(also see Survivor Frugal Food and Mood Food)

2 cups flour (prefer a mix of whole wheat & white)
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups milk (or plain soy milk)
5 teaspoons melted butter
2 medium sized eggs
1 large sweet potato (cooked and finely mashed)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a whisk.
Cook like regular pancakes, letting the bubbles come to the surface before flipping.
Add syrup and/or butter
Serves 3-4

For other yummy recipes see: The Sweet Potato Cookbook by Lyniece North Talmadge and Madeline Watt

Why do some people succeed?

Malcolm Gladwell's Blink is worth a general read. In Outliers he poses a more provocative question: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? He examines the lives of many successful and famous people from Mozart to Gates.

Read more...

Sweet Potato Passion

Sweet potatoes: the name is a misnomer. This tuber is not high in sugar or carbs, but its counterpart, the white potato, is high in both. Both tubers are pretty cheap, but only one is Survivor Mood Food -- sweet potatoes.

[White (or regular, or red-skinned) potatoes are the equivalent to white rice or white bread -- full of weight-producing carbs and depression-producing sugars. Best to stay away from that lot.] Sweet potatoes are high in vitamins A (antioxidant) and C, and incredibly easy and quick to cook, and are quite versatile.

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Spinach, best known for making Popeye strong, is more than just iron-rich. Spinach is high in folate -- which makes seratonin -- which aids depression.

And spinach is so universal: raw in salads, lightly steamed, added to scrambled eggs, on sandwiches -- you name it, spinach can be added to a lot of foods, and should be! Check out the Frugal Food section for Cheap Crunchy Croutons to add to your spinach salad.

The Dude...

How many of us, either secretly or admittedly, wishes we were The Dude?  If you do, it's good news -- 'cause being laid-off means you could be well on your way!  The Big Lebowski is the story of The Dude, the classic Californa slacker who gets his favorite rug peed on. 

Arguably the best dialogue ever written and Jeff Bridges' top performance.

CALLAHAN -- fantastically irreverent. Check him out at http://www.callahanonline.com/index.php 

John Callahan was a cartoonist, artist, and musician noted for dealing with macabre subjects and physical disabilities. He died in July 2010, but his brilliance lives on in his cartoons, film and music.

Callahan became a quadriplegic in an auto accident at 21.The a ccident happened in Callahan's car after a day of drinking alcoholic beverages. His car was being driven by a man with whom he was bar hopping.

Following his accident, he became a cartoonist, drawing by clutching a pen between both hands. His visual artistic style was simplistic and often rough, although still legible.