Digression

Sometimes you have to reinvent yourself, find a new beginning. Other times you need to find what is true, what is the quintessential you. Sometimes this alludes you at the deepest level.

Or maybe I'm describing the same thing. A reinvention of self. A new beginning. Beginning with the true you.

Every exit is a new opening. I read this today and it struck me to the core.

I am passionate; I love food, cooking, dance, cultures; I am open-minded; I love and give deeply; I never stop trying; I am stubborn; I am talkative; I am pensive; I love small acts of kindness; I love helping a good friend; I love sharing of myself.

I am me.

More Ovaltine Please!

Let me get this out there. I.love.Ovaltine.

And it MUST be the chocolate malt kind. I grew up on the stuff and never grew out of it. It's so much better than Swiss Miss, and you can have it hot or cold. And now that I'm more aware of ingredient contents, I can still say it's far better for you than other hot chocolate mixes.

Hot. Cold. Hell, I eat the powder straight out of the jar! Are there any other Ovaltine lovers out there?

Peppermonger

Much like Dave in Top Chef from Season 1, I am a 'peppermonger'. I always have been. Probably always will be. I love the stuff. As a kid I used to coat slices of raw tomatoes with the stuff until it was beautifully speckled black on top. I load up my tuna fish with freshly cracked pepper and then grind more on top. I have to remind myself when cooking for others that not all people share this affinity. Is there anything you know you use too much of but don't care?

Pile it on...

I have a bad habit. I have the tendency to layer meals to the point where they are unrecognizable. Reduced chicken broth and lemon pan sauce atop spinach, pancetta, and parmesan stuffed chicken breast atop buttered and peppered acini de pepe. This doesn't sound too bad except that all of the flavors overwhelm the intended simplicity of the dish.

Oh, and the weight of the chicken pushed the acini off the plate. It was almost impossible to serve as each attempt to serve a plate of chicken breast and acini resulted in scattered acini across the table. And by pushed I really mean spewed at a high velocity across my boyfriend's kitchen. Let's just say little acini de pepe were to be found under every crevice for quite some time.

There is much to be said about simplicity...