Thursday, April 30, 2009

Time for something new

For all my adult life, throughout my more than forty years of struggling with bipolar disorder, I've responded to certain kinds of depression by starting a new creative project. I'm longing to do that now. I long to leave behind some of the things that have been stressing me out and start a small, colourful project. Changing gears and doing something new and exciting is very therapeutic. Doing so has helped me through many hard times.

I've been tossing around two ideas for a long time now. Things that I definitely want to do sometime. Things that would be useful to a lot of people.

One thing I'd like to do is create an attractive booklet about how people can support their friends who have depression. This is such a mystery to a lot of people. Yet it's so important that friends be there for those who are depressed.

The other thing I've been longing to do is to produce a booklet of simple, colourful recipes for people who are sick - especially those with depression. I published a booklet like this many years ago and I keep it handy for when I'm going through rough times. I'd like to do up a new edition with some of the best recipes from the old one, but also new recipes. It would be fun to play around with recipes. Such a change that would be from mental health work! ...and yet it would help people with depression.

Right now - this moment - tonight I'm opting for the recipe booklet. Hope I stick with this now. I've been waffling back and forth so much over this.

Here's one recipe that would be in the booklet:

VEGETABLE QUICHE

10 oz pkg frozen mixed vegetables, defrosted
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups (200g) grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried basil or oregano
9 inch frozen piecrust

Place piecrust on cookie sheet and allow to defrost for 10 minutes.
In bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into piecrust and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.


Would you like to help me? Do you have any very simple recipes that are tasty and healthy? If you do, please share.

8 comments:

Di said...

Great idea Marja... here you go this is super simple and yummy too.
Pulled pork Sandwiches...
1 small pork roast ( I buy the cheap cuts on sale, shank, or have used bonless pork chops or country ribs too.)
2 small onions sliced and rings separated
1 cup BBQ sauce (store bought, favorite)
1/2 Cup ketchup
1/4 cup Brown sugar
Dash of worsheshire
1/2 cup water
Place Roast and onions in crock pot, mix remaining ingredients together and pour over top. Set crock pot on low to cook for 5 -7 hours or high for 3-4 ish hours.
10 min before dinner, take 2 forks and "Pull" pork, separate it to be stringy I do this right in the pot... let it sit and simmer for 10 min or so for flavours to blend. Serve on buns with tossed salad (I cheat and use bagged salad) Enjoy.

marja said...

YES!!! Thank you, Di. It's exactly the kind of recipe I'm looking for. Easy, delicious, and little effort.

Wendy Love said...

Marja,
I too love a new project. It give me a reason to get up in the morning! I think the fact that you are 'waffling' over which project to choose is an answer in itself!
Here is a little snack that helps me when I need a healthy pick me up.

Wendy Love's Cool Sweet Treat
1/3 c. crushed canned pineapple
1/3 c. plain lowfat yogurt
2 T. sliced almonds
1 t. vanilla

marja said...

Thank you so much, Wendy. That sounds really good. I'll use that.

sbwrites said...

Dear Marja,
My husband's the cook in our house so recipes are the one arena in which I have nothing to add (surprise, surprise).

However, I've got to say that I love the idea for the other booklet. I think few people know how to deal with someone who's depressed.

And if you don't write the booklet, it would be nice to read posts about this topic.

Susan

marja said...

Hi Susan,

One day I will do a booklet about how to be a supportive friend. Right now though, in the space I'm in, I think it's better for me to get my head away from mental health matters. Playing with food will be a welcome break.

marja

sbwrites said...

Marja,
I can completely understand.

Susan

marja said...

Susan,

So good to be understood and not to be thought of as abandoning what I've committed myself to.

marja