Mini Mood Modifiers

I leave my driveway at 9:53 to get to work by 10. I can go to the gym, shower, blow dry my hair and make myself an elaborate breakfast all in the same time it takes my father to sit on the LIRR and commute to his job in Manhattan. Part of me is dying to work in New York--to immerse myself in the atmosphere, to have delis, gyms, salons, and Forever 21 at my fingertips, to become saturated in that perpetual commotion. On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the extra $400 I save in commute and being able to hit my snooze button 25 times without waking up in a panic that I missed my train.

However, on occasion, I have to join the daily grind and trek my way into Manhattan for work. I go in to wait for deliveries, I make sure electricians come and paint over outlets and hang thousand dollar photographs, I bring in Egyptian bed sheets and bring home trinkets and glass side tables. 

I typically don't mind the drive, rush hour never actually killed anyone although some may beg to differ, but Tuesday morning "bumper-to-bumper traffic"obtained an entirely new meaning for me. One of my friends graciously accompanied me on my journey so we could access the Almighty HOV lane but due to the torrential downpour that relinquished all drivers' capabilities to control a car it took us 3 hours to get to the Mid Town Tunnel. A trip that usually takes me, alone, in regular morning traffic, about an hour and a half. I still remember the license plate number of the car in front of us because I stared at it unwavering for 45 minutes while we were at a stand still. 

Frustrated and severely disgruntled I dropped my friend off at work and sped to a magnificent townhouse on the upper east side. The only things inside this five story Manhattan mansion was wallpaper and kitchen appliances yet I still had to drag my jaw up the stairs. After dropping off about $1,000 worth of pillow fillers and mattress pads, I booked it down to the West Village to another apartment I would never be able to afford. 

Finally at 3:30, I scooped up my dad and joined the rest of civilization as we all tried to fit onto one not so Long Island. Needless to say when I got home I was cranky, tired and hungry. Instead of sticking my head into the ziplock bag filled with leftover Easter candy or finishing the contents of a recently opened Skippy jar (the extra large version), I whipped up a quick fix I found on Hungry-girl.com to relieve my throbbing sweet tooth without having to go to the gym twice the next day. 

Personally, I think peanut butter and chocolate is one of the most ingenious concoctions ever created. It's like the Sunny and Cher of the dessert world. With only three ingredients this low-fat yet flavorful snack is a quick satisfying treat to perk up anyone's bad day.

I always thought 100 calorie packs were such a tease. Either they tasted like the a bland copycat of the real version or they have the flavor element but you eat them all before you even completely open the tiny package. Alone, I though the Nabisco Oreo thin crisps were a solid representation of the former group- they tasted like chocolate flavored mini-frisbees. But if you add a dollop of chunky peanut butter and low fat cool whip- it magically turns those insipid impersonators into a mouthwatering dessert. 

Disregard the jar of Hellman's Mayo in the background- that is not part of this recipe, it was part of my father's dinner.

When your miniature masterpieces are assembled, place them in the freezer for a few hours and enjoy. And no need to fight the inherent feeling of guilt if you devour the entire plate, according to Hungry Girl you can savor ALL ten of them for only 188 calories. Since when do you get to have your dessert and eat it too!