Dumph Noodles and Chocolate-Vanilla Coffee
Tomorrow morning marks the beginning of final exams at school and, ungodly amounts of studying aside, you know what that means: comfort food… and lots of coffee. Stuffed pizza pie, banana bundt cake, spiced cream coffee, pumpkin spice lattes, chocolate … anything yummy, sweet or caffeinated is especially welcome in my home this time of year. Recently I added dumph noodles to my arsenal of stress reducing edibles and let me tell you: this dish actually made me smile between bouts of studying for a Biblical Hebrew grammar final that has me feeling mighty nervous (by which I mean petrified). The moment I placed a spoonful of this bready, creme anglaise covered goodness into my mouth was culinary magic made manifest – like eating monkey bread drizzled with warm vanilla custard. I served the dumph noodle in one of my prettiest baking dishes on a red tablecloth, accompanied by a large mug of chocolate-vanilla coffee (recipe below). It was all very zen, very in the moment, very lose yourself in the festive presentation and sweet flavors and try not to think about exams for a moment. That’s what I call a break. Then a friend called and I had the pleasure of telling her I just ate a dumph noodle, to which she responded, “You ate a dumb what?”
I have to admit that I had a similar reaction when I first came across the title for this recipe in Indulge: 100 Perfect Desserts by Claire Clark. “It sounds like a name you’d call someone,” I told my husband, “Like, ‘Omg, you are such a dumph noodle.’” (I know, I can be a silly American sometimes huh? Forgive me my European friends!) I was curious about the name though and after some snooping on the ChowHound boards discovered that Dumph Noodle is the Anglicized word for “dampfnudel,” which is German for “steam noodle.” It’s a simple bread dough that’s cut into small pieces and rolled into walnut sized balls before baking, either with steam or with a conventional oven. Dampfnudel is usually served as a savory main dish accompanied by mushrooms, white sauce or cabbage, but there is also a sweet variety (seen here) that’s smothered with vanilla custard, jam or poached fruit. So there you have it…. though I’m still not sure why a bread-based dish is described as a noodle. Is it a case of lost in translation?
It’s almost 6 o’clock and that means it’s time I get back to studying – but before I go, guess what: I’m raffling off another cookbook in this post! One copy of Indulge: 100 Perfect Desserts to be precise, which is a lovely book filled with recipes for things like chocolate-dipped gingernuts, old-fashioned eccles cakes, spiced pumpkin custards and dumph noodles. For a chance to win this book answer the following question, which I acknowledge was selfishly conceived on my part: What do you do to relax when time is short and stress is high? Share your response in the comments section of this post and I’ll randomly select a winner sometime between today and December 15th. Only comments that answer the question will be entered into the raffle. 
That’s it for now folks – I’m off to do battle with the mighty forces of biblical grammar. I plan to channel my six-year-old days as the awesome She-Ra, Princess of Power. (Can you believe the stuff my Mom has on me? Good thing I got hitched before my husband saw this photo – now he’s stuck, haha!)
Dumph Noodle
Reprinted with permission from Indulge: 100 Perfect Desserts, by Claire Clark.
Ingredients: Serves 8
- 13 oz strong white flour (bread flour, but I used all-purpose flour)
- 1 oz fresh yeast (I used active dry yeast – it’s essentially the same thing except most of the moisture has been removed, which makes the yeast dormant and extends its storage life)
- 7 fl oz milk (I used whole milk)
- 2 1/2 oz unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 oz caster sugar (superfine sugar, though I used confectioners sugar)
- 1 tsp salt
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 2 medium eggs
For the topping:
- 2 oz unsalted butter
- 2 oz double cream
Grease the base and sides of a 8 x 12 inch baking tray, 1-1 1/2 inches deep. (Or grease the base and sides of individual ramekins or oven safe baking dishes.)
Sift the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Crumble the yeast into the well. Warm the milk to 98 degrees F or until it is just lukewarm, then pour it over the yeast. Stir the yeast and milk together so the yeast dissolves. Take a little of the flour from the outside of the well and sprinkle it in a light, even layer over the yeast mixture. Cover the bowl tightly with saran wrap and leave for 15 minutes in a warm, but not hot, place until the flour on top of the yeast mixture shows signs of cracks.
