Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Belfast Brownie

I have days when stress perches on my shoulder, digs its talons in, and prevents me from enjoying time with my family. I can usually shoo this beast away by doing any of the following:
  1. Writing
  2. Reading
  3. Cooking
  4. Praying
  5. Walking or hiking
  6. Lounging in my hammock
  7. Listening to music
  8. Taking control of my attitude and simply willing stress away.
  9. Composing, choreographing, and performing an extemporaneous musical before my family gets home.
This is just a partial list of stress reducers. As I grow older, it seems like my arsenal for combating stress keeps expanding. For example, today my daughter taught me a new way to cope with stress. I decompressed simply by dressing Barbies with my daughter and doing a fashion shoot. Here's Barbie in a Jayhawk sweat suit that my mother created:

Here's Barbie looking casual in some of Ken's clothes:

I never thought that something so simple and somewhat feminine would relax me.

I usually don't turn to eating as way to deal with stress, but I have been known to reach for a beverage as a way to decompress. Sipping a good drink tends to slow time down and melt away the stress. The following are a few drinks I turn to when I want to mellow:
  1. Hot chocolate
  2. A good Kansas limeade
  3. Iced tea with lemon
  4. Sangria
  5. In the fall, I love to drink a Guinness
  6. A margarita
Last week I treated myself to a nice cocktail, the Belfast Brownie. I might add it to my list of stress-reducing beverages.

Belfast Brownie


Ingredients:
  • 1 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
  • 1 ounce Godiva chocolate liqueur
  • 1 ounce orange liqueur
  • 3 tablespoons half & half or milk
Directions:
  1. Fill cocktail shaker with a little ice. Add all of the ingredients. Shake. Strain into glass. Enjoy.
NOTE: The drink also calls for a strip of candied orange peel, but the staff at The Greasy Skillet wasn't resourceful enough to prepare this element of the drink. Heads will roll for this oversight.

What's your favorite way to banish stress from your day?

take care,
muddywaters

15 comments:

Boz said...

That Belfast Brownie sounds good. I'm going to give it a try soon. I sometime like to relax w/ a White Russian (or "Caucasian" if I'm watching the Dude, Walter, and Donny. Belgian beers also doo the trick.

Rechelle said...

The whole dressing Barbie and doing fashion shows as a way to relax is going to be a lot harder to explain to people when your daughter is all grown up.

muddywaters said...

Boz: Thanks for stopping by . . . The Dude abides!

My family has talked about visiting Duluth. I'd like to do some hiking on the Lake Superior Trail. Duluth sounds like a good town for beer.

Rechelle: You're right. Also, taking pictures of the dolls is downright creepy.

muddywaters said...

When I see a Barbie Doll, I think of this poem by Marge Piercy I read in a feminist literature class in college:


Barbie Doll

This girlchild was born as usual
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.
She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.


Dark stuff.

keep on the sunny side,
muddywaters

Anonymous said...

I read that White Russians were making a come-back. Crazy drink... tons of sugar and fat, which I guess slows down the absorption of the alcohol (or speeds it up, or keeps it in your system, or something...) Anyway, it was mostly attributed to a Big Labowski cult fascination.

Stress... well, the thing that worked the best was to change careers! Lordy, I was a walking timebomb and didn't realize it until it was too late.

Anonymous said...

Stress Part II:

Exercise outside. You don't have to necessary work out all that hard, but you need scenery and especially light.

Moving to eastern CO from the ATL, I didn't realize how much I missed and needed day light. We were surrounded by 70 ft pines, so even on sunny days, the sun didn't make it over the top of the trees until ten a.m. or so. Now, every day starts off with the sun peaking its head over the Kansas horizon. Weekends on the farm are even better. Nebraska sunrises and sunsets are one of life's best kept secrets.

If I don't get outside for three days in a row, I'm a wreck and no fun to be near.

rebel said...

Eeeeeeew. I got sick on White Russians one time a long time ago, but never forgotten, so I'm not really big on those kinds of drinks anymore but I do like Tequila.
I use to sit down and play with cars and army men with my son, and I always wandered, how is it that little girls and boys naturally gravitate to the so called toys of their gender. I mean you don't have to push them to certain toys and they don't have to see it on t.v. Kind of funny, huh?

Ken Albala said...

What a nice sounding tipple! I think I'll have to try it. Thanks for stopping on my blog Muddy, I've added yours to my list. Ken

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this cocktail! For presentation I recommend coating the rim with crushed Oreos or Hershey's syrup - or heck... use both!

KATrendel

Anonymous said...

Just checked out the margarita recipe from last summer. You got it down perfect.

It's amazing that when you use good tequila and fresh lime juice, you don't need the syrupy sweeteners. Folks who don't think they like tequila are always amazed when we whip up a margarita without pulling the mixer out of the fridge.

Kate said...

I'm not so much a fan of White Russian-type drinks myself, but I know someone around my house is and will be totally thrilled by this one.

I unfortunately am a stress-eater, but only under extreme stress. Luckily, on a day-to-day basis I beat stress by running, so hopefully that evens out the tostito and queso binges on deadlines.

Marilyn said...

Okay, so we've moved into the delightfully surreal. Jayhawks, Barbies, poetry, drinks. Love it!

ps. my word verification was "swoon"

WilleWorks.com said...

You are finding your feminine side with the help of Barbie and your daughter. Barbie and I both turn 50 this year and she looks pretty good doesn't she. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, I just discovered your blog today from Simmer Till Done. I've enjoyed reading several of your past posts.

I kept reading this one as Breakfast Brownie and thinking why not? I must be hungry and in need of cereal.

muddywaters said...

okiesister: Thanks for stopping by and your kinds words. When I'm hungry, my mind plays tricks on me. Stop by again.