6 Things Not to Say to Someone who has Anxiety &/or Depression

Sorry about not posting anything last week, I had a bit of a health scare and wasn't able to bake/work/sleep very well/eat all the chocolate/post on this blog. So here's a little bonus post to make up for last week.

This post highlights some of the cringy statements that I have been asked about my mental health. So to inform and educate others I'm listing my favourites here. These are totally real and have been asked by strangers and former friends. Let's get to it. 

1) "Oh I was depressed once, but I got over it."

I've had this said to me and I was speechless. Instead of standing up for myself or questioning it, I took it on the chin. This is a very insulting thing to say to someone who is going through depression. Let's face it you didn't have depression as a suffer has, you might have been a bit down or sad at one point, but your mood improved and it passed. Depression is, sadly, constant and something you don't 'get over' in an instant.

2) "Do you rock back and forth when you have a panic attack?"

Erm no. People who have panic or anxiety attacks act differently. But assuming that an attack is sitting in the corner, rocking back and forth, is ignorant and far from the truth. It completely depends on the person. In my case, I hyperventilate, I shiver and will not allow anyone to touch me or attempt to calm me down until I feel calmer and more grounded.

3)"So you aren't you worried about what people will think of you?"

All the damn time. Mental health is still something that most people do not like to talk about and it's not really discussed. With anxiety, you're always thinking about what others will think of you: "Are they watching? They are watching. So don't fuck up. Keep it together for a bit and don't panic." Depression can get to a point where nothing matters but you still don't want people to think you 'can't cope'  with daily life. 

4)"You'll never hold down a job/relationship/friendship. It will stay on record for the rest of your life."

Sorry what? What record? My permanent record? Most strangers have their own problems to worry about, let alone your mental health. You don't need to advertise your mental health, unless you feel you want or need too. Your employer can't fire you, your true friends will stand by you and most families will understand. Most people are a little more informed now, so they should be understanding. Saying that some people still are pretty ignorant/stupid/stuck in the past or want to be hurtful. Ignore the idiots and pay them no more attention or energy. 

5)"Can you not snap out of it?"

Can you snap out of a cold? No. It's the same with any mental health problem. Just because you can't see it, does not mean that it's not there.

6) "It's not a real health problem."

I have a few choice words for anyone who says this. But let's keep this clean shall we? Walk away from any idiot who says this. They need to be educated more, you can attempt to give them information about mental health but, more often then not, they are stuck in their old way of thinking and it is a pointless endeavour. 

Remember people who suffer with any mental health issues need support, not doubtful statements which may cause more harm than good. Examples of the above statements can cause suffers not to communicate effectively and be hesitant to reach out to others. So listen, be respectful and support any ways you can.  

100 Happy Days Challenge-Complete (Round-up of funny pictures)

On the 5th of January I set myself the 100 Happy Days Challenge and on the 15th of April I managed to complete that challenge! All the details are here. 

However, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. There were often days when I had a really crappy day and I thought that it wasn't worth posting any pictures up, however, I always found something to be happy and grateful about. I was often a little late when posting pictures up, but I don't feel that I necessarily failed the challenge. Even if I did, I continued and noticed that in the 100 happy days:

• I found that I was more cheery. 
• It was easier to get out of a bad mood, if I was in one.
• My battery on my phone drained quickly because I took more photos then I normally do. 
• Even the most ridiculous things made me more optimistic.
• I realised that I'm very lucky to have the life I have and have wonderful people in it. 
• I take a lot of pictures of food...

So here's the run-down of the best photos:

Winner of Cutest Text Message: Day 9! Thanks Lucy for this! Miss you too.

Winner of Most Happy Promoting of a Society: Day 12. Don't Becky and I look great with our purple SFOCP T-shirts?

Winner of Most Tipsy Person is Day 17! Afternoon cocktails did this to me. 

Greatest Moonch Award goes to: Day 19. Hannah I owe you a Crunchie!

Cutest Picture Award goes to: Day 34. Rob is quite the minon artist isn't he?

 Most Ridiculous Selfie goes is awarded to Day 74. MOVING ON QUICKLY!

Most Disney Related Picture goes to: Day 86 because memorising the "Let It Go" and watching the film isn't enough!

Blurriest Coffee  picture goes to Day 3! Lauren we need to do coffee more often. Just not as blurry. 

Messed up thing in a tree award goes to Day 29. The picture says it all.  

