There are MANY things that are frustrating about bipolar. I hate the meds, the side effects of the meds, the stigma from other people, weight gain, and on and on. I deal with paranoia, depression, insomnia, racing thoughts and other mood symptoms. For some reason though the anger, agitation and anxiety that are part of … Continue reading Anger, Agitation, Anxiety
Yes, I know. I hate hearing, reading and talking about exercise and my mental health. I get tired of my doctors suggesting more exercise to help battle the side effects of my medications. I despise listening to the doctors that have prescribed the meds tell me that I could balance out the weight gain from … Continue reading Exercise, Bipolar, and the Battle for Self
Holidays have been a bit rough the last few years. And this year is no different. It’s during these winter months that the deaths of my mother and grandmother are most felt. The holidays are very hard without them. I think one of the reasons I started to teach myself how to bake was to … Continue reading Holiday Planning
Sweet Pastry for Tarts and Pies This rich, sweet short crust pastry is perfect for classic dessert tarts and pies. The recipe makes enough for a standard tart. You could make double the quantity, use whatever you need for your tart or pie and freeze the rest. To use the pastry from the freezer, bring … Continue reading Sweet Pastry Holiday Tarts
The last few months have been filled with changes. Along with the medication additions and adjustments I’ve made some significant diet changes. In December we moved to a mostly vegan diet. The only dairy I eat is the occasional cup of milk or the few eggs in some of the breads I still make. I … Continue reading Progress Update
I’ve been struggling with a manic swing the last few weeks. I can’t sleep, I’m agitated and irritable, and I can’t concentrate. To make matters worse the quarantine has made my usual coping skills impossible to utilize. I can’t go wander through Barnes and Noble or go sit in my favorite diner for breakfast. I … Continue reading Mania and Mini Breads
Lemon Ginger Biscotti-gluten free Makes about 24-30 cookies/ 350F for 25min then 250F for 45 min Ingredients 2 ¼ cups gluten free, plus a bit for dusting 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup finely chopped ginger … Continue reading Gluten Free lemon and ginger biscotti
I tried making a small loaf of rye bread. I found two different recipes with two different rising/proving directions. One recipe had only one rise and was for 8 hours or overnight. The other had an initial rise of 4 hours, knock the dough back, fold into loaf again, then rise a second time. I … Continue reading The Rye Bread Experiment
http://www.cnn.com/2020/04/12/world/meanwhile-in-america-april-10-intl-bread/index.html Ok. Seriously people is everyone baking bread now?! I can’t find flour anywhere! How am I supposed to do any coping baking, and eating during this quarantine without my baking supplies? I love that everyone is baking more but holy hell. Flour is getting impossible to find. I’ve even tried to purchase online from a … Continue reading Is Everyone Making Bread!?
This is what happens when you take your eyes off of your rising bread. My cat decided to mark this one as her own. Continue reading Baking with Cats
How do we keep connected to those around us when we’re struggling with the symptoms of our mental illness? How do we keep our relationships healthy as well as take care of our own individual health? How do I talk about my mental health without making others uncomfortable? How do we make meaningful connections? Is … Continue reading How do we stay connected?
During this stressful time, it’s even more important for us to take a breath, refocus, and find gratitude for the little things. Continue reading Grateful
