by Betty Castleberry

Created on: July 18, 2008   Last Updated: July 21, 2008

It's a good thing my best friend shared her stress relief solution with me, although I was skeptical at first. She heaped sympathy upon me when she saw me covered with angry red hives. I explained to her that the bubble baths were not working. I had yet to find a bubble solution that didn't cause me to break me out in welts. The only one benefiting was the pharmacy. They were making a killing selling me anti-itch creams.

Yoga didn't work either. When you are fifty-something, managing to lower yourself to the floor to assume a Yoga position can cause stress instead of relieving it.

Listening to music wasn't much help. About the only time I get to hear any music is in my car. Satellite radio has entirely too many musical choices, most of which I do not find soothing. I don't really know the difference between techno rock and hair bands, and am frankly too old to care.

That left me to consider my friend's advice. I had been hesitant to try it, because it did involve cooking, or at least puttering in the kitchen. After a particularly distressing, hair-pulling event at work, I had two choices. I could try a hair regrowth product, or try my friend's recommendation. My friend's suggestion won. It involved chocolate, so I felt it must have some merit. It does. Trust me on this one.

My Best Friend's Stress Buster Bars

2 c of semi sweet chocolate chips, or milk chocolate chips; I don't care
2 Hershey bars
4 Ding Dongs
1 c chocolate milk

Preheat oven. Pick a number for the setting. 350 degrees is good. 400 or 425 degrees is okay, too. You won't be baking anything anyway. This is just to impress your husband. Don't forget to light some chocolate scented candles. This will give your efforts that air of authenticity.

Put ingredients in blender. It's best to add Ding Dongs one at a time. Don't feel bad if you only have one left. I realize how stressed you are from your hectic work day. You deserved to eat three Ding Dongs. In fact, go ahead and eat the fourth one. There isn't room in the blender for it anyway. There. Feel better? Now, punch a button. It doesn't matter which one. Just blend the ingredients until the mixture resembles mud, or fudge, or something.

Let it whirl for a bit while you relax with a nice glass of red wine. Be careful, because after your tiring day, it could make you sleepy. At this point, it's best to get up before you doze off and check the mixture in the blender. Turn it off. No, it isn't still spinning. Please put the glass of wine down.

Remove mixture from blender and turn out onto a platter. Cut into bars and dip in crushed nuts or coconut. If you don't like nuts or coconut, skip this step. Who gives a hoot anyway?

Enjoy and feel the stress melt away.

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