Best drawing on coffee belongs to Day 32. Harvey looks epic on this latte :)

Cutest couple (bleh) moment goes to Day 33. Couple moment... MOVING ON!!! 

Most MESSED up poem ever written definitely goes to Day 47. Rapidly moving on....

Most Lovable Panda award goes Day 49. Socks + Pandas= Warm Feet!

Most Irish Photo goes to Day 70. Irish guy wearing an Irish tie, thank goodness this isn't a regular thing.

 Bestest Cake Ever Award goes to Day 96! This good design and great taste

Best bubble tea photo goes to Day 83. Miss you Sof! We'll need to moonch our way through China-Town again!

If you enjoyed looking at these pictures check out the album on the Facebook page. Want to start your own Happy Day Challenge? Enlist yourself here. Email me to tell me how you got on. 

Red Velvet Cake with Blue Lace Butterfies

"Remember, Sofia has no idea about this birthday meal. Keep it quiet! So I'm thinking red velvet cake?" I read the message that my friend sent and was like: "Yessss!! Cake commission!!"

This particular cake was for a good friend who I've made birthday cakes for in the past.   

Red velvet is one of those cakes that has that luxury feel, and it wouldn't be the same without a white icing but trying to incorporate blue, (which is Sofia's favourite colour) was tough. But after a great deal of thinking, inspiration came in from an insect form. 

I was waiting for the bus when a butterfly flew past me and as I got home I was reading my cookery books for inspiration and a royal icing tutorial jumped out at me and guess what? It featured butterflies. Clearly a sign right? Or maybe just an odd coincidence? Whatever the case, the end result was worth the extra effort. 

I was very please how this cake turned out. Not because it was tasty and super sugary (because that's what you need after a heavy meal...), but more because my best friends was thrilled with the cake. 

I hope that we made your birthday really special Sofia.

These delicate butterflies are just that, DELICATE! Make extra because there will be causalities but there worth the effort in the end as they look so pretty. You have to leave these to dry overnight, so do these before you bake the cake. 

Recipe: Lace Butterflies (Adapted from Divine Cupcakes by Tamara Jane)

Ingredients:

·       1 egg white

·       Ice blue colouring paste

·       300g icing sugar

·       ½ teaspoon lemon juice

Equipment:

·       Electric mixer/hand-held electric whisk

·       Sieve

·       Bowl x 1

·       Baking paper

·       Foil

·       Paper

·       Pencil/pen

·       Edible glitter in pink

·       Disposable piping bag

·       Scissors

Step 1. Beat the egg white

1.    Beat the egg white with an electric mixer until foamy.

2.    Add the icing sugar gradually beating well after each addition.

Step 3. Colour the icing

3.    Icing is ready when peaks appear and holds shape. Beat in lemon juice and food colouring. 

Step 4. Trace a butterfly template

4.    Trace a butterfly template (use a simple one as a complex template will be tricky) onto paper and place the baking paper on top.

Step 5. Fill the piping bag

5.    Fill the bag with royal icing and cut the point off the bag so there is a 1mm diameter.

Step 6. Pipe the thin line to create the butterfly

6.    Pipe a thin line over the template. Once finish sprinkle with edible glitter and allow to dry overnight.

Step 7. Place on decorated cake 

7.    Peel off the paper and use to decorate the cake by placing around the sides of the cake.

8.    With the remaining icing pipe your message on top of the cake.

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake

·       75g unsalted butter, softened (plus a little extra for greasing)

·       300g caster sugar

·       2 eggs, beaten

·       1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·       225g plain flour

·       3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

·       1 ½ teaspoon red food colour paste

·       125ml buttermilk

·       1 tablespoon white vinegar

Equipment:

·       Wilton Tasty Fill cake pan

·       Electric mixer/hand-held electric whisk

·       Sieve

·       Bowl x 2

·       Tablespoon

·       Teaspoon

1.    Pre heat the oven to 180c/350c/ Gas mark 4. Grease and flour cake tins.

Step 2. Sift all dry ingredients together

2.    For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl, then beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a separate bowl. Stir in the food colour paste into buttermilk.

