If I were to assign a theme to my weekend, it would be “almost.” As in I ran almost five miles. And I almost made French bread.
On Saturday I headed to the gym with one goal in mind – to run five miles just to see if I could do it. I was pretty sure I could, and I’m still pretty sure that I can. I just didn’t get to prove it. I apparently need to run a little faster. The stupid treadmill cuts off after 60 minutes and forces you into the cool down program. I was so close! The problem is that I walk for a few minutes at the beginning to get warmed up, and then I had to walk for a couple of minutes when I was two miles in to the run. Since I run at about 12 minutes per mile, I can’t quite fit it all into 60 minutes. So I ran 4.77 miles. I’m determined to get to five miles though. It will happen!
Today I tried to make French bread. I got a new mixer last week – which sounds so ordinary, but it was an event that will go down in history as the one that my baking life forever. It’s a KitchenAid Professional mixer, which I’ve wanted for a ridiculously long time and happened across at a huge discount at the Williams Sonoma Outlet. I think it was so cheap because it is kind of an odd color. Whatever the reason, I got a $400 mixer for $249, and it is awesome. It’s like I’ve stepped out of my black and white Kansas farmhouse and now I’m baking in the Technicolor land of Oz.
The first two things I made with it, apple cupcakes with caramel frosting and pumpkin spice cookies, were virtually effortless and turned out delicious. And then today I decided to try to make French bread. The mixer was a kneading marvel, but the bread just didn’t rise properly. I didn’t proof the yeast because I had just gotten it, but I guess I should have. Anyway, I did make bread. It’s not bad, and it’s almost French bread.
And now the weekend is almost over. I guess I’m ready to go back to work. Almost.