Melt the butter and mix with the sugar, salt, grated lemon zest and eggs, combining all the ingredients well. Add to the flour and yeast and mix with your hand to form a smooth, soft dough. Turn it out on to a lightly floured work surface and knead lightly, just until it is no longer sticky. (You could do all this in an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook.) (I should note that when I reached this stage of the recipe I had to add about 1/2 a cup of flour to achieve the proper consistency, but I also used all-purpose flour instead of “strong flour,” which is known in the US as bread flour. The change in type of flour and differences in humidity probably account for the additional flour needed.) Return the dough to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for 20-30 minutes, until the dough has doubled in size.
Knock back the dough by kneading it gently on a lightly floured work surface. It should be smooth and shiny and not sticky. Working in a warm, draft-free environment, shape the dough into a long sausage, 1 1/2 inches wide. Cut it into pieces about 1 inch thick and role these into balls. To make neat balls, cup your hand around a piece of dough on the worktop and move your hand in a circular motion, keeping the dough on the worktop and pressing gently while spinning the dough. This should smooth the surface of the ball and make it rounder at the same time. Place the dough balls in the greased baking tin to form neat lines. They should be just touching.
Place a piece of lightly oiled cling film over the baking tray. Take care that the cling film is resting on top of the dough balls and not stretched over the edges of the tin itself, so the dough can rise freely. Leave in a warm place for a further 15 minutes, until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Melt the butter for the topping. Remove the cling film and very gently brush the melted butter over the surface of the buns, reserving any leftover butter. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for about 15 minutes, until the buns are golden brown. If you are unsure, pull one of the buns from the tray and break it open; it should not be doughy in the middle. (Note: if your dumph noodles are browning too quickly loosely cover them with a sheet of aluminum foil. This will allow them to continue baking on the inside without adding more color to the outside.)
Brush the remaining butter and the double cream over the tops and return to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve piping hot with lots of creme anglaise.
Creme Anglaise
Reprinted with permission from Indulge: 100 Perfect Desserts, by Claire Clark.
Ingredients: Serves 8
- 1 vanilla pod
- 18 fl oz whole milk (or, for a richer sauce, 9 fl oz double cream and 9fl oz milk)
- 6 medium egg yolks
- 4 1/2oz caster sugar (superfine sugar, I used confectioners sugar)
Slit the vanilla bean down its length with a small knife and scrape out the seeds. Place both the seeds and the pod in a saucepan with the milk and bring slowly to the boil over medium heat.
In a bowl, lightly mix the egg yolks and sugar together with a whisk. Do not leave the sugar sitting on the yolks without mixing them together straight away. If you do, you will notice tiny specks of egg yolk in the mixture; this is known as burning and even if you strain the sauce afterwards, the specks will remain.
Gradually pour the boiled milk on to the egg yolk and sugar mixture, stirring well. Return the mix to a clean pan and cook over a gentle heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until you can see it begin to thicken slightly; it will change from a watery consistency to a smooth sauce and should be thick enough to coat the spoon. Run your finger down the custard on the back of the spoon – the path should remain separated. It is vital that you do not let the sauce reach boiling point or it will split and curdle.
As soon as the sauce thickens, pour it through a fine sieve into a bowl, then place the bowl over a bowl of crushed ice. Serve hot or cold.
The vanilla pod can be washed, dried and put in a jar of sugar. You will be amazed how it takes on the aroma and flavour of the vanilla. Use the sugar to make pastries and desserts.
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Chocolate-Vanilla Coffee (My Recipe)
Ingredients: Serves 1
- 1 tbsp chocolate syrup
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup brewed coffee (Use 2tbs of coffee per 1 cup of water when brewing)
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1-2 tsps sugar, according to taste
- Whipped cream
Brew coffee using 2 tbs of ground beans per 1 cup of filtered water. As the coffee finishes brewing, gently heat 1/4 cup of milk on the stove top or in the microwave (about 30 seconds in the microwave). Add the chocolate syrup and vanilla extract to a large mug, then add the hot milk, then the coffee. Stir well and taste, add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar depending on how sweet you like your coffee. Top with whipped cream.
