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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Hm, it looks like a compote to me
Reading about your brother reminds me of my sister. It’s funny how different two people can be, huh? That’s why I’m a big believer in genetics. I mean, my sister and I are not even 2 years apart. We grew up in the same house, with the same people. Yet, our dispositions and drives and feelings are so, so, so different. I’ve tried more and more to appreciate it instead of thinking one way is better than the other. There are positives to both ways of being. I wish I could be more laid back like her, but I bet she wishes she could be more organized like me
There is a lot to learn from a sibling, I think. The picture of the two of you as kids is ADORABLE!
Hahaha me and my sisters are pretty different in terms of what we eat.. I LOVE veggies and grilled food, my sister likes anything WITHOUT veggies and non-grilled (soggy) food! haha.. but that picture of you two is soo cute!
i’d say sauce or compote
i have no siblings…
EVERYONE in my family is different from me!! I don’t know how I wound up here… but the imbalance of chores sounds like something that would happen in my house too. Male/female dichotomy more than anything else. RAWWR!!
Hmmm… I think I’d call that a compote… or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful!
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is different from me!! I don’t know how I wound up here… but the imbalance of chores sounds like something that would happen in my house too. Male/female dichotomy more than anything else. RAWWR!!
Hmmm… I think I’d call that a compote… or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful!
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is different from me!! I don’t know how I wound up here… but the imbalance of chores sounds like something that would happen in my house too. Male/female dichotomy more than anything else. RAWWR!!
Hmmm… I think I’d call that a compote… or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful!
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is different from me!! I don’t know how I wound up here… but the imbalance of chores sounds like something that would happen in my house too. Male/female dichotomy more than anything else. RAWWR!!
Hmmm… I think I’d call that a compote… or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful!
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is different from me!! I don’t know how I wound up here… but the imbalance of chores sounds like something that would happen in my house too. Male/female dichotomy more than anything else. RAWWR!!
Hmmm… I think I’d call that a compote… or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful!
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is the opposite of me… I don’t know how I wound up here! The chore imbalance would happen here, too; more of a male/female dichotomy than anything else. RAWWWR!!
Hmm… I’d call that a compote. Or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful.
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is the opposite of me… I don’t know how I wound up here! The chore imbalance would happen here, too; more of a male/female dichotomy than anything else. RAWWWR!!
Hmm… I’d call that a compote. Or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful.
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is the opposite of me… I don’t know how I wound up here! The chore imbalance would happen here, too; more of a male/female dichotomy than anything else. RAWWWR!!
Hmm… I’d call that a compote. Or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful.
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is the opposite of me… I don’t know how I wound up here! The chore imbalance would happen here, too; more of a male/female dichotomy than anything else. RAWWWR!!
Hmm… I’d call that a compote. Or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful.
<3 <3
EVERYONE in my family is the opposite of me… I don’t know how I wound up here! The chore imbalance would happen here, too; more of a male/female dichotomy than anything else. RAWWWR!!
Hmm… I’d call that a compote. Or a sauce. I know, I’m SO helpful.
<3 <3
What a great post! Isn’t it funny how you can be so different from someone who shares your blood?
My brother and I are also very different but I love it that way and it seems as if you love it that way too. It would be very boring if we were all the same. I hope he does his chores though! haha
I say compote but what do I know? LOL The wrap looks so fabulous!!
Have agreat night!
That’s a really adorable picture of you and your brother! Your post made me want a brother. (Most of the time, I like being an only child, but sometimes, I wish I had sibling love!)
Yummy-I would just call it Berry Fig Fabulosity because it looks beyond fabulous!
Once again, you’ve created an incredibly creative and delicious recipe. Loving all the wraps I’ve been seeing around, but yours is certainly the most unique (and is the one I’d probably be most likely to try)!
I am pretty opposite from my brother and even from my sister, but we all get along (for the most part). We’ve had our moments, but I’m learning to appreciate how difference can complement a relationship, hard as it is.
Adorable post – funny how much our siblings can aggravate us but we still love them!
That wrap sounds fantastic! I’m a big fan of wraps (obviously) so I may have to try my own spin of that!!
The description of you and your brother sounded just like my bf and I! However, have you heard you can’t change a man? My bf now LOVES fruits and vegetables, and he shops at cheap clothing stores instead of Banana. It’s possible! I guess it’s different with a brother though…cute story.
Thankyou SO much for the award Sophia! How very cool indeed. I am very opposite from my husband of all people and yet we still get on so well. He’s calm and I’m excitable but we have the same values so that’s the important bit I guess!
