Early Mornings and Almond Anise Biscotti

For about four weeks, I've been getting up just before 5 a.m. to run. Most days I run with a group but sometimes I'm on my own or with a friend. I've always struggled with the morning runs. On one hand, I love both being up before the sun and the sense of accomplishment that comes from running hard long before most people get up. On the other hand, until Beatrix came along, I also loved the snooze button. When you intend to get up and run in the morning and don't, you bear two burdens: you start your day off with a failure and you have all day to look forward to dread your evening run. Since I've been up in the morning, my overall mental health has improved dramatically. I know how crazy that sounds. My alarm is set for 4:40 a.m. So I can get up and RUN. Some days it's hard running too. I think I'm sleeping less. But I have more energy throughout the day. Where is the science, people???

If you had told me a few years ago that I would successfully run in the mornings for more than a week at a time, I would have died laughing. Now there seem to be so many more obstacles (e.g. a baby, a teething baby, a baby who doesn't sleep through the night anymore) but I find it easier. I'm sure it's because running time is so much more precious now than it was when I had my life to myself. The other part is that I prefer returning home to a smiley, awake baby rather than waking up to one. Mommy Duty no longer wakes me up, Running does. Somehow, that's better in my book.

I started this post about getting up early so that I could share with you my daily post-run breakfast: single shot cappuccino and homemade biscotti.

I've been making a new batch of biscotti every Sunday night and they've been so tasty that I decided to share my experiments recipes with you. This week's batch was almond anise. The best part is that if you only eat one, they're not a lot of calories. You could take out the almonds to reduce the calories too.


Almond Anise Biscotti
2 c white flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 1/4 c sugar
1 tsp anise extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp anise seeds
1 c whole almonds
optional: sliced almonds

Pre-heat oven to 300 F. Combine flour and baking powder in one bowl. Set aside.

Combine sugar, eggs, anise extract and salt. Whip until thick. Stir in flour mixture.

Add anise seeds and almonds.

The dough will have the consistency of sticky cookie dough. Spread into a 4" x 16" log on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. OPTIONAL: Sprinkle sliced almonds over the top. Bake 1 hour. Reduce oven temperature to 275 F. Cool 10 minutes. Slice into 1/2" wide slices. Place slices cut-side down on baking sheet. Toast biscotti 10 minutes on each side for a total of 20 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen.*
*Be sure to make a kind that the other members of your household will eat. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with 58934854309859304859034 calories of biscotti. Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing...

Crochet: The Abyss

I'm shocked that it's been two weeks since my last blog post! I've been collecting little bits here and there but I haven't had any knitting content worth mentioning!

First up, you really must go check out this really cool free sock pattern. It's a great pattern on its own but the designer? Another Elinor. And she spells it correctly. Not like the manufacturer of Sarah's shoes, which are still cool because they're called 'Eleanor', but not as cool as if they'd been called 'Elinor'.

Speaking of shoes, check out what Johanna's been making! I'm definitely going to put in an order for a pair for Beatrix! Where does that mama find the time? I am thoroughly impressed!

For those of you interested in the Woolarina sock yarn I used for my Orchid socks, you should go see Jennie's current WIP with another colorway of Woolarina. She's struggling with the sock heel but the yarn is just beautiful!! I hope Woolarina puts up more yarn soon!

I'm afraid that I've been teetering on the abyss of crochet. (runs around in circles screaming) All thanks to Maryse and her stinkin' Soft Waves Ripple Afghan. You see, I have this huge "stash". I use the term tentatively because I'm referring to partial skeins and leftovers from other projects, which I know many of you refuse to call "stash" (denial must be nice...) Leftovers aside, my stash is tiny compared to some of the ones I've been seeing on Ravelry (I'm lookin' at you JulieFrick!). Nevertheless, I would love to use up my remnants and since I'm not likely to finish any knitted blanket, I thought I'd try to crochet one.

The first problem? I don't know how to crochet. Maryse gave me the rundown on exactly what crochet stitches I'd need to learn and blogless Camille from my knitting group got me started. I've already used up about 5 oz of Cotton Ease remnants making washcloths! I've been giving them away as I crochet them so you don't get any pictures of my wonky "squares".

The second problem? The pattern is from a book that my library doesn't have and I'm just not going to buy a book for ONE pattern. While there are 200 stitch patterns in this book, I thought I'd take my chances on Amazon to see if the book had an excerpt. It does and guess what? The excerpt includes the pattern I want! This just goes to show that you should ALWAYS 'Look Inside This Book'!