86 Responses to “Dumph Noodles and Chocolate-Vanilla Coffee”
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That looks Fantastic! That looks like a perfect dessert with coffee on a cool, breezy day. I’m not sure I could stop at just one noodle though
What I do to de-stress? I love to find a quiet corner with a big overstuffed chair and sneak a couple of chapters from a historical fiction novel. Just give me 15 minutes…I do confess though…it’s hard to stop at 15 .
I drink a 12 oz bold brewed very hot coffee
After that, everything is right with the world again!
When I am really stressed out I like to make something so I get out my jewelry making stuff and make whatever comes to mind… I found this relaxing when I was pregnant with my second child… And still do it now when I am frazzled and need to chill… There is just something about the creative process for just fun that does it for me…
Delicious looking!!! When I am stressed I walk to the bookstore or drive now that I am no longer living in the “walking city.” Browsing books, driving, and walking always relax me.
Looks yummy!
To de-stress i’ll watch a little tv or make myself a bowl of cereal. Mmmmm.
When I’m stressed and short on time, I drink chamomile tea and keep working. Also, I browse your website and look at the yummy photos and wish I had time to bake, too!
Those pictures were making my mouth water. I am going to have to give those recipe’s a try.
Hmm…when I am stressed and short on time what do I do? Usually I make a piping hot cup of tea or hot chocolate and do some simple baking (throwing together a no knead bread or a quick bread). Sometimes I will sit with my tea and zone out to good classical music. Lately I get on the internet with my cup of tea and check out a few of my favorite foodie blogs…I am trying to come up with good recipe’s for holiday deserts and gifts! I also like to turn down the radio in the car and just let my brain wander on my way to work.
Good luck on finals!
Relax? What’s that? All kidding aside, I tend to deal with stress by NOT dealing with it. I’ll do anything except the thing that needs to be done, so inevitably, this means watching the Food Network or diddling around on the internets, entering raffles for cookbooks.
Mmm that does look very comforting. If only I didn’t have an aversion to making things with yeast and kneading!
When I’m stressed, I call out…cookies, chocolates, and ice-cream. Sometimes a little taste of each, sometimes a massive gorging of one. It’s a bad habit, but it works.
I drink tea and listen to my favorite soothing Israeli songs!
If I have time, I bake!
When I am stressed out ,I love to make myself a strong cup of coffee and bake away…………………………………..
I go to the gym to relive stress- nothing like an hour of sweating and hard work to get the endorphins pumping!
I also have finals this week. Stressed out = junk food and coffee. I also have this tranquility CD I’ve been listening to lately while I type papers. It does help, but beware because if you’re already tired when writing the paper, you will become very sleepy lol Baking also helps relieve the stress, but I’m not sure how much of that I’ll be doing this week.
If I’m stressed I’ll go to the gym…it really does help! OR I’ll pick some cookies to bake OR watch TV. I have several options!
If I’m stressed…which happens a lot this time of year, I bake, drink lots of tea and my husabnd rubs my ffet and back…heaven!
When I’m stressed and time is really short, I try to fit in a quick walk. Just wandering around outside with no real path or agenda tends to clear my mind very well.
I’m so jealous that you had a She-ra costume! I always wanted one…
When I’m stressed out, I lay down for a few minutes and listen to soothing music, or if I’m sleepy (so I don’t fall asleep) I’ll take a relaxing shower or bath while listening to music. Music is a very good stress reliever!
It’s not very original, but I always take a hot bubble bath. If time is REALLY short, I make lists to get all of the “stuff” out of my head and onto paper. It helps me to see that things aren’t as overwhelming as they seem.
Good luck with your study, Ari! I eat 72% chocolate when I am stressed and need something for comfort.
I bake, of course!
