(no subject)

I can't find any psychiatrists in my health insurance's doctor-finder directory. I found a few clinical psychologists under the Behavorial Health section, but apparently they can't prescribe medicine, from what someone I called told me. Guess I'd have to call the health insurance up and ask them how to find the psychs.

Maybe I should just start eating a lot of walnuts or taking flaxseed oil. I tried vegan omega-3 capsules for a while, but didn't like them because they tasted fishy, and because I got a sore throat a few times afterwards, which made me wary of them.

I'd feel better about taking something natural like flaxseed oil than prescription drugs. But I don't have much faith in natural remedies like that, so it probably wouldn't work. I don't have any confidence that prescription drugs would work either.

polka!

"Polka, polka!" (Watch on YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OOEKYImD0g

vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe

Based on this recipe, but modified for extra chewiness with the rice-flour paste element of this recipe.

Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies (makes about 2 dozen)

(Note to self: The bar-cookie recipe is below in the comments!)

1/8 cup sweet rice flour, mixed with 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 white sugar
3/8 cup vegetable oil
1 Tblsp. tapioca starch
2 tsp. vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond extract)
1/2 cup sweet rice flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
3/4 cup chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two large light metal baking sheets.

Heat the 1/8 cup rice flour and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, stirring constantly, until it forms a thick paste. Set aside to cool.

Mix together the sugars, oil, and tapioca starch in a mixing bowl. Mix them well, then stir in the vanilla and the rice-flour paste.

Add the dry flours and salt. Mix until well incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop spoonfuls of dough in about walnut size balls onto the baking sheets. Bake for about 10-12 minutes until they are just a little browned around the edges. Remove from pan immediately.

Note: Sweet Rice Flour is made from glutinous (sticky) rice, and can be found in some Asian groceries. It is not the same thing as (plain) rice flour, which is made from non-glutinous rice.