3.    Alternately add the flour and buttermilk mixtures to the creamed mixture. Stir in the vinegar, mixing well. Pour the mixture into the prepared tins, dividing it evenly. Bake in the oven for 30-35 mins or until firm to touch. Cool in the tins for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Recipe: Bulk Vanilla Buttercream frosting (Adapted from Divine Cupcakes by Tamara Jane)

·       200g unsalted butter, softened

·       125ml milk

·       1 tablespoon vanilla extract

·       2kg icing sugar, sifted

Equipment:

·       Electric mixer/hand-held electric whisk

·       Sieve

·       Bowl x 1

        Palette knife

       Optional piping bag fitted with a nozzle

1.Using a large mixer, cream the butter for 1-2 minutes.

2. Add the milk, vanilla and half the icing sugar and beat for 3 minutes or until light a fluffy.

Step 3. Beat until spreadable

3. Add the remaining icing sugar and beat for a further 3 minutes or until it is a spreadable consistency.

Step 4. Spread  the buttercream into the middle of the cake.

4. Once the cakes are completely cooled you can start putting some of the buttercream into the middle of the cake. 

5. Spread the rest of the buttercream over the top and sides of the cake using a palette knife ensuring it is as smooth as you can get it. 

6. If you have any leftover buttercream (depends on how thick you like it on your cake), you can place some in a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle to swirl around the edges. 

Its not as hard as it looks and is worth the effort and the smile on peoples faces when they see a 3-D cake.

Happy Day Challenge Day 3: Covering Alice

Welcome to day 3 of the 100 happy days challenge! Today's picture comes from my diary, where I wrote that I've covering a  shift for work colleague Alice. 

I know she might not want the details published all over the internet but the short story is that her and boyfriend can't spend loads of time together because he has a job which takes him half away around the world and she is in the UK. When he comes back to the UK, they try to spend as much time as they can with each other. This is (10-12th January 2014) the last weekend before he leaves again and sadly, Alice works Saturdays. She texted and asked if it was alright if I could cover. 

Thinking about it, I've been in that situation before and I was let down by all the other staff members because they didn't want to give up their day off (different job and different area of the world. Don't ask!). So I know how that feels when you can't get the day off to see a loved one. Its not pleasant. So of course I said yes! It made her and her boyfriend happy and  it made me happy to do a good thing. That's the most important thing that a little action like this can make the world a little more brighter.

Happy Day Challenge Day 2-Abbie's Note

This is the second day of the 100 happy days challenge and it was this note that caused me to smile.
The note in question was left by a work college called Abbie left this note saying that anyone who was in the shop don't forget to reprice the stock and take down all the Christmas decorations but she wrote:

Please carry on repriceing!
Done loads today!
I'm frazzled hunnays
Keep it real like Ian beil and take down more Xmas decs if there are any lol!

love Bunny (Abbie) xxx loves ya!
If you knew how sweet and funny Abbie is, then you'd see how funny it is. Thanks for the day-brightening note Abbie! 

Its looking like another year, just happier

For Christmas I ate so much cakes, sweets, and just food that not only did I get baking related gifts, I'm sure I put on an extra couple of pounds! Which is totally worth it. Food is always worth it!

But this year the baking gifts have been so epic cool!

• Cupcake Calender (Thanks mama!)
• The New Primrose Bakery Celebrations Book (Thanks again mum)
• A set of measuring shot glasses (Yet again thanks mum)
• A diary that has my name on it!!! (NOTHING EVER HAS MY NAME ON IT!!! So I was very thrilled with this. Thanks mum!)
• Conversion Apron (Very helpful Naomi and thank-you)
• Undead cookie cutter (This is totally cool! Thanks Ben)
• Green tea ice cream powder (Naomi this is so cool!)
• Green tea x 2 (Will be drinking this quickly, thanks Naomi)
• Caramel covered dates (Again thanks Naomi)
• Camel Milk chocolate (ermm... thanks Naomi...  Not sure what to make of this one. I bet it tastes great.) 

Also, this is wicked cool, a necklace with my name on it. Its so hard to find something with my name on it. Thank-you Lucy this is so lovely!

Not featured in the photos is

Great British Bake Off Calender (thanks Sofia!)

A pretty butterfly cake stand (Thankies Naomi!!) 

Gingerbread man soap (Yummy smelling thanks Lucy!)