I’ve been studying like mad all day, too. Oh, and also consuming unheard of amounts of caffeine (though in the form of Vanilla Coke Zero). It’s been stressful juggling my time between writing an essay which is due tomorrow, and studying for my very scary history final which is tomorrow as well. To relax and briefly get my mind off what is stressing me out, I usually hop on the Internet and browse my favorite blogs, some devoted to food and others not. Today I found researching Christmas recipes extra relaxing (there are a load of different Scandinavian cookies just waiting to be baked now). Enjoying a good warm meal helps me to forget the day’s stress as well, and that’s actually what I’m awaiting at the moment. My boyfriend is busy cooking what I know will be a delicious dinner of comforting Indian food. The place is filling up with a gorgeous ginger-y, potato-y, hearty smell. Yum, I can’t wait to take my eyes of my notes and just indulge for a short while.
I make lists when I’m feeling stressed. Sometimes they are silly and easy things to do so I can have that wonderful feeling of satisfaction when I cross something off. Plus, it makes me think that I actually have a little control.
Do you really have to ask?! Bake…and cook…and eat…
This is definitely comfort food. Yum. Good luck with exams.
Paz
I will surf for recipes and bake something simple like muffins. Nothing beats a warm muffin with a cup of coffee. =)
This is a new recipe to me. It sounds really comforting. Good luck with your exams.
To de-stress in a little amount of time, I stick a piece of dark chocolate into my mouth, close my eyes and let it melt on my tongue.
that looks SO good.
i eat french sweets or sing.
good luck with your exams! My old brain is too tired to retain new info for school, but I’m always available to read new and old cookbooks. That, plus a cup of strong (decaf) coffee with good music (opera) gets me over some humps. Not all unfortunately…
good luck with the biblical grammar test!!! you can do it!!!! just remember, the answer is always “the vowel should be a ___ but is a ___ because the accented syllable moved and the vowel elongated/shortened” (or at least that was my answer for most of the test last year!)
drink a nice cup of hot cocoa! thats my stress-reducing tip of the day….and of course, tell yourself that everyone will still love you even if you do less well than you wanted to.
good luck!
When I’m stressed it’s definitely the warm drinks for me: hot chocolate, coffee, tea, cafe, flavored whatever hot you got. It’s like it melts my stress away. Also I’d prefer if this beverage was in one hand while a good book was in the other.
To de-stress I turn on the computer and I read cooking blogs …then go and create masterpieces. Then all is well with the world and me! Stess gone and I gain a masterpiece to share.
Ommmmmmm !
bonne chance for the final exams Ari … the Dumph Noodle sound wonderful !!! thanks for sharing …
I do have 2 ways to “fight” stress … :
1. creativity …of all kind, it allows me to sublimate the anxiety, stress etc … it is so relaxing and rewarding !
2. when I am very stressed out, I am talking out “physical” kind of stress, i need fresh air and I go for a walk in the country side with my dog, enjoying the great Mother Nature, her strength …her power . I am so lucky I live in a area surrounded by a beautiful nature (which was not the case before).
both “therapies” works very well on me, all the more since I am a very sensitive to stress, mine and other’s …
the only way for me to deal with is is to practice both activities as often as possible (almost every day) as a preventive measure …
bon courage Ari
Your Dampfnudel looks incredibly fine! It is a speciality I really love as it’s viciously rich! Yummy!
Good luck with your exams!
Cheers,
Rosa
I’m being totally honest here……I have a glass (or two) of wine!! Good luck with your exams Ari. H x
When I am really stressed I like to curl up under my covers and read a book that I want to read – not forced to. Basically not something for school/work, something for pleasure. Prior to kids I would also like to go to a hockey game to scream and yell out my stress, or do an arts and crafts something. Now I want to learn to crochet to relieve stress since it will be easier than knitting with two little guys.
Nice long walks and warms showers also help me, but those are few and far between.
Love your blog. Good luck with the exam and Happy Chanukah!
What I do to de-stress depends on the time of day. If it’s early, I’ve found that an intense cardio session helps put things in perspective. I don’t particularly enjoy it, mind you, but I do it. Like you, I’m working on getting down to my goal weight.
