Baking Therapy
Blech. It’s been that kind of day today, which seems to be an unsettling trend lately.
At least last night’s bedtime snack was delicious.
I got this new Nature’s Path cereal last night and could not resist opening the box ASAP.
B and I are huge fans of the Agave plus granola but I wanted something with flakes this time too, and this Flax Plus Red Berry Crunch was outstanding. I can’t imagine that this box will last long.
I think my brother would love this cereal! I may to find some other goodies and send a care package to him over in Germany.
I liked my bedtime snack so much that I decided to do a repeat for breakfast.
I haven’t felt so hot today so I didn’t end up eating breakfast until 9:30. Having such a late breakfast meant not AM snacking for me.
I have a tendency to need to talk (or write) things out when I am feeling bad. I can literally feel the emotional burden lifted off my spirit one I vocalize what’s bugging me, so please bear with me if I seem whiney.
By the time lunch rolled around I felt like I just had tension rolling off of my body. I physically felt blah, and emotional just feeling generally unhappy and restless. At work I have had the shortest fuse and have been getting irritated at everything. When I feel generally unhappy, stressed, unsettled and/or restless I like to bake. For some reason it sooths me. After crying throughout the entire 15 minute ride home (and can’t pinpoint exactly why) I decided that using my break to bake was a must. I needed the therapy, but I still had to eat.
I warmed up some fish sticks, leftover quinoa, and green beans while I was measuring and mixing ingredients. 
The fish sticks were my effort at avoiding fast food, and boy were they tasty.
As far as the baking goes I decided to make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies that Michelle posted on her blog this morning.
They look good (I haven’t tasted them yet because I was full from lunch), but they came out thicker than I had hoped they would which probably had something to do with how I rolled them. I only had time to bake 1/2 the dough so I rolled the rest in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for a day I want a quick and mess free cookie. 
I ran out the door to head back to work feeling much better. Baking therapy worked, as usual. Tonight I have dinner out with the girls which I am expecting to be even more therapeutic.
Until then…
Disclaimer: I'm not a Registered Dietitian (RD). For specific medical counseling, please contact a Registered Dietitian or your doctor. My blog posts are based on my own personal knowledge, experience, and opinions.
Baking really is therapeutic; could not agree with you more, girl! Hope your day is improving.
[Reply]
Jessie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 4:15 PM
My day is improving, thanks! And I definitely think that the baking made all of the difference. Being late from lunch was well worth it.
[Reply]
Enjoyed your blog. I also bakefor therapy and I love it. Just recently baked my own bread for the first time,very theraputic and satisfactory. Hope to hear more from you!
[Reply]
Jessie Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:18 PM
I wish I could bake bread! It always turns out too dense. My brother can make some amazing bread and I am totally jealous. I stick with cookies and cakes for now.
I am actually due for some baking therapy. Maybe it will help lift the funk I am in from my brother deploying.
[Reply]
Awww, sorry you were upset! Those cookies look great though! You channeled that sadness into something productive
[Reply]
Jessie Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 3:23 PM
They didn’t look nearly as good as the Brown Eyed Bakers version though, and that what I was going for. But thanks!
[Reply]