Sarah Cawood

Inside Sarahs Notebook

Banish Blue Monday with Baking!

Monday Jan 16, 2012

So guys and gals, how's the most miserable day of the year so far treating ya? Yes, apparently the third Monday of every January is becoming known as Blue Monday due to a combination of factors too boring and frankly, yup, depressing, to go into on my happy little blog (if you're interested in the psychology: here's a link to a BBC interview on the so called phenomenon).

I'm a firm believer in taking charge of your blues as I mentioned in my last entry (I'm not referring to proper, clinical, depression which is a serious disease and one that no amount of essential oil burning and laundry doing will shift...). I think most of us have a choice really: wallow or suck it up and do summat that makes you feel GOOD!. I have chosen to tackle January with feel good stuff. For starters, the weather across most of the country is BEEEOOOTIFUL! So if you can get your face in the crisp, winter sunshine anytime soon then do it! Andy and I had a lovely bimble on Hampstead Heath yesterday and it made me smile for myriad reasons: not least because dogs playing, children laughing and grown ups  attempting to rollerblade UP a VERY STEEP HILL are all lovely things to behold!

One of the other things that I think is a lovely way to feel good is do some a little bit of baking. Which is another thing I did with my cosy Sunday yesterday: I spent a lovely couple of hours in my kitchen making some Oatmeal Biscuits For Cheese. I substituted the whole fat butter in the recipe for a lighter spread and actually, they're a pretty healthy treat so you don't have to break the January healthy eating regime by making and eating them if that's what you're doing.

Andy and I had them still warm from the oven with some cheddar and some of the left over Boxing Day Chutney. They were DELISH! If you want to enjoy them in a healthier way, then use just a smidgen of low fat spread on them: still just as yummy and GUILT FREE! It's got to be a healthier alternative to necking chocolate biscuits straight from the tin then feeling waves of utter self loathing for the rest of the day, right?;)!

I got the recipe from that lovely book, Gifts From The Kitchen but obvs amended it slightly. My version is here.

So yes, my exciting partnership with Lurpak Lightest starts here:-). And later in the year, I'll be running competitions and giveaways so there's stuff in there for you guys too;). Who doesn't love a competition giveaway, eh?

So get cooking, baking, walking and smiling and poppycock to Blue Monday: you're only as miserable as you want to be kidz: I'm choosing cheerfulness today!

Right, I'm off to consider my next baking adventure....

Laters.

PS. If you're not bored of my ramblings about being down in the dumps yet, then here's my latest offering for The Huff Post. Enjoy.