Life lately has been filled with baking, movement, reading, and rehab. It’s a bittersweet Spring as i’m more active than ever before, but still dealing with the ups and downs of building up my muscle. My FOMO has been a little out of control, but I constantly remind myself that I need to stay calm and strong and build myself up enough so that there is no more FOMO and I can do whatever I want! I’ve been reminded by many people, including my physio, about how active and outdoorsy Vancouver is and how active and outdoorsy my friends and family are. There is so much pressure to be busy, moving, and using every hour of the day to move your body and have fun- especially when it’s sunny. While this active life is usually great, it can be tough when you’re limited.
Grumpy at the gym. I like being outside so much more.
One thing i’ve learnt about myself, among many other things, is that I wouldn’t call myself “tough”, necessarily, but resilient. This has been so hard for me, and i’m a really emotional and sensitive person who is easily overwhelmed. No matter what, though, I always have energy, drive, determination and get up and go. I’m lucky I am a morning person with energy! Because no matter how hard the previous day may have been, I wake up in the morning with drive to keep moving.
Keeping busy is key for me! And this injury and rehab has really interrogated my traditional coping methods. For me, exercise and endorphins really tend to relax me- and so does keeping busy. My current rehab goal is to gain enough strength so that I can just walk all the time- walk everywhere! Walking is so meditative for me. I’ve also been doing a lot of baking and reading, as well as seeing some friends. I’ve gotten together with a few people who have reached out to me after reading my post about my injury. Many of them have also gone through complicated rehabs, illnesses, or injury- it feels so amazing to know you’re not alone!
As far as baking goes, I have made some great things lately! I made a carrot cake for Mother’s day, as well as one for my brother’s girlfriend, Holly’s, birthday!
Whenever I am feeling sad, or like I need distraction, baking is there for me. As with walking, it is so meditative! I also don’t think there’s anything more comforting than eating raw cookie dough, either.
One of my oldest and best friends, Haley, came home from Louisiana for the Summer, and I made her my lemon poppyseed bundt cake for her coming home party.
For today’s recipe, I have a deliciously rich and unhealthy cookie to share. It is based off this cookie recipe called the 250 dollar cookie recipe. These cookies are amazing. I don’t often make plain chocolate chip cookies because I find them so boring. These have an extra kick from nuts, good quality chocolate, salt and oat flour. The dough is AMAZING. Make them!
Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups oats whizzed into flour
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- 2 good quality chocolate bars, chopped
- 1/2- 1 cup chocolate chips (if you want them really chocolatey)
1.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
2.) Cream butter and add sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and cream together.
3.) Combine whizzed oats, flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
4.) Chop walnuts and chocolate, add them, as well as the dry mixture to the wet and combine until a moist dough forms.
5.) Either drop onto the cookie sheets, or roll into balls and place on cookie sheets.
6.) Bake for 10 mins at 375 degrees. Cool on cooling rack and enjoy!
Kendall Creates 