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The Starbucks loaf is more evenly shaped and the raspberry swirls are prettier.
Mine was also smaller because it lost about 1/2 an inch or so of the bottom that was stuck in the pan.
The Starbucks one is $2.45 a slice this year, my cost per slice was a lot cheaper.
Taste wise? I'm partial to mine. But that's because I put time and effort into it and I'm biased!
I don't remember the last time I did a hill workout on purpose. Never? In fact I chose my running route based on the lack of hills.
But right now I am living at the top of long and steep driveway. Well, long and steep by my standards. The first two runs I did here, I jogged down the driveway, went for my run and then crawled back up the driveway.
Looking down part of the driveway
After yesterdays 2km swim my legs were already shaky, so today I thought I'd go for a shorter run. 20 mins. Nothing too strenous. As I was standing at the top of the driveway getting ready to start, I had a moment of insanity. I decided that I would do my version of a hill workout for 20 mins.
The top portion and steepest part of the driveway.
Walk down the driveway and then jog (not run) up. Repeat. For 20 mins. I guessed I might me able to run it once, then stagger twice more and the 20 mins would be done.
From the top looking down.
I suprised myself somewhat. I jogged all the way up the first time. Although I'm not sure you would actually calling it jogging, walking may actually have been quicker. I jogged about 3/4s of the way up the 2nd and 3rd time, then walked the rest. And I jogged just over 1/2 way up the 4th and 5th time.
(Normally at 5mins I'd be closer to .75kms and a current pace of 7:00 to 7:30 minutes/km. I'm much slower on a hill)
I think I'll try again in two weeks and see if there's any improvement. Right now my quads, my hamstrings and my glutes are screaming, crying, burning and shaking. They are definitely not happy with me.
See those green triangle? That's the hill profile. It actually looks worse than it is. The driveway is approx 120m long, and the elevation gain is about 20 metres. It certainly feels like a lot more than that.
My Canadian birthday started of bright and early. Well early, not too sure how bright I looked or felt! For whatever reason I was awake at 530am. Way before my alarm clock was due to go off.
I received lots more birthday greetings today, from Sweden, Brazil, Japan, England, Ireland, Australia, Thailand, a dozen US States, and 4 Canadian Provinces.
The highlight was a last minute unexpected visit from Steph and Finn. I talked to Steph yesterday and said she should come for lunch. And she did. An hours car ride to the ferry, 2 hours at the ferry terminal, 40 mins on the Ferry and then another hour in the car on this side. All for me.
They arrived with balloons and chocolate cake. We had lunch here... Chicken and salad. Relatively healthy. But then we ate half a chocolate cake each! Before Steph left to take the ferry home, her and Finn took me out for a birthday beer.
I finished off the evening with a 3km run. Now I'm looking forward to a cuppa tea and a chat with Jo. I'm also hoping to catch up with my Mum and Dad and my brother and Kelly before I sleep.
I tried to thank everyone individually for their birthday wishes, I'm sorry if I missed anyone.
I truly appreciate all your thoughts and best wishes and the support that everyone has given me over the last few months. I have some of the best friends.
Thank you.
It's not quite my birthday here yet. But it's been May 3rd in Australia for the last 13 and 3/4 hours.
This morning I woke to a voice mail from Jo singing me Happy Birthday. I wish i knew how to post it on here. It was an awesome way to start my day. I've had an inbox full of birthday wishes from friends and family all over Australia. This evening I finished off the day on a video Skype call with Narelle and Justin and Tait. Tait is my Godson and we share a May 3rd birthday. It's his first birthday, it's not my first! Happy Birthday Tait!
Thank you to everyone who emailed, texted, phoned, Skyped, Facebooked etc I feel much loved.
This afternoon I also received an actual gift. Some flowers, a bottle of wine and a card. I wasn't expecting to get any gifts this year, so it was a nice surprise.
My plans for tomorrow? A run. A visit from Steph and Fin. Maybe some chocolate. We'll see.
Around this time of year, Starbucks starts selling their Lemon Raspberry Loaf. It ain't cheap, so I decided I needed to make my own.
I found a recipe online at Meemo's Kitchen. (edited March 2013, the website for Meemo's Kitchen is no more. I knew I should have typed out the recipe).
I used the all butter version of the pound cake and the white chocolate and cream cheese icing. I also used a homemade raspberry jam (not made by me, by a friend).
Yep, it's good. I gave half of it away or I possibly could have eaten the whole loaf in one sitting.
Apart from zesting the lemon, this was a quick and easy recipe. Well apart from the bottom of the loaf that stuck to the pan. It lost about 1/2 an inch of height. I turned it upside down and iced the messy bottom instead, so know one will ever see it.
You could go with a lemony glaze rather than the white chocolate cream cheese icing if you wanted to cut into the sweetness. But not in my house.
I'm a big fan of lemon and raspberry, so this loaf will be a recipe I bake again.