Hodpgepodge
1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often? Is there a spice you truly dislike? What's a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?
I reach for red pepper flakes the most after salt and pepper.
My favorite fresh herb is cilantro.
I dislike curry.
I think just about every dish I make calls for more than salt and pepper. I made a pasta salad on Saturday that called for onion powder and fresh dill.
2. It's been said 'variety is the spice of life'...in what way is this true for you? Elaborate.
This is true for me in some ways. I am not a minimalist; I want options regarding "things." For instance, I have numerous articles of clothing- probably fifteen hoodies, twenty graphic t-shirts, ten pairs of jeans, etc. I like to have choices.
However, with regard to routine and day to day living, I don't feel like I need a lot of variety. I don't care for surprises or need to live super adventurously.
3. What's something in your life that adds 'spice' (excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability?
Having loved ones stay at the house who aren't normal house dwellers. For instance, Jacob is staying with us during the week this summer to take classes at a local college and then going back to his apartment on the weekend.
Another example is that my sister is visiting this week. Having two people stay here who aren't normally here is exciting. However, it's added the challenge of having routines being disrupted. And having all three kids here during the week has meant challenges with regard to meals since they all have dietary preferences and idiosyncrasies.
4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why?
Speaking and understanding a foreign language fluently- probably German. It would be so neat to know an additional language. And learning a new language fluently is one that takes an incredible amount of time; an instantaneous ability would be amazing.
5. We're halfway through the year...what's one book, movie, or activity you've loved this year that you'd recommend to others?
Book- nonfiction-> Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch (most interesting); The 1916 Project by Seth Gruber (most informative)
Fiction ->The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz (maybe- I need more time to think about this one- I'm going with it for now!)
Sorry, I know that's not just one :).
6. Insert your own random thought here.
This may be the quickest that I've ever written a post! Time to write is tight right now due to having guests...
I used to never do link ups/answering questions type posts. I only posted specific topic based writings. Those take more time because if I'm going to write about a specific topic, I generally have a decent bit to say about it. And I usually want to add pictures and captions to it. This type of post (answering questions) can be done pretty quickly or it can be time consuming- it's the writer's choice! You can go into a lot of detail for each question or not. As I said, time is tight right now so I'll draw this post to a close :).
My hub and I don't like curry either. We recently re-visited it and we still don't like it, so that is pretty definitive for me. I bet having two more people feels like a full house!
ReplyDeleteIt is a full house right now! It's all good but it does result in shifting of expectations and the need to be more go with the flow in order to spend time with/help in any way anyone who's here.
DeleteI can see why having guests/people not usually there is exciting and adds spice- just the chance in routine can make life so much more fun- bet you are the best hostess too! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Holly! I'm not sure about the best part :). I try and that's all one can do, lol. We are having a good time together and I'm grateful for our time together!
DeleteI am with you on curry! Barb loves it, I cannot stand the smell and look of it. Yuck
ReplyDeleteI hope Barb doesn't make it too often, then! (Or that she orders it at restaurants so that you can readily have your own non curry meal...)
DeleteI like these kinds of posts for the same reasons! I'm into lighthearted right now, and that's what most of my posts are these days. Someday I'll get back to writing more than just fluff...but for now, these are great and I will always participate; it's also fun getting to know people through their answers! Enjoy your additional house guests, my friend. All too soon you'll be back to normal and quiet. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, Jennifer! Everything you wrote is true for that matter. It's neat to hear people's answers on random questions that most would never include in a different, non question type of post.
DeleteI'm not good at having house guests! I think I like things routine. And funny you said coriander for a spice you like when I said it's my least favorite.
ReplyDelete(actually you said cilantro but I think it's the same...)
DeleteThanks, Dara! I don't think that hostessing comes super naturally to me. But I try to be a good one and at a minimum appreciate how fortunate I am to be close to someone whom I don't get to see often. Yes, I think coriander is the dried version of cilantro. I think cilantro is one of those love it or hate it spices. I know a few people who don't like it at all while many love it!
DeleteGood morning. I’m visiting from the Hodgepodge. I enjoyed reading your answers. I like the linkups because they give me a chance to visit others’ blogs. It’s like making new friends!
ReplyDeleteI watched Seth Gruber’s video about the 1916 Project, and it was incredibly informative and, quite honestly, jaw-dropping.
Thanks- ok, I am only now vaguely aware that there was a video as well as a book. I will have to look into that. Many times visuals stick in the mind better than words in print. (Though I do feel like I can and do recall a lot from reading the book since a lot of the information is shocking/disturbing.) Agree about the link ups! I'm glad that I started linking up to them after years of not...
