baking tin. Flatten the mixture until it feels really compact. Place the tin in the fridge and leave to set. When ready cut into little squares for bite size portions. All the inspiration you need!