Waffles for breakfast

I've brushed off the old waffle machine and I'm going to make a batch but with pancake batter. My kids do not seem to like the few waffle recipes I've tried so if anyone has a tried and tested one that all the family love, please pass it this way! It works really well though, with pancake mix and I usually sneak a few for myself, covered in maple syrup. Not this time though...I'm now officially in training. I'm not really training for anything in particular but I have my eye set on finally completing a marathon one of these days...no earlier than Autumn 2010. I have this idea of doing the New York Marathon and when I stop laughing at myself, I think, why not?

I was doing half marathons before Kelly was born and everything ground to a halt when I got pregnant with the twins. I do a lot of walking everyday and have plenty of stamina but not enough energy or fitness. Luckily, Brian is kinda feeling the same way and he has an Aikido week coming up in September which he'd like to get fitter for so he has decided to accompany me on some walks. That means taking the kids with us as it is the holidays...I'm pretty good at luring them into a false sense of security though..."just over this hill....just round this corner...can you SMELL the ice cream?" and they can easily and happily walk for an hour.

We're also going to start running again. I ran all the time before kids and off and on afterwards. I've never really found a proper routine...or the willpower to be honest. I'm hoping to go look for it whilst having Brian by my side. Who knows, it may just be what I need..or I may want to kill him, either way, it's a start.

The kids made Bread and Butter Pudding yesterday, all by themselves! I'm not a fan but their version smelled and looked delicious, even to me. I probably don't like it much because of Brian. Since we started going out many years ago, he's been trying to force feed me bread and butter pudding, one of the few dishes he liked to make. Now, I don't think he was doing it right and the kids have naturally corrected his mistakes! Wow. Better not tell him...
Bread & Butter Pudding
Grease a loaf or pie tin.
25g/1oz butter, plus extra for greasing
8 thin slices bread
350ml/12fl oz whole milk
50ml/2fl oz double cream
2 free-range eggs
25g/1oz granulated sugar

Extra Ingredients
Sultanas or Raisins
Chocolate Chip
Cinnamon
Nutmeg

Method

Cut the crusts off the bread. Spread each slice on one side with butter, then cut into triangles.
Arrange a layer of bread, buttered-side up, in the bottom of the dish, then add a layer of whatever ingredient you choose; we use raisins but we have also used choc chips before.
Sprinkle with a little cinnamon if you like (the kids didn't but I like the sound of that), then repeat the layers of bread and raisins, sprinkling with cinnamon, until you have used up all of the bread. Finish with a layer of bread.

I know when some people make the custard, i.e. the milk, eggs and sugar (cream is optional) they heat up the milk first. We don't. We simply add all the liquid ingredients together and whisk before pouring over the bread and butter pudding. I also will admit to us not usually measuring out the milk or sugar but just putting it in with the one egg. I of course wouldn't expect you to be so irresponsible so have given measurements above.

If there are any gaps at all, butter some more bread and layer them in. Sprinkle sugar on the top so that you get a nice crunchy, sweet top and a little grating of nutmeg if you like.
Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4.
Place the dish into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the custard has set and the top is golden-brown.