What’s The Use Of Worrying? What’s The Use Of Anything?

I have been worrying, worrying so much that I experienced some awful anxiety. I have terrible physical manifestations where I have a kind of ongoing panic attack. I am grateful for the part of me that looks after me and I rang Lifeline and talked to a kind woman who told me I would in no way be bothering my doctor if I went to see her. She was away, but I saw another kind doctor and I have some more drugs and I have had three visits to my psychologist in quick succession. 

That is why I have not been around, internetally lately.

There was no one thing, rather the cumulative effect of many things: my tooth died I had an abscess and then a root canal, my iPad just stopped working and had to be replaced, my specialist retired, there was a flood in the bathroom, I hit my tyre on the curb avoiding a  car driving madly in the rain and a few other bits and bobs. 

I just carried on regardless in the face of so many things and in the end my body and my mind decided it was all too much. I didn’t read, I didn’t sew or knit or bake. I did walk The Labradors and see my friends.

I feel much better now. I am a work in progress, it is very hard being ill and having to work on your mental health as well. I have lots of support and love from my family, friends and medical professionals. Thank goodness.

Lorelai Gilmore and a Hedy Lamarr are always there. They have a new friend called Billie who is a Guide Dog in training and she is staying with Sandy’s Mum and dad. Lorelai LOVES Billie and runs and plays.

Hedy had had an allergy and we all went to see Dr Marion who gave her some very low dose tablets that did the trick. She has only had three in the week since. Gilly is very well and happy. She loves the cold weather and still plays in the paddle pool. They both love the icy cold and frosty mornings.

I bought some marvellous earrings for MrsDrWho’s birthday from CheekyLittleMonkeysJ on The Etsy. I bought TimTam and BBQ Shapes packets. I sewed a BBQ shapes zippy bag and made TimTam Bites fudge. You can see the earrings stuck in a piece of carrot! I can’t work out how to make a clicky link to the shop, so I will attempt to paste the URL.

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/CheekyLittleMonkeysJ?ref=l2-shopheader-name

I also knitted her a PussyHat Project hat in miscellaneous blues of indeterminate make-up.

Amongst my circle of friends there has been a death and a birth and a new puppy. Life just goes along on her merry way, regardless. I hate feeling anxious or depressed, but I am grateful so many people have my back, and glad to feel like my old self again.

Friday Food: Cinnamon-spiced Cookie Bars

Today I baked cookie bars from the Super Food Ideas magazine, July 2018. Instead of making individual biscuits, you just bake a slice and cut it up!!

I could see immediately when I put the mixture into the tin that I had probably chopped the chocolate too finely. Their cookie bar had bigger chunks and more open spaces of plain cookie. I did follow the recipe, but I used 1 tspn of cinnamon paste instead of 2 tspn of ground cinnamon. The paste has made the cookie bar much darker in colour.

It was very easy to make and the ingredients were already in my kitchen. I think the addition of cinnamon is a nice touch, but it could be left out if you are not a fan.

And that is really all I have to say about this recipe. I am taking it to afternoon tea tomorrow where I have it on good authority that there will be egg sandwiches!!

 

Cinnamon-spiced Cookie Bars        Serves 16

• 250g butter, softened
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tspn of vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 tspn ground cinnamon, or 1 tspn cinnamon paste
• 2 cups plain flour
• 1/2 tspn baking powder
• 1/4 tspn bicarbonate of soda
• 300g dark chocolate, chopped
• salt flakes to top if desired

 

Preheat the oven to 180*C or 160*C fan forced. Grease and line a 20 x 30cm tin. Make sure the baking paper reaches at least the top if the sides of the tin.

I like to soften the butter and warm the sugar in the microwave for a minute on a lowish temperature. Then cream the butter, sugars and vanilla for 5 minutes. I also added the cinnamon paste, whereas the ground cinnamon should be added with the flour later.

Add the egg and beat until just combined.

Add the dry ingredients and beat for a further minute.

Finally stir through the chocolate.

Press gently and evenly into the tin and sprinkle over the salt if you like. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Leave in the tin until almost cool and then cut into bars.

I think these should keep in an airtight container for about a week.