In the evening, I will trot upstairs early in the evening, and indulge in a hot bubble bath. My reading material? Cookbooks and all the cooking magazines I have to catch up with!
I de-stress by watching something I”ve recorded like CSI or Amazing Race and munching on chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels with a glass of milk :0)
hey! i bake when im stressed out- especially university-induced stress… i like to bake something that requires kneading, so that i study inbetween, and have something to look forward to, to motivate me to stay concentrated… now that im no longer in university, when im really stressed out- i crawl into bed for 15 min and close my eyes.
good luck with finals! Happy Chanukah!
Looks amazing! Best of luck on your exams.
My de-stress is to take a hot bath and read one of the many magazines I get in the mail.
Beautiful recipe! When I only have a few minutes to relax, I do some deep breathing, try to pace up and down the stairs a few times, think of good things, then after the breath is back to slow, continue with what ever is next to get done. When it’s closer to the end of the day I relax with a glass of wine.
Love the blog!
To de-stress I turn to dark chocolate, a quiet spot and nature. This time of year I go on our un-heated porch with a piece of dark chocolate and watch the birds come to the feeder, the dried grasses from summer sway in the wind and the white pines rock in the breeze. The cool porch helps put me in a different “place” and concentrating on nature helps calm the mind. And well, a piece of great dark chocolate just seems to satisfy a craving, gives needed energy and just plain tastes great – plus is good for you. Five minutes there helps settle the mind and body down for round 2.
Hmmm… For me too, stress usually revolves around school, so when I’m tight on studying time and can’t really fit proper unwinding into my schedule, I try to create a ‘spa-like’ atmosphere in which to study – I’ll fix a piping hot cup of tea or coffee, turn on some classical music, arrange a soft blanket and pillows on the couch, and curl up with my notes! Probably sounds silly, but it works for me.
Also, I do “fun” multitasking because it makes me feel comfortingly productive and keeps me from getting too board or stir-crazy while studying – I’ll prop my notes up on top of the dryer and study while I’m folding laundry, or I’ll bake a recipe I know well while skimming my notes (on the counter alongside the mixmaster!), or I’ll crochet while reading a textbook to keep me from falling asleep!
Good luck with final exams!
Your recipe looks amazing…
When I’m stressed, I like to bake, too. But if time is really short, I might take a five minute walk and grab a cup of coffee or a coke and get back to the task at hand.
You know, I sometimes put chocolate syrup in my coffee, and sometimes vanilla extract. But never at the same time, how odd. I’ll do it together next time. So on to the prize, when I’m stressed I like to throw things. Or, if I’m at work where throwing things is inappropriate, I read food blogs. The photos of the sweets makes me happy.
You always have the most interesting recipes…I have never heard of this but it looks fantastic.
What do I do to relax? I read a good book while taking a long soak in the tub.
(Okay, I already posted a response to this, but I forgot to add — THIS RECIPE LOOKS AWESOME!!!)
Looks good!
To relax i like to make myself some hot chocolate and go play some Pool.
When I’m really stressed I like to brew myself a nice cup of Oolong tea and curl up with a good book. Eating dark chocolate also helps too!
oh man, that coffee sounds wonderful…Any special recipes for hot chocolate, by any chance? ;]
When I’m stressed I take a minute to indulge – usually it involves a piece of chocolate or a baked good of some kind. Otherwise I just take a break to stretch are read before going back…(trust me, this strategy works well with finals!)
What do I do to relax? Computer solitaire. Yep, sit in a stupefied trance and waste copious amounts of time!
I am always amazed that you can study, research history and linguistics, bake, cook and blog. Where do you get that energy? I want some!!
Gorgeous photos and a wonderful post! Thanks again for a wonderful few minutes of reading.
I de-stress by doing something vigorous like vacuuming, kneading bread or picking up the living room. I listen to music while I’m doing it, move quickly, and when I’m done I have burned off some anxiety and done something productive. Good luck on your exams!!
Oh, I meant to tell you…my sister’s name is Shirah, so guess what we called her when we were little? Yup! Sometimes I still call her The Princess of Power, just to bug her.
