Gazpacho for the Summertime

For a few weeks now I've been wanting to try 'fruit soup,' or fruit gazpacho as I guess it's officially called. I remember years ago when my sister tried the same thing and I'm not sure that it turned out quite like she wanted it to. I picked up an easy one online (yes, on Harris Teeter's website) that looked the easiest and, best of all, the quickest.

Raspberry Gazpacho

After making, I noticed it was a little runny, probably due to all the lime seltzer it called for. Not a bad recipe, though some adjustments were definitely needed. For people who aren't so keen on raspberrys, I recommend using blackberrys because the raspberrys are kind of bitter tasting.

1 ½ pints raspberries HT Naturals frozen organic whole raspberries ½ HT lime seltzer 4 mint leaves, julienne and one cluster for garnish 1 cup minced cantaloupe 1 cup minced honeydew 1 cup minced pineapple 3 tbsp fresh lime juice Directions: In a blender, combine raspberries, and process till smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Combine the raspberry puree with remaing ingredients serve chilled.

I didn't use mint in mine, and I probably should have, because it may have mellowed the taste of raspberry some. Since I don't like honeydew or cantaloupe, I put blackberrys and bananas in it instead. Also, 1/2 of a lime seltzer bottle is too much, so probably a 1/4 will do. Has anyone tried this or another fruit gazpacho and found it to be too much? Since this was a little bitter, is it better to use something like creme fraiche to lighten it up and give it more texture or something more sweet? If I do have any readers (besides me and my wife) yet, please give me your take on a better way to do this.

The Promise of Living: What it means to be an American

Yes, this post is about Aaron Copland's famous piece, from the opera A Tender Land, so forgive me if I wax a little about it. I know it can be off-putting when people talk about movies/writers/directors/books/music as if they are truly in love with them, not just infatuated. Now, I consider myself a man of eclectic tastes, which does not mean that I'm metrosexual or the like, it just means that I like a broad scope of things, but maybe not others in the same category. I know that doesn't sound like it makes much sense but bear with me (because I know you wouldn't want to bare with me, I am married after all).

But anyway, there is something about this piece of music that has always felt very American to me. I'm mainly seeing this as a way to reflect on Independence Day last week, still reeling from the glorious fireworks at Camp Lejeune. It is true, that the composer himself has always modeled his pieces around American archetypes and iconography, but this one in particular just reflects such a positive mood for those who are and those wanting to be American in the turn of the century. There is a lot of of controversy these days about the denial of the "American dream," which is not something I'm for or against. I think the dream itself is a lie and not be something that everyone should aspire to (see debt crisis), but yes, they should have the right to aspire for. There is also a blurring definition of what it means to be a citizen. Sure, you are either a legal citizen, or you're not, but that does not mean people aren't going to argue anyway.

But that's not what this piece is about. I cannot say enough words to explain this, you can't describe nostalgia in fact. A nostalgia for a time that I was never familiar with, yet long for and have only seen in a parent's old pictures. Someone was so kind to post this on youtube awhile back, so I encourage you to just watch it and forget all the news pundits, the political jargon, and your iPhone/droid/blackberry.

The Beginning of an End

"Gone are the quiet college rooms, gone the wind-swayed English elms and cawing rooks, and the familiar volumes on the shelves, and in their place there rises a vision of the great calm ocean gleaming in shaded silver lights beneath the beams of the full moon."-excerpt from She, by H. Rider Haggard

This is my latest foray into the world of web logging, and I do hope it's more successful than my previous attempts. I've titled this blog "The grass is always greener..." because like many, I appear content with what I have but am always thinking that if I had this or that then my life would be better. Being of Christian faith, I know that my true treasure lies in my Savior Jesus Christ and his death on the Cross which has paid the debt for my sins. This also leads to relationship with Him, and a gift that no monetary element can buy nor attempt to afford.

I know this. And I often think this. But I don't always do this.

Jesus said to take up your cross daily and follow Him. Only through Him will I have life to the full. In various points of my life, there are specific struggles that I come across that prevent me from seeing how to live by grace. The struggles mostly have to do with a trial of some sort, like being in school for longer than you wish while all of your friends have graduated, or a death (or impending) of a loved one. The current trial of divine stasis is the career field. I say stasis, because like any well-written play, there needs to be transition and some calm so that you can set up the characters for whatever thing is going to come their way next. I mention divine because, well, does this need any explanation? He is in control, so duh, the trials are to make sure I know full well that I am not. There are times where I excuse myself (for acting like a spoiled brat of course) by saying "I'm a married man now! Don't you think I deserve this great, life altering career not just for myself, but for Jennifer as well."

You'd think by now I'd learn that He doesn't really believe my "logical" and "rational" arguments.

Transition, I guess, is the spice of life. Without it there would not only be moments where we can plan for the next step, but to enjoy what we do have in those times. This includes those around us. If I was only complaining in my mind about where I'm going, then I'm not noticing where I am at.