Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! I have so much to be thankful for ... family, friends, food, freedom. We had quite the feast today with Gordon, Ivona, Emily and Jonathan. I'm grateful to have a sister to call my own! :)

Eggnog Loaf Cake

Of course, I shouldn't probably follow my last post with this post, but...!!! ☺ To be honest, I haven't even tried the cake itself yet because it just started to bake, but I did like the beater!!

Eggnog Loaf Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon rum flavored extract
• 3/4 cup milk (I used eggnog!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x4 inch loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and ginger; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together sugar, butter, and shortening until light and fluffy. Blend in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the rum extract. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Because I need to read this often and make it my own

Long after I sell my psych book, I want to be able to read this.  Stephen Ilardi and colleagues used these steps toward a therapeutic life-style change for people with depression and 77% of the 74 people who completed the program (12 weeks) experienced relief from their symptoms.  So this is for me.
Aerobic exercise: 30 minutes a day, at least three times weekly (increases fitness and vitality, stimulates endorphins)
Adequate sleep: with a goal of 7-8 hours a night (increases energy and alertness, boosts immunity and memory)
Light exposure: at least 30 minutes each morning with a light box (amplifies arousal, influences hormones)
Anti-rumination: by identifying and redirecting negative thoughts (enhances positive thinking)
Nutritional supplements: including a daily fish oil supplement with omega-3 fatty acids (aids in healthy brain functioning)(520)

Imagine the possibilities!  And doing this continually can only prevent future recurrences of what ails us!
(Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology Eighth Edition. New York. Worth Publishers. Print. 2011.)