Kick Start

 

While you read my story, perhaps you can nosh on this delicious cheesy pizza quick bread.  I substituted with what I had on hand (made my own buttermilk with milk/lemon juice, used a blend of shredded cheese in place of mozzarella, salami in place of pepperoni, etc).  My husband who likes my cooking, exclaimed DELICIOUS with the first bite.  And so it is.  Here's the story part.

Anyone notice I've been AWOL for a couple weeks?  Sure the holidays are busy for all, but there was more going on with me.  I was in the grip of SAD, seasonal affective disorder.  Had been for many weeks; many weeks of feeling drained with no interest in doing anything, no energy to do anything, dragging through each day until 4 pm when I'd reach for the cocktail shaker...I couldn't even wait until 5 pm!  Then anger got added to the mix of unpleasant symptoms.  I am a sunny person!  This was not me, and I realized I had to do something.  But, you know, it's hard to talk about.  I finally complained to my sis how exhausted I am and she said...sounds like depression.  Uh, yeah, I guess it does.  With that light bulb coming on, I raced to my most trusted adviser, Google, for some research.  For a number of reasons, I felt that SAD most matched my situation.  I ordered a light box on 2 day delivery from Amazon, stat. 

 

Here's what the cheese bread looks like.  I think kids and husbands will really like it.  It isn't "diet food", but 1 slice, warmed, with a big salad and a petite glass of chardonnay makes a lovely meal.  Especially in front of TV watching season premiere of DownTown Abbey.  Am I the only one who thinks Shirley McLaine was made to look ugly, and her character clueless?  Back to story.  While I waited the 2 days for light box to arrive, we got some sun here.  And I sat in it for a while daily.  My mood returned to normal (happy).  Which I took as another clue that SAD was me.  I've used the light box for 30 minutes each morning for 4 days now.  Grey skies have returned, but not my depression. 

I have enough energy to write this post, to tackle some household projects I've delayed for a long time, to make a few new recipes, and mostly to just feel upbeat and cheerful and interested each day.  The little things!  Let me share another recipe with you.  These crumb bars are so very good.  Make a 1/2 recipe to start and you will add this to your keep file.  Click on both of these recipe pics to get a good printable version.  If that doesn't work for you, and you want to try them, email me and I'll solve the problem.  Because I have the energy to get it done.  Yeah.