Well, it’s been almost a week since my parents have left for their mission trip. It’s been just my brother and I. And despite all the praises I heaped on him on this post, lately I feel like giving him a good kick in the ass.
We’ve both been assigned chores to do around the house while my parents are gone. I’m to do the cooking, the dishes, the washing, the trash, the mail, the maintenance of the kitchen. My brother has been asked to do the vacuuming and plant-watering. Um, yeah. Total lack of balance in the chores here. But I accepted it, because I expected my brother to be busy with a new job.
Har-dee-har. Not only has he not gotten himself a job, his entire lifestyle is messed up. He goes out with his friends to play computer games at midnight and comes back at 6 in the morning. Then he sleeps till 3 in the afternoon, and the whole cycle repeats again.
Plus, he has done none of his two miserable chores. The plants are dying. Cockroaches creep out to party at night. I’m not kidding.
Once again I am blown away by how completely different my brother and I are. In my eyes, he is wasting his precious time away, and being an irresponsible, lazy bum. But in his eyes, he is living for the moment and enjoying his life. I want him to eat more at home to save money. He thinks he’s already being a good boy not eating at fancy restaurants. I get angry and nag at him. He listens and just smiles lazily. Seriously. I can’t even get mad at this guy, because he never gets mad back.
Just for fun, here’s just a short list of the differences between my brother and I:
- I’m impatient and quick-tempered, he’s patient and never ever gets angry
- I’m ambitious and driven, he’s happy-go-lucky and prefers to be average
- I love to study and experience new things, he prefers playing pool and sticking to familiar things
- I shop at discount stores, he is a loyal customer of Armani Exchange and Banana Republic
- I love vegetables and fruits, he cries when there’s no meat on his plate
- I’m emotional and very expressive with my feelings, his stoic response to my admittance to USC was, “Oh, that’s good.” (I think when I die, his response will be, “Oh, that’s bad.”)
So how can I stand to live with someone so different from I? Simple. I love him. No matter how different we are, we share the same blood after all. We even look alike. We’re both slim and tanned, with oval heads and long lanky arms and legs. Here’s a picture of us when we were young:
My brother was the cutest baby ever, and though he’s all grown up with muscles and a stubby chin, he’s still my adorable little brother. We never ever fight…Actually, because he never ever fights back. Ha!
Okay, I’ve convinced myself not to kick my brother’s ass just yet. Besides, I’m in a pretty good mood because I had the most amazing lunch today!!!
Now, I don’t know what to call this. Compote? Jam? Sauce? Chutney? Reduction? I dunno, because I came up with this idea out of a sudden whim to use up some crushed raspberries. Anyway, here’s the recipe:
Berry-Fig fill in the blank
- handful raspberries
- handful strawberries
- spoonful of sugar
- splash of water
- splash of lemon juice
- splash of balsamic vinegar
- pinch of dried rosemary
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- handful chopped dried figs
Just combine everything except the cornstarch and figs in a saucepan until bubbly. Simmer for a few minutes, stir in the cornstarch and figs, simmer again until reduced to a thick sauce/paste. Here’s the result:
How rich and beautiful is the color? Brilliant, especially with the chewy figs in there, with the depth given by the balsamic vinegar and the fragrant rosemary.
I rolled it up into a wrap:
Berry-fig _____, 3 slices smoked ham, fistful of goat’s cheese, romaine lettuce. Toasted on a skillet.
Ooh la la~ How incredible does this look?
Just imagine the layers of textures: the chewiness from the figs, the crispiness of the lettuce, the creaminess from the goat’s cheese…And the complex combination of flavors: the savory ham, the tangy cheese, the sweet and sour berry-fig _____…
Please, help me out here. What should I call it? Jam? Chutney? Compote? HEELLLP~!
Oh, and another reason to be in a good mood: Stef from More to Life Than Lettuce, Heather from Health, Happiness, and Hope and Cacti Don’t Cry passed me this award!
I would like to pass this on to:
- Martha from Just Call Me Martha
- Maggie from Say Yes to Salad
- Ashley from Healthy Ambition
- Heather from Girlichef
- Pearl from A Sweet Pearl
- Natalie from Eating to Live
- Emma from Fruit. Veggie. Life
- Annabel from Feed Me I’m Cranky
- Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella
- Susan from Trying for a Tri
As always, I went over 7…and yet have more people in mind! So please pass the love, people! There are so many more out there who deserves this award!
Question of the day: Do you have someone close in your family who is the exact opposite of you? How do you get along?
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That wrap looks wonderful. I have 3 daughters and they are all completely different!
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Aww I certainly hope you & your brother don’t bang heads too hard
but I’m sure if you give him a little ‘ass kicking’ with your words, he’ll be more willing to help out a bit 
Sometimes younger ones just don’t get it, til they get older, ya know? You’re a great sister to look up too, though. No matter the differences, it’s amazing how much we still manage to have such love for people. Especially family. Family is the most beautiful thing we could ever be blessed with
Oh man that jellyish combo of all the fruits and shenanigans looks delish! Love the wrap too
you’re such a creative chef…ahh! Come cook for meee! 