After the celebrations of Christmas and the partying of New Year has worn off the dreaded January Blues begins to set in. Its been 5 days into 2014 and its starting to look like another year. It's that sort of thinking along with going back to work or studying and the cold weather that really get the January Blues really gets going. I've found out that on January 10th, most new year resolutions get broken. (This post is going somewhere, it won't be doom and gloom. Just keep reading.) This is why I don't make new year resolutions I always forget them in the end. But this year I've decided to keep to 2 resolutions:

• Cut down on the swearing. I know it sounds strange that this lovely looking, not awkward at all lady, swears at all. But after working in kitchens and the frustrations of uni, yes I do admit I have a swearing problem! So for the sake of my families and friends ears, I'm cutting down the swearing. 
• I'm trying the 100 happy days challenge, trying to be happy for 100 days... that's pretty much it! And why not? January is a bit of a bummer month but doing even the smallest things can bring us an amazing amount of joy. 

So that's how I'm fighting the January blues with a little bit of happiness everyday. I encourage all of you to do the same because we can make this year like every other... just a lot more happier. What's my first happy moment? Well it's writing this post! 
(Update 07/01/14 I may not be able to update the blog everyday, however all the pictures will be published on the facebook page)

Good News All Around!

Hello fellow baking lovers. Well sadly there's no recipe today. There will be a recipe coming up in the next few days, so keep an eye for it. I have returned to London for a few days to see some friends, eat some food and be a general pain to the population.

I have nothing but all good news! Recently I've been interviewed the the website Gourmandize UK, which can be read here. How amazingly cool is that?! I've never be interviewed for anything before  so I'm thrilled (apart from that police thing...(I haven't be interviewed by the police, it was a stupid attempt to be funny. Did it work?)). I'm absolutely buzzing about this. Also if you've read the interview, I apologise to my boyfriend about the comment about Misha Collins being a yummy dish (its true however).
Sweetie you are also a yummy dish. Don't get jealous. :D

Also some more amazing news, I've just received my patisserie certificate! I'm now officially qualified!

Look at this!

I think I deserve a crown for that! 

Also today (4th September 2013, 9:20am. I thought I would tell you the time because I'm up super early. Thats an achievement in itself.) I'm also Gourmandize UK's blogger of the day! Here's the proof:

See? Here's the proof!!!

So lets recap:

1. I'm blogger of the day on Gourmandize UK.
2. I got an interview with Gourmandize UK.
3. I have a level 2 patisserie certificate.
4. I also drew a picture that isn't half bad.

Have a happy Wednesday baking fans!

Also, here's a doodle that I doodled for you to enjoy. It features me me with my baking crown and my friend Sofia putting me straight. 

Thanks Sofia for letting me doodle you!

Christmas Tree Cupcakes Inspired by a Real Christmas Tree

From a real Christmas tree, lovingly decorated by me and mum to a baked and decorated cupcake by me! 

The cupcake sponge in this recipe is very easy to make as it is an 'all in one bowl' recipe. The butter-cream is simple to make and you can really go crazy with the decorations! Glitter, silver balls, stars, snowflakes and whatever you feel is Christmasy. 

Recipe: Cupcakes  

•        2 Eggs
•        110g/4oz self raising flour, sieved 
•        50g/1 ½ of ground almonds
•        110g/4oz unsalted butter
•        1tsp baking powder
•        110g/4oz caster sugar
•        1 tsp vanilla extract
•        1 tbsp whole milk

Equipment:

•        Sieve
•        Bowl
•        Mixer
•        12 hole Muffin tin with cupcake cases in them.

1.    Preheat oven to 190c/Gas Mark 5. Place 12 cupcake cases into the muffin tray.

2.    Put all of the cupcake ingredients into a bowl and beat well until smooth.

3.    Spoon the mixture into the cases and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Recipe: Buttercream

•        120g/4oz unsalted butter diced
•        225g/8oz icing sugar
•        ½ tsp vanilla extract
•        Green food colouring paste. (I used gooseberry green)
•        Christmas decorations of your choice. Including glitter (because its Christmas. Glitter is a must)

Equipment:

•        Sieve
•        Knife
•        Mixer
•        Palette knife
•        Piping bag
•        Spoon
•        Bowl x2

1.    Beat the butter in a bowl until creamy. Gradually add the icing sugar, beat constantly. Stir in the vanilla extract.

2.    Put 2/3 of the buttercream into a separate bowl and add the food colouring.

3.    Spread the uncoloured buttercream into each cake using a palette knife. (This will be the snow covered ground.)

4.    Spoon the green colouring into a piping bag. Pipe short lengths on top of each other in round layers to create a Christmas tree shape. (Criss-crossing over one another.)

5.    Add your decorations and sprinkle with glitter. 

Christmas Tree Cupcakes and Stained Glass Cookies.

Bake On and Merry Christmas!!
Penny