The Week Before Finals Week

So, it's here. Week 10.  And I am handling it beautifully.

On the quarter system, we don't get this strange "Reading Week" some school are so fond of.. No, no, no. We go straight from a week of exams and practicals into a week of finals. It seems a little repetitive.

So now, for my movie recommendation.

I had a very terrible day, you know the kinds, where you shatter something all over the kitchen floor while making breakfast (I selected a lovely glass crock pot lid) and then spend the next 8 hours working on things that are 20% of your grade in some class.

After this kind of day, everyone should sit down and watch When Harry Met Sally

This movie is funny and romantic. Classic in all of the best ways. And I have found that I can watch it in all sorts of moods. Bad ones, happy ones, when I'm heart-broken, and when I'm anxious.

I have to try very hard to stay calm during high stress times in my life. The week before Finals Week counts as a time I need to work on staying calm, so I'd be popping Xanax every 2 hours like clockwork.

So I knit, I take baths, and from time to time, I watch When Harry Met Sally.

Anxiety and Coffee

If anyone out there actually keeps up with this blog, you may have noticed a name change. 


I have gotten rather attached to my little internet soap box and decided that it was time to change this into something I can update as I feel, as well as something I can keep adding content to well after I graduate.


I will still post the hack recipes that I develop, but I want a little room to spread out.

Want an explaination of the new name?

 I have 2 very large vices, anxiety and coffee. One feeds the others addiction. I have some anxiety issues that I am currently working thought (seriously, does breathing work for everyone else? Sometimes its just not possible to control) and this constant state of panic and worry keeps me up at night. Which is why I am writing this in the dark, in the middle of the night.


Hence my coffee addiction. Sorry kids, if you want me to do that standing/walking/talking thing everyone else seems to be so fond of, I'm going to need some caffeine.


So this is me knitting, cooking, and ranting my way though college and life with coffee and anxiety.

RIP Circular Needles

Ugh! I've been sick for a couple days now, nothing too concerning, just a low grade fever... Just enough to keep me in bed.


So I've finally had some time to catch up on my knitting backlog. I am working on a skirt I promised my sister at Christmastime, trying to get it done by May. I'd made some good progress until...

Snap! There go 60 stitched I need to hurry up and catch before the whole thing starts to unravel.


After 1 and a half hours of saving the skirt, I find myself in the market for a more solid pair of circular, size 5 knitting needles.


I'll review whatever I end up with, but at some point, doing an extremely complicated pattern on beginners knitting needles just doesn't work.


Thanks for listening to me rant and let me know if you have a sturdy circular brand to recommend.

Chocolate Sorbet After a Very Long Day

Well, contrary to what every diet ad on tv tells you, getting in shape is hard. Sadly, most of the days I swore I was going to get to the gym, I was exhausted, busy, or just plain didn't want to go. Not a great start, but I hope with time it will get better....

Yeah, I know with time it might get worse, but whatever, at least I'm trying.

My new way of eating is also going very well. The first couple of days were hard, but once I figured out when I needed snacktime (WARNING: Do not approach me if I have missed a snack. It's not pretty) it is going well.

I'm sure all of you read my blog weekly and already know this, but for anyone new, my new way of eating allows me to enjoy dessert once a week. Luckily enough, BF got an ice cream maker for Christmas. :D Soooo many new toys to play with.

Today decided to be the day we needed dessert. Yesterday, BF's flight for an interview got cancelled. As sad as we were about that, we decided to make the most of him being home this weekend. So, I was going to take my car to the mechanic... and it wouldn't start.

The emergency brake was frozen on. Thank you, Rochester.

After calling AAA, I missed both of my classes. I did, however, get a job offer that needs me to be ready for a kick off event tomorrow. Yay, job. Boo, way too much to do this weekend.

On top of that, we had an appointment with an apartment complex, looking for housing next year. I feel like I need to wring out my brain.

So, that's exactly what this is designed to do.

Trust me, if you don't really love chocolate, back away slowly.

Chocolate Sorbet
adapted from the Smitten Kitchen
Makes 1/2 a liter

• 1 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Water 
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 6 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• Pinch of salt
• 6 Tablespoons of Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3 Tablespoons of Dark Rum (Not enough to taste, just enough to stop the sorbet from freezing solid)

In a large saucepan, create a simple syrup from the water and sugar. Mix in the cocoa powder and salt. Allow to boil for 45 seconds, and then remove from the heat. Mix in the chocolate chips and allow to melt. Mix in the vanilla and rum. Move this to the fridge and allow to cool.

Spray the pre-frozen bowl of an ice cream maker with nonstick spray. Wipe down with a paper towel. This allows a very small layer of oil to remain, allowing the sorbet to come out cleanly.

Fill the greased bowl with as much of the chilled sorbet mix as you can. Mine only holds half. Oh well, I'll make the rest later and freeze it.

Freeze according to manufacturers instructions. Mine took almost twice the time it was supposed to, so be patient with it.

When the mixture thickens to the point of soft serve ice cream, it's done. You can either move it into a container to freeze for a harder final product, or....

Eat soft serve sorbet. It's good either way.

Enjoy!

It definitely helped turn mine and BF's day around!

Baked Oatmeal Breakfast

So the first concern BF had when he saw the list was having nothing to eat for breakfast. He already consumes an amazing amount of milk per week without eating cereal for breakfasts. He also in not an avid snacker like I am, so he wants a breakfast that will keep him full.

I figured that finding a breakfast that was full of whole grains, yet was quick enough for us both to grab while running out the door to class would be easy enough. Oatmeal! Quick, filling, and full of whole grainy goodness.

Well, BF thinks oatmeal is mush. And paste. But he eats oatmeal cookies. I tried a baked oatmeal in a muffin tin to end up somewhere between an oatmeal muffin and cookie, but much less sugar.

These are also great breakfast food for the List we are trying to stick to. It's a serving of both whole grains and fruit. Pretty tasty too, I might add, although next time I might add a little extra honey...

Baked Apple Raisin Oatmeal

• 1 cup of Old Fashioned Oats ( This would probably work with quick oats as well, but it would probably get a little mushier on the inside)
• 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Cloves
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Cocoa powder (you can't taste it, but I think it gives the oatmeal a nice rich flavor)
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
• 1 Cup of Skim Milk
• 1 Egg
• 3 Tablespoons of Honey
• 2 Tablespoon of melted Unsalted Butter
• 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla
• 1 Small Apple, Peeled and Chopped 
• 1/2 a Cup or so of Raisins (I don't care for raisins, and BF thinks I am stingy with them. Your mileage may very) 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray, or just butter it.

 

Mix oats with spices and baking powder in a medium bowl.

Mix all of your wet ingredients in a bowl, and mix well. Milk, egg, vanilla, honey, and melted butter.

Now combine the wet and dry ingredients well.

Evenly distribute the apples and raisins in the bottom of your muffin tin. 

 Pour the oatmeal mixture evenly into the muffin tins.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until the oats are set and starting to become a nice golden color on the top. This will give you a nice, muffiny texture. If you would like a texture closer to that of a granola bar, just cook a little longer. Just be warned that they do continue to firm up after you remove them from the oven. Too much longer and you will have made some delicious oatmeal rocks.

Enjoy!