Final exams & projects, oh, how I hate them and love them at the same time. On one hand, we’re done, and on the other, we’ve spent too many nights up ’til 4 AM. Why do we use torture to educate ourselves? Am I still coherent / did I just answer my own question?
When I need to detox, or in my case to cool my eyes from computer radiation, damp teabags over my eyes and five minutes of soothing music usually works. Something nice and bluesy, like unplugged Clapton.
All the best with your studies and the exam.
IWhat do you do to relax when time is short and stress is high? – I take deep breaths.
A glass of red wine and a hot bath reduce my stress.
Shopping can also be a big stress reliever. It distracts my brain.
Good luck on exams; mine are starting this week as well.
To answer your question, I shower with fancy bath products and lotion. things have the word “Awake” in them are especially welcome. I also clean a small section of my apartment. I try to break things down into concrete tasks and reward myself for focusing for an hour or so.
Hope your exams go well! Meanwhile, I’ll be making dumph noodle (I love that!) and thanking you for taking a study break to share the recipe with us.
Your dumph noodle looks so yummy! And I love that name too. Dumph noodle.
When I need to relax I eat loads of chocolate.
french press coffee, browse catalogs or magazines or bake something!
I watch sitcom re-runs for an hour, with my feet up and a cup of tea in hand! Takes my mind off whatever is stressing me.
A cuppa tea and a crossword does it every time! Good luck on finals, Ariela. I’m sure you’ll do fine. Just remember to breathe!
When time is short, and I need to relax, I eat a toffuti coffee break ice cream, or the chocolate flavor. I find that to be quite relaxing, and I get the caffiene to keep me going for a little while.
If it’s morning or midday, I indulge in a big cup of coffee.
If I need to relax, in the comfort of my own home, I just lie down on the recliner with a good book, and read till I fall asleep. Even if I just nap for 10-15 minutes, I am as good as new, and ready to tackle anything.
i would go to the nearest coffee shop for espresso and read the newspapers. or i enjoy a warm cup of green tea at home while browsing the food blogs.
OOOPS! I almost forgot about this one! If I am really short on time. I just eat a square of chocolate very slowly!
Loads of luck on your exams! Hope you get some good tips out of this!
I bake to relax! And then curl up under a blanket with a book and some baked goods.
I distinctly remember finals week two years ago, sitting in a friend’s room with my boyfriend and a few other people at 11 o’clock at night, shooting nerf arrows at one another and making jokes to delay the inevitable return to studying. I always found the best way to de-stress was to allow yourself to have your fun time guilt-free. During that care-free hour in my friend’s dorm room, I knew that I should have been studying for my final the next day. But I also knew that I would remember that brief hour of random fun much much longer than whatever grade I got on the final. Don’t forget that you’re still living life during finals, and that happy fun random friend times should still be relished and enjoyed.
(and don’t feel obligated to enter me in the drawing for this book–i’m happily awaiting the one I won last time!)
I love bready stuff of all kinds, so the Dumph Noodle sounds positively tantalizing.
When I don’t have much time but seriously need to de-stress, I prefer a chapter or two of a good book or playing online games for a few minutes. Or maybe a quick catnap.
Biblical Hebrew sounds quite daunting – best of luck to you!
When stress is high and t ime is short, I prefer to eat some chocolate.Yummy!
Pretty much anything related to baked goods/food – whether it’s baking, eating something comforting, reading food blogs or cookbooks, or watching the food network!
I like to visit my favourite food sites and fantasize about baking, and cooking, and kneading when I really in fact should be studying about Ca2+-mediated signal transduction. Then after I finish my exams, I will have already figured out what to bake as a celebration! =D
So many ideas with so little time. Tomorrow I am going to make your scones and then Saturday I’m baking a strawberry chocolate cheesecake for my two friends’ birthdays. When I go home for the holidays I am going to make these dumph noodles (with jam?) and honey vanilla challah for my parents. The challah is pretty much all they can remember from their last visit. Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes, Ari!
