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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 10:41:55
I was just wondering - what do people make or bake when they are stressed. Last week I made EIGHT DOZEN choc chip cookies because I didn't know what to do with myself. Tuesday I made a cinn coffee cake and last night I made peach cobbler. My kids are in seventh heaven. My husband is a diabetic and he is about to kill me! :) but I can't seem to stop.
Last night on Babble chat I noticed a lot of other people were baking too...
I need new ideas anyway.
Daisy
Posted by Angielala on February 12, 2004, at 10:54:16
In reply to Stress Relief Baking, posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 10:41:55
this might sound like it's coming from second field- but have you tried your hand at sewing or pottery?
> I was just wondering - what do people make or bake when they are stressed. Last week I made EIGHT DOZEN choc chip cookies because I didn't know what to do with myself. Tuesday I made a cinn coffee cake and last night I made peach cobbler. My kids are in seventh heaven. My husband is a diabetic and he is about to kill me! :) but I can't seem to stop.
>
> Last night on Babble chat I noticed a lot of other people were baking too...
>
> I need new ideas anyway.
> Daisy
Posted by Medusa on February 12, 2004, at 11:56:47
In reply to Stress Relief Baking, posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 10:41:55
LOL. X bakes brownies - double and quadruple batches.
I don't find that sewing really provides relief from stress or anxiety, but then I make tailored things, suits and such ... I'm learning to knit, have only made a few scarves and a hat so far, but it seemed good for keeping hands moving. OTOH last week I was very nerved up and sewed a scarf from a piece of cashmere fabric, basically just straight seams around the edges and then fringed them, then sewed on a 'custom cashmere blend' label, and that was a quick-accomplishment project that made me feel really good, or at least less irritated at things I couldn't control.
Posted by antigua on February 12, 2004, at 13:19:28
In reply to Stress Relief Baking, posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 10:41:55
Well, I love to cook, but it has become a problem lately because I'm having trouble eating. I've lost 35-40lbs. since last summer. While it's good, I needed to, I'm getting close to the edge and have to stop, so I've been trying to cook again.
I'm not the best baker--I guess it's the exactness that's required. I was always burning cookies until I started to use parchment paper. I did bake peanut butter kisses and a chocolate pie last week because I was craving sweets. But, I prefer cooking so I also made stuffed shells (meat and cheese), chicken divan and my husband's favorite beef stew. I go in spurts, o.k., I get obsessive about it and then don't cook for a month. My poor family.
Any baking hints would be appreciated. I really want to make bread, but I've never done that. My mother swears that it's therapeutic.
antigua
Posted by Penny on February 12, 2004, at 14:31:23
In reply to Re: Stress Relief Baking, posted by antigua on February 12, 2004, at 13:19:28
I used to burn my cookies all the time too, until I figured out that the key to the perfect cookie is to take it out before it looks done - I tended to let them cook until I thought they were done, at which time they were overly crispy! If I take them out when I'm not quite sure they're done, they usually turn out wonderfully.
Other than that - I just use cookbooks if I'm not baking from a mix! I tried some cookies (double chocolate) from scratch the other day, and the dough didn't turn out right, so the cookies were terrible. But I love to bake, and hate to cook.
P
Posted by All Done on February 12, 2004, at 14:33:48
In reply to Re: Stress Relief Baking, posted by antigua on February 12, 2004, at 13:19:28
> Well, I love to cook, but it has become a problem lately because I'm having trouble eating. I've lost 35-40lbs. since last summer. While it's good, I needed to, I'm getting close to the edge and have to stop, so I've been trying to cook again.
>
> I'm not the best baker--I guess it's the exactness that's required. I was always burning cookies until I started to use parchment paper. I did bake peanut butter kisses and a chocolate pie last week because I was craving sweets. But, I prefer cooking so I also made stuffed shells (meat and cheese), chicken divan and my husband's favorite beef stew. I go in spurts, o.k., I get obsessive about it and then don't cook for a month. My poor family.
>
> Any baking hints would be appreciated. I really want to make bread, but I've never done that. My mother swears that it's therapeutic.
> antiguaWow, antigua! 35-40 lbs. is great! You are my inspiration! (I've lost 13 lbs. in the last two months or so).
Well, I don't want to get this redirected to Health, so I will say my specialties are chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies. Unfortunatly, these do nothing for my diet :(
For my husband's birthday, I'm making a chocolate cake with sweetened condensed milk, caramel-butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, and heath bits. Over the top, but sooooo yummy!
And stuffed shells are one of my favorites. Uh oh, I'm getting hungry...
Posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 20:05:12
In reply to Re: Stress Relief Baking, posted by Angielala on February 12, 2004, at 10:54:16
I'm laughing because I hate to get dirty, especially my hands (I camp at the Hilton). So pottery is out.
And I kind of know how to sew but mom is so good and fast she has always done it all. I made a skirt in school and she took it away from me and restitch the whole thing because it wasn't straight. I was 13...
I'd rather read anyway. But lately that isn't working.
Posted by octopusprime on February 12, 2004, at 21:49:31
In reply to Stress Relief Baking, posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 10:41:55
DaisyM -
I hate to suggest baking healthy things, but I love doing it! I make breakfast treats so I will eat them. (Having cookies around me is dangerous!!! I have no concept of portion size)
So here's a muffin recipe for you. I tried it, and it's very good (I used mixed frozen berries instead of blueberries, which was great)
http://www.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=13188
I also have "The Complete Harrowsmith Cookbook" with nice banana bread and blueberry bread recipes. I can post them if you like.
Posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 22:05:21
In reply to Re: Stress Relief Baking, posted by octopusprime on February 12, 2004, at 21:49:31
Thanks for the recipe. I'll try it. I would love the others too...my banana bread is always uncooked in the middle. Someone told me it is because my oven is too hot. I do ok with a mix but scratch never turns out. I can other breads in my breadmaker but that is kind of a dump and turn on thing...not really baking!
Posted by octopusprime on February 12, 2004, at 22:23:42
In reply to Re: Stress Relief Baking » octopusprime, posted by DaisyM on February 12, 2004, at 22:05:21
Here's the banana bread.
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening (I use butter, shortening is for heathens)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup mashed bananas (I use 3 whole bananas to make 1 cup mashed)
1 cup chopped walnuts (which I skip)Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cream together shortening (butter), sugar, and eggs.
Add bananas to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients, combining well after each addition. Stir in walnuts (if you didn't skip them like me)
Spoon into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 F for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until straw inserted into centre comes clean.
Makes 1 loaf.
*****************************************I can't find the blueberry bread recipe I used. It must be in another cookbook. In the recipe I liked, you press a mixture of brown sugar and chopped walnuts into the bottom of the loaf pan, then pour the regular batter on top.
This is a similar recipe, but it has almonds on top and nothing underneath. You could try skipping the almonds and putting a mixture of 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (probably held together with a couple of tbsp of melted butter) in the bottom of a loaf pan.
http://www.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=103686
****************************************
I love muffins and quick breads and coffee cakes. Quick breads are real baking and they're such underrated food :)
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