That’s a friggin adorable picture, by the way…you both are so lovely!
Have a great day!
Loveyou!
Meg
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THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahaha if I were a bra I would probably be an ill-fitting, grandma-y looking one!!! I just realized yesterday I still wear training bras, no joke! I have three and they are all size M… black, nude and white. Pretty boring! But I do support my friends and I carry them in my heart at all times. So thank you
I’d call your concoction a compote. Here’s why I think that: jams are all the way into the sweet world, chutneys should be a bit more spiced and savoury, reductions should be more liquidy and homogeneous. But a compote is the perfect balance of everything: sweet, tangy, savoury, herby (love the pinch of rosemary!), chunky, smooth, vibrant and delicious!
I love the story about your brother! He actually reminds me a bit of my sisters, who are also very live-in-the-moment, no-need-to-work-or-plan-ahead kind of people. That is drastically different from me, who plotted out my career plan at age 10!!!
But that’s the beauty of sibblings. If you’re lucky enough, they’ll be different from you, so they can complement you and show you a different side of life
… now get him to get rid of the roaches!
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I think fruit compote is probably the right name for that one… boy it sure looks good! It’s like jelly on on wrap – YUMMY!
Honestly, I am so different from everyone in my family, so I definitely know how you feel. I have two older brothers, so I understand the difficulties siblings cause. However, I get along amazely well with one of my brothers. The other… not so much. The oldest brother (who I get along with) and I seem to almost have an understanding with each other. He is MUCH more patient than me and up for absolutely ANTHING I might suggest. I’m big into planning and don’t have the world’s best patience, so he and I connect so well. We are both extremely indecisive, so it’s actually pretty fun to go shopping with him, because he doesn’t get frustrated at all when I spent 45 minutes deciding between two colors of the same shirt (trust me, it’s happened).
My advice to you would be to make the opposites work between the two of you. If he’s happy-go-lucky and easy-going, plan out a day with activities you both enjoy and spend the day together following your plan. If you’re impatient and quick-tempered and he’s patient, try talking to him when you’re upset and frustrated and REALLY listen to him, his words, his advice, and his tone of voice. It will probably calm you down and show you that things aren’t as bad as they seem. Try to take this time alone with him to get to know him and find things you CAN enjoy together. Good luck!
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call it whatever you want as long as I can get some….
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My word that berry-fig salsa thingie looks divine.
My sister and I are the exact opposites, too. We love each other, but we can’t really be around each other for long periods of time.
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That jam whatever it is stuff looks amaaaaazing. Oh so good. And in a wrap, now that’s a brilliant idea.
I totally get the sibling difference thing. My brother and I are very different too. But I guess it serves for a good balance in the household right? Well, obviously not on the chore front haha. But like you said, you still love him. I love my brother as he is, regardless of some of the things about him that drive me nuts. He’s a cool kid. I love the pic of you guys, too cute.
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I loved this posts and I can well relate – its funny how growing up those brothers could drive you insane, but at some point you’re prepared to kick butt if anyone ever looked at them funny! Siblings.
I’ll call it jam, and it looks delicious and thanks for sharing because it seems that those sandwiches are singing with flavor.
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One of the twins and I bump heads CONSTANTLY. It’s so exasperating! I love him but I spend so much time angry with him. If he would just listen and do what he needs to on his own or at least the do it the first time I tell him he wouldn’t have so many problems. He’s kinda how you described your brother but does argue back.
~ingrid
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haha i love how you talked yourself out of being mad with your brother LOL. sometimes remembering the good stuff helps, right?? i love my sisters too but sometimes they are big pains in the butt! that’s just siblings i guess
cute pic of the two of you!!! i love looking at old family photos.
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My sister and I are quite different. The wrap looks so good!
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you and your brother sound just like me and my sister – i am driven she goes with the flow
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hahah that looks like east coast park! and yep, i’m really different from my bro as well, but i just love him. i can’t imagine my life without him.
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Sauce? Looks yummy no matter what you call it
My younger brother and I are also opposites. I’m more a perfectionist and he’s more laid back.
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I think that I would kick your bothers butt, if I were you. Just to keep him out of trouble.
Love that award…it’s adorable!!!
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hey girl!
just want to say thank you so much for your comments– it really means a lot!!
the corn pizza looks fabulous!!! and i love the pics of you and your bro
funny how people in our families can be so different from us!!
xoxox j
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Well from the picture when you both were yound, your brother looks more happy go lucky and you the serious type.
I did love reading the difference between both of you.
I love the idea of the compite with the herb and the balsamic.
We are three girls in the family and all three are totally different.
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I think that I would kick your bothers butt, if I were you. Just to keep him out of trouble.
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Awww your brother has the cutest oval head, lol. ^_^ But ewww roaches! And you and him remind me of me and my own brother or me and my cousin when we were younger. Well even today.
The only thing I could think of when reading the berry fig description was, surprise, lmao. I’m not to much help I know. Your wrap looks so freaking awesome.
I need to find out what to do with this dried dragon fruit I have.
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