DeleteHow nice to have your son back for part of the summer! I also use a lot of spices when cooking and am not a fan of curry. Happy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tanya! It is nice and it feels like 2018 in a few ways- though my son is older, of course, now and at a different place in life.
DeleteHaving 'company' does take us away from normal routines. I like your answer to #3, so true. I also am nodding my head to #4. Knowing a second or third language would be awesome. Enjoy the rest of your week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen! For sure about having guests. It's a balance of making your guests feel welcome and having a good time with them... and running the household and keeping everything going smoothly with that.
DeleteI eat almost anything but Indian food/curry is a no-go for me. Gross. My husband has been learning German for about a year now so I have picked up a few things but yes, it would be cool to know it.
ReplyDeleteI hope your husband is doing well with it! The apps to help with foreign languages are neat...German was my minor in college and it's amazing to me (not in a good way...) how one could have a minor in a foreign language (and get good grades in the classes) and not emerge from college fluent in the language!
DeleteOh I agree about having company in the house. For us it is the bathroom... who gets to use it when. Ha!!
ReplyDeleteI also tried to learn German, tried Russian and tried French. Nothing stuck. ;-)
Thanks, Carla- for sure many challenges- greater people to restroom ratios is one of them, lol. Russian sounds soooo difficult! I knew someone in college who studied it. I took French for two years in high school due to loving how pretty the language is! Then I switched to German which is harder and not nearly as pretty. (I'm a glutton for punishment!)
DeleteI like curry as long as I remember not to use too much, I am not a fan of spicy food.
ReplyDeleteI am the same when it comes to clothes, I have way too many but I like to have options.
I hope you are having a great time with your guests!
Thanks, Kim! So far, so good with the guests :). Gotta love options clothing options!
DeleteLearning a language is such a good goal! I love the variety of clothes options and hope you enjoy the company. You are such a good hostess!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marilyn! If you and Jenn make it up this way (I think you were thinking of road tripping up to Cincy?), you'll have to stop by and you can judge whether or not I'm a good hostess, lol! Gotta love clothing options!!
DeleteWe love curries of all kinds here. We don't make them often though. One thing I've enjoyed with the weekly Hodgepodge is there have often been times where the questions are a springboard to a post on a single topic. I would love to speak French fluently. I took years of French and understand more than I can speak. I feel like my brain would struggle to retain a new language now. Enjoy your houseguests!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joyce! Yes, to the questions being springboards. I think what I like so much about the questions is that many of them are topics about which you'd never think to write much about them on your own. Then you realize that they lead to pretty interesting or thoughtful points that you could expand a lot on... I'm grateful those I've "met" through the links up and have enjoyed getting to know.
DeleteI never think to reach for red pepper flakes for anything unless the recipe specifically calls for it and even then I often omit it or use less. But I do feel like every recipe requires so much more than just salt and pepper. I'd love to be truly bilingual but I don't see that ever happening.
ReplyDeleteI add red pepper flakes to my egg and cheese mixtures (which I place on top of a bagel- my go to lunch) so I use red pepper a lot! Plus I put it in many of the dinners that I make since we all seem to like spicy food... I don't see being bilingual in my future either :(.
DeleteI like fresh cilantro, too, but my hubby does not! I like red pepper flakes, too. I hope you have fun with your houseguests!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! I guess the good thing with having different cilantro liking preferences is that it's often put on a dish at the end- you could easily omit it.
DeleteI like your answers. I do like cilantro. Yes to foreign languages. I'm doing duolingo and I wish I could remember it a lot quicker and easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirstin- I'm sure it's true what "they" say: that kids' brains are like sponges and it's easiest to learn a foreign language when you're young. Being older, it's not easy for sure!
DeleteThanks, Jennifer! For sure... So glad you're back from your travels (I guess I don't know for sure if you're back... I'll hop on over to your blog soon and find out what's going on with you, friend!).
ReplyDeleteUgh Curry, yuk! When I worked at the hospital, we had several Indian physicians, and they always smelled of curry, lol! Fun fact, did you know that my husband and I can speak German? This was a great hodgepodge!
ReplyDeleteNein! I didn't know that you and your husband spoke German. How incredibly cool! German was my minor in college and I was always a little amazed that I could graduate with it as my minor and not speak it fluently, lol.
DeleteHaving houseguests is a challenge but it does sound fun too. I love cilantro. I used to dislike curry but love it now. Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather, to you, too! I think curry is something that I should try again. I very possibly would like it.
DeleteI’m not a fan of white pepper. Happy weekend. Hugs. xx
ReplyDeleteReally, that's interesting! I don't see many recipes that call for it. There is one salad dressing that I make that calls for 1/8 teaspoon of white pepper so I use it then (the recipe kind of cracks me up calling for so little of it!). I hope you have a great weekend!
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