I'm planning to make the blanket baby sized and use up lots of Wool of the Andes, Cascade 220 and misc worsted weight wool. I might buy a few more WoTA skeins to balance the colors out but not until I get started! No need to add to stash for a stash buster, right?

Next up, I'm going to have to come clean with you about what I've done with my Grapefruit socks:

Let's just say that there will not be a sock giveaway, although I promise to hold another giveaway (with a good prize) in place of the socks. I am weak. Ann offered to trade me some Sea Wool for my socks and I took her up on it. Please don't hate me (didn't I tell you I was weak?) Besides, you know you would have done the same...

Because Ann is too cool for words, she also threw in some Lang Jawoll for fun! I'm hoping to finish up Ann's socks this week so I can liberate my size 1 circular so I can continue knitting this pair for my aunt. I can't remember the name of the pattern just now but it's a 4-stitch cable pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks.

Even so, I need some stockinette socks to knit while studying! Studying is the only way I'm getting in any knitting these days. This is my new study sock! It's Regia Cotton India. I'm knitting these for my mom who claims to be allergic to wool (I have my doubts about this but I'm compromising).

The knitting is really taking a back seat to organic chemistry and exercise!! I really must carve out some knitting (dare I say 'crochet' too?) time soon! I've been running 3 days a week with my friend's running program, playing soccer 2 days a week, taking exercise classes 3 days a week and getting up for Dog Days, a community exercise program 2 times a week. Since there aren't 10 days in a week, that means exercise twice a day most days of the week. It's been a lot of fun but it doesn't leave much room for knitting. Summer is for getting outside so don't expect prolific knitting in the next few months! I know you're all outside too!

FO: Canal du Midi Socks

Progress continues on the Gentleman's Fancy Socks. Thanks for your feedback on the color. I wasn't sold on it at first but I've grown to like it quite a bit!

The knitting will slow down a bit this week since there's another Organic Chemistry test on the horizon. *sigh* The good news is that another aunt has asked for a pair of socks! Hopefully, I'll be pattern gazing again soon!

Lately, there has been more exercise than knitting around here, which is always a good thing. Christine and I ran a 5K last week, which was so much fun! Go congratulate her on a power finish! We're definitely planning to meet up again for another run soon. There are a bunch of races coming up that I intend to run but I'll tell you more later.

Have a great week!

R.I.P. Dear Running Shorts

This afternoon, I hatched this great plan to pack the stroller and some toys in the car, pick Aaron up from work at 5 and head down the street to the high school track so that I could get a quick speed workout in. He could entertain Beatrix while I ran repeats and then we'd all go home to celebrate the beginning of the weekend.

Since all of my running clothes were dirty, I dug into my dresser and fished out my most favorite pair of running shorts: a pair I ran in when I was in boarding school. Ahem. Yes, these shorts are more than 10 years old - do you have a problem with that??? They've logged many, many miles but I haven't kept them for sentimental reasons (not really); comfortable running shorts are hard to come by! They even helped me out when I was pregnant. Not huge pregnant (after all, I did stop at 28 weeks) but still, pregnant. I pulled on the shorts and headed out the door with Beatrix.

After the baby hand off, I started jogging down the street and by the end of the block, it became abundantly clear that I would not be running to the track, let alone around it. Had my hands not been at my hips holding my beloved shorts up, they would have been puddled at my ankles. It was quite a sight, let me tell you. When I took them off at home, I inspected the waist. No wonder they didn't fit. I should never have even put them on when I was pregnant! I've checked out the elastic and I don't even think I could replace it.

"What," you ask, "you actually considered replacing the elastic on running shorts that are over a decade old? Are you crazy??"

Yes I am.

I haven't blogged a lot about exercise but I'm still running and looking forward to some 5 and 10Ks this spring. My original plan had been to run 3-4 miles about three times a week and then run longer on the weekend. This has changed. Getting out of the house is such a huge production that I feel like I ought to at least run for an hour to make all of the preparation, timing and planning worthwhile. I hope to hit 20 miles this week but I'd like to soon be up to 25 miles/week. I'm also forcing myself to add in a few hills and hit the track for a speed workout once every 2 weeks.

The nice weather makes it so much easier to get out and I just feel like a new person after a good run. For you non-runners, there's always the painless Couch-To-5K program. It's never too late to start!!