Life In The Saddle

If tasked to select one true super-fuel, I would undoubtedly pick the humble oat. The ancient wholegrain has fuelled more rides and more adventures than I can possibly count. Whether in the form of porridge, muesli, flapjack, or oatcakes; oats really are the ultimate endurance fuel. In Praise of Porridge When I think back to past challenges, there is one common factor... porridge. It was porridge I ate at 4am when I started the 'St Boniface Down Everesting' . Porridge was my fuel of choice at midnight, in the pouring rain, midway through the 300-mile Trafalgar Way ride . Even in the south of France, on the final day of the #7Countries7Passes , it was porridge that kick-started the epic ride. Porridge is the without question the king of breakfasts. Wholegrain oats are the key to porridge's 'super-fuel' status. Oats are high in soluble fibre, which helps fill you up and release energy slowly. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals, and they are a sourc...

Horchata is a creamy and sweet drink from the Spanish city of Valencia; made from soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts. The light and nutty flavour, along with its creamy texture, make for a great dairy alternative. This Horchata Porridge recipe uses Horchata in place of dairy milk, and has a fruity and tropical flavour thanks to other ingredients such as vanilla, banana, and cinnamon. This is one of my favourite pre-ride fuels. Ingredients 1/2 cup Rude Health Daily Oats 1 cup Tiger Nut Drink (or ½ Tiger Nut Drink ½ water for less sweet porridge) 1/2 ripe mashed banana 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract/powder 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Optional toppings: Desiccated coconut Dried apricots Blueberries Chopped walnuts Nut butter Method Combine oats, mashed banana, cinnamon, vanilla and Tiger Nut Drink in a pan Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired consistency Pour porridge into a bowl and add toppings of choice >> Shop Rude Health Tiger Nut Drink h...

Muesli bread... a convenient way of getting your oat boost! This bread-maker recipe is one of my favourites, and super easy to follow. Slow release carbs at their best. The seeds and coconut in the Rude Health Super Seed Muesli give the bread a great crunch, while the oats and spelt flour provide a lovely taste and soft fluffy texture. Enjoy straight from the machine, with some nut butter and honey. Ingredients 1 tsp Yeast 1 tsp Salt 2 tsp Sugar 25 grams Butter 75 grams Rude Health Super Seed Museli 150 grams Strong White Bread Flour 150 grams Rude Health Sprouted Spelt Flour 200 grams Wholemeal Flour 360ml Water Method Place all ingredients in the bread-maker tub, in the order listed above Place on the programme for a large size normal wholemeal loaf (not rapid cook) Wait (normally 5 hours). Smell the beautiful fresh bread cooking. Enjoy.

So far for #TryJanuary , I've provided #RudelyAlternative dairy-free recipes for Hot Chocolate , Almond Banana Pancakes ,  Dairy-free Porridge , and a Turmeric Latté . In this post, I've saved one of the best till last... welcome to the 'Ultimate Oatmeal' - with banana, chia seeds, almonds and dates... Oatmeal is ancient porridge, and it produces an incredibly smooth and satisfying warming breakfast (or snack). To get the most of your oatmeal, you are best to soak it overnight; it helps to plump up the texture, and provide a more satisfying meal. In this recipe, I add bananas and chia seeds to the mix; to provide extra richness, and a creamier texture. Ingredients (Serves 2) 100 ml Rude Health Oatmeal 150 ml Rude Health Oat Drink 150 ml cold water 2 tbsp chia seeds 1 tbsp of chopped dates 1 banana 1/2 tsp cinnamon Maple syrup and almond butter for topping Method The night before: Soak your oatmeal in a glass bowl with the water (stir before ...