Karen Ramus, Executive Director of NAMI Austin, discusses 5/13/16

Seattle Pacific University's NAMI chapter hosted an incredible pop-up last Friday!

Seattle Pacific University's NAMI chapter hosted a very successful pop-up on campus Friday, April 29th. They almost sold out of everything and made over $800 -- "which for selling things to poor college students, is really awesome" jokes one of the organizers, Carl Sallee. "It was crowded at the table almost the whole time and we spread a lot of awareness." 

Carl wrote a follow-up piece for our blog explaining what inspired him to host a pop-up:

"The NAMI club at Seattle Pacific University been around for several years now, but it has historically not had much of a voice or presence on campus. This year the club officers (Hannah Miller, Kaylyn Springer, Sarah McDermott) and myself decided that we wanted people to know that the club existed on campus and that it has been behind-the-scenes working for mental illness awareness and support for years. We wanted that work to come out from behind the scenes and in to the public eye, so what a better way than a creative bake sale?!

We were excited that this was no ordinary bake sale, but one that could educate and de-stigmatize an issue that touches everyone's lives at the same time. So when I heard about the idea and how successful it was in Capitol Hill, Seattle in the fall, I wanted to bring it to campus - where some of the most influential people our world is about to receive are being educated and trained to make a difference.

I wanted to be able to spread the word about mental illness to these people so that when they are going out in to the world, they will know it is OK to openly discuss mental illness, but it is not OK to treat people who are affected by it in a way that is less respectful, loving, or accepting than they would anyone else.

I also wanted to support NAMI and inform people about how effective and important its advocacy work and support network is as an institution. We had an amazing turnout and a blast putting it on and we hope that it can become an annual event for the future SPU NAMI clubs to organize from here on out!

Thanks for the support, Depressed Cake Shop!"

-Carl Sallee, SPU

Lemon Meringue Pie | Just a Little Dessert Co.

Pie Crust

Use your favorite scratch recipe of store bought variety. Pre-bake 1 pie shell at 375 degrees. **Works best to bake your shell straight from the freezer**

Lemon Filling

1 1/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
zest of two lemons
2 Tbsp butter, unsalted
4 egg yolks

In a medium pot, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, water, and lemon juice. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a low boil. Add the butter. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, and gradually whisk in 1/2 of the lemon mixture. Pour the egg mixture back into the pot and continue to cook the mixture, stirring continuously, until thick. Remove from heat and pour into pre-cooked pie shell. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate to cool completely.

Meringue

4 egg whites
1 1/4 cup sugar

In a small pot, combine the sugar with 1/2 cup of water. Cook until the sugar reaches 240 degrees. Be sure to wash down the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush occasionally during cooking to prevent crystallization of the sugar. While the sugar is cooking, beat the egg whites to a soft peak using the whisk attachment. Do not overbeat. Once the sugar reaches the proper temperature, remove from the heat and slowly trickle the cooked sugar into the egg whites while it continues to mix on low-medium speed. Once all of the sugar has been added, turn the speed up to high and beat until the mixture reaches a stiff peak.

Remove chilled pie from the refrigerator and top with the cooked meringue. Spread over the entire surface, taking care to come all the way to the crust edges. Using a kitchen torch, lightly toast the surface of the meringue to your liking.

Your pie will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Cover exposed pie sections with plastic wrap.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1) Mix:

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

2 Eggs

2) Add

1/4 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 Cups Flour

3) Add

3 Ripe Bananas Mashed

1 Tsp. Vanilla

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

4) Bake at 375 for 1 hour 

1/2 Cup Butter

2 Eggs

Valerie Van Galder at "This is My Brave" in Boston

Depressed Cake Shop's Valerie Van Galder traveled to Boston to pop up a shop in support of This is My Brave, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness by sharing true personal stories through poetry, essay and song.