When I was in school during finals, some of my friends and I would take a study break by playing Sardines in one of the large buildings on campus. We would get a group of about 30 of us about an hour or so before the building closed and have one person hide. Then, as is the nature of Sardines, we would all go looking for him and hide with him when he was found. We would always play just a couple rounds because with a building that size, it’s not easy to find them that quickly.
To clear my mind and de-stress I walk my dog for a good 30 min. She is an Australian Shepherd so she’s always game! I have been known to do this even in a snowstorm (I live in Michigan)! Or I will crochet like a maniac for 20 minutes or so and this really works to de-stress and freshen your focus on whatever is pressuring you.
lots of tea and procrastination by baking
I am like you, Ari. When time is short and stress is high I drink lots of coffee and eat lots of comfort food. I visit Starbucks once or twice a day and buy all my favorite food, like Japanese food.
)
Yesterday was really one of those days. I came home from work really exhausted. Then I knew that I have to run errands, appointments with my 2 children til about 7 P.M., so being tired is not an option. I made myself a big cup of coffee, and drank it while eating chocolate, it was deilicious! It also really gave me the boost I needed.
When I came home we ate dinner, then I still needed to prepare some lessons, so I took a 15 minute nap on the recliner, and I was able to stay up, and concentrate till 11:30. So I guess these suggestions really work.
Thank you Ari, you see we all benefit from your curiosity!
It looks delicious. And so comforting. What a funny name though.
What do I do to relax when time is short and stress is high? I usually take a hot bubly bath witha girly magazine. It almost always get wet and the pages stick to eachothers but well, it’s the best thig I’ve found to relax.
Good luck with your exams. I so know what you mean.
xxx
Oh man those look so good!!! Perhaps I’ll try to make them over break, plenty of time!
When I’m stressed with little time I turn on a really fun upbeat song and sing and dance to it. I use my lint brush as my microphone, it even spins! This morning it was “Good morning Baltimore” from Hairspray, but I changed the lyrics to “Good Morning New York”, the roomate thought I was a little nuts!
oh my gosh, that looks so amazing! I have 3 options for reducing stress–go to yoga class, take a hot bath while reading more magazine, or get in bed and read a light novel. that one works best if the cat living with me will lie next to me and purr:).
good luck with the exams Ari! Roberta Isleib
First of all, good luck on your finals. I don’t envy you!!
This bread looks very comforting indeed. Bread is always comforting to me.
I’d like to say that when I am stressed, my husband gives me a massage, but that would be a lie!! I do like to cook and bake to relieve stress (and eat the rewards!), but vegging in front of the tv always helps me to unwind.
When I have a few minutes to take a break between studying and writing papers for grad school, I close my eyes and set my cell phone alarm. Sometimes I fall asleep, sometimes I try to meditate and sometimes I actually do meditate (focus on my breathing is great)!
Slowing down is important, we cannot always run in high gear and slowing down like for me helps, sometimes a twist on paragraph or another resource for my paper will pop into my head. It is hard to be inspired when you are stressed! And, my cell phone alarm is a soothing little low-pitch noise, nothing shreaking or shrill.
Good luck and I LOVE your website/blog – thank you! Happy Holidays!
I am a long-time lurker who enjoys your blog immensely! Keep up the good work!
When I’m stressed, I get down on my knees to pray and then I raid my own kitchen looking for something tooth-achingly sweet (brownies, cookies, anything..).
i play with my kitten, who always relaxes me with his purring.
Then I have some snacks.
Stress relief? As if it truly exists during final week, eck! But if I’m at school then my friends and I go to the mall and play with the puppies. If I have to de-stress by myself I reread a book and pretend like I don’t need to be studying right now.
i’ve just browsed that book at amazon! you’re always a busy woman but could find time to make wonderful foods.
my stress relief is actually going to a bookstore/library and browse all books in the food section, it’s like a window shopping of food books aisle since I couldn’t always buy a book with my tight budget. if it’s a library book, i’ve alwasy borrow it and it becomes my bedtime reading. it’s very relaxing, sort of like traveling to different place by looking at the recipes/photos.