Figs, Cheese, and a Survey

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes and no, I've heard conflicting stories so I am content to think I was named after Princess Caroline because, well...Hello???

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? This morning at work when I found out that a coworker's child's friend died from a medicinal allergy.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes - in all of its many incarnations.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Good, cured Spanish ham. Or roast turkey breast straight off the bird.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet, only fur babies.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? How demented would you have to be to not want to be friends with yourself.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not intentionally.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS ? Yes. They are serving me well...why oust them?

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No...I have a back condition that would make it an unreasonable thing to do.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Good old fashion oats cooked up with milk and butter.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I only have one pair of shoes with laces...and it depends up on how tight I tie them.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Ha! No...not physically.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Best ice cream I have ever had was in Paris so I have only had it once...dark chocolate with candied orange peel in it. But usually I'll opt for a traditional vanilla with some chocolate chips.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? A combination of things, but usually how confident they are...what they communicate without words.

15. RED OR PINK? p.i.n.k........."think pink!"

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My impulses which are contrary to my heart's desires.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mamasita

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Seein' as I'm posting it...anyone is welcome!

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? footloose and fancy free!

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? My favorite quesadilla...it has bacon in it...c'mon!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Sugarland (Stay is on at this moment)

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I've always answered "Periwinkle" for as long as I can remember, but I honestly don't remember why.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? This could be a long, long list and so to avoid boring any readers I will simply say: babies & well crafted perfumes.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My Numbers Man - to coordinate meeting for Happy Hour.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I sent it to myself...so, sure!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? UFC & Gymnastics

27. Hair Color? Light Brown

28. EYE COLOR? Blue Grey

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes, and glasses in rotation.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? There simply is no appropriate answer to this. Anything with love poured into it, whether by the person making it or me...eating it. Ha!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Can't stand scary movies...they give me nightmares.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Step Up 2 (oh yeah...)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing three shirts seein' as I'm a girl who loves to layer. Two are white and one is navy blue.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. Not a fan of summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? It depends who is handing them out.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Fresh fruit with really yummy, fresh homemade whipped cream.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hmm...

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hmm...

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Adam Bede by George Eliot

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouspad - it's a laptop.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? HGTV shows

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Children laughing.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN= FROM HOME??? Paris

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Sure, I can make a mean chocolate milk. And my mashed potatoes...delish!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Iowa

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Everyone's! Leave a comment if you post this on your blog!

First Fruits

Exodus 34:26

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

Proverbs 3:9

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

In the grand scheme of priorities, if we put God first, everything else will fall into its rightful place. I remember in junior high school, teachers began to instruct students with their life goals in mind. We were constantly questioned about what we wanted for ourselves in terms of a career and finding our bliss. As Christians, pleasing our creator should be paramount in our hearts and minds and that being said, our actions should fall in line accordingly. Giving the Lord the first fruits of our labora is an act of dedication often overlooked in our modern "me, me, me" society. Giving to God first, others second, and ourselves last brings our focus back to where it should be. In denying ourselves, we can find much pleasure.

Glorious Leeks

Numbers 11:4-6

4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

My tastebuds think leeks are the best things ever. I could eat them morning, noon, and night. Sauteed, in soups,julienned in salads... They are so delicate when chopped and sturdy when whole. Their flavor is both soft & buttery as well as bitter in a way that warms a dish yet infers a freshness.

Tonight:

Cook up equal parts jasmine rice & green lentils.

Sautee up 2 halved and chopped leeks in olive oil with halved cherry tomatoes & salt.

Mix all things together with a bit of curry sauce.

Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley depending upon your liking.