I. WANT. THIS. WRAP. SO. BADLY. !! Seriously, I’d just call it DELICIOUSNESS…yup, that about covers it. I love the flashback photo, too…and you are too cool…thank you so much for passing this great award on to me!!
Thank you for the award! You are a sweet sweet friend
My brother and sister and I are all kind of similar, but I think we do each have our own quirks. We all have tempers, but my brother is the worst. We can all be a little bit nutty and obsessive, but I think I take the cake there. And we’re all extremists – but the most is my sister. Hehe, this is making my family out to sound like a bunch of lunatics. I’m only saying the bad things
We’re all quite caring and passionate as well.
I love your fill-in-the-blank thingamabob. Sounds delicious
I would call that fig-berry-yummy-goodness! Oh my gosh! Everything you cook looks wonderful– makes me hungry! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Thanks a lot….It’s almost 10:00pm and now I’m hungry again.
This looks just perfect for a hot summer day!
PS I vote chutney.
AWW, you were both so cute! And I would call that a sauce, a divine sauce! I’m opposites with my Mom, of all people and it hasn’t made life easy, lately…
Aww, thank you so much Sophia!! I just posted, so I’ll be sure to pass it on in my next post. Obv, you’re on the list too! But now you have me thinking about what type of bra I’d be… sport? strapless? push-up?
That wrap looks amazing. The combo of flavours sounds absolutely wonderful. I would call it a compote, but it may just be above and beyond the regular old labels
Congrats on the well deserved award
That berry fig ____ looks delicious, but with it in the wrap, it looks absolutely incredible!
<3 jess
xoxo
you two sound a lot like me and my hubs.. i’m active, veggie eating and driven…and well he’s happy no matter what! we balance each other very well
I would love to say that I know how you feel, but being an only child, I only have myself to argue with. lol. But among my close relatives I’m very patient. I’m a little like your brother, but I’m mostly like you.
You can call your creation what you want, I just want some for myself. =)
wow what a wonderful creation! my sister and I are very similar and yet different at the same time…hard to explain how
My sis and I are just the same way, very very opposite but I can’t stay mad at her for too long. Mainly because I hate not seeing my niece ha
I could have written the exact same write-up about my brother and me, seriously! Love the wrap!
Life would be way too boring if brothers and sisters never fought. I know. I have two older brothers. Not that we fought. They’re considerably older than me, so they could squash me like a flea when I was younger. In other words, if I fought, it would be a guaranteed losing battle, so why bother? Now all of us middle-aged, we remain close as can be, even if we three are all quite different in many ways. That’s the gift of having siblings.
The picture of you and your brother is sooo cute!
My sister and I are pretty much opposites as well…
Your wrap sounds and looks awesome!
Me and my sis are very different, but we still manage to get along, most of the time:) The wrap looks delish!
I used to live with my sister and we went through the same thing. It’s hard when you don’t feel like your sibling is living up to their potential. I love her so much still! I love the pictures! I love the wrap, YUMMY!
I understand the difference between you and your brother. I am familiar in personality types such as those, and I also understant how impossible is to be truly mad at them. When we were younger, my brother and I would fight all the time, but now that we’re both older, I look up to him and love him with all my heart, even if I’d never say that to his face. I get mad at him but know I’m not ACTUALLY mad, because I never could be.
I would call it a chutney, or maybe a compote. Either way, it looks delicious, especially tucked into that wrap!
I also want to thank you for the comment on my blog, it really put the hair thing into perspective for me.
Take care!
Much love,
Rachel
Ah…boys. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
I love your wrap. I can’t think of a good name, but I’m drooling right now.
I don’t really have anyone in my family that is my opposite. I’m a combination of both my parents (both their good and bad traits). I am very different from my husband though, but we’re not really “blood-family.” I can definitely tell how our different upbringings made us different people. In ways both good and bad.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for your comment, it allowed me to find yours and I’m SO glad I did.
I read your “about me” and I’m simply amazed at your journey and your approach to healing…I wish you all the best.
I haven’t perused through your blog yet, but just your post today has impressed me. You are an amazing writer and I so understand how kids born to the same parents can have such different traits and personalities. I am 1 of 4 and my man is 1 of 10! Both our families, each sibling couldn’t be more different from the next.
I think you’re my soul sister though…your character traits are the same as mine, especially the emotional and expressive AND I always shop at discount stores!
Well, thank you again…something about you really touched me and I’ll be back soon and often. I’m off now to peruse through the rest of your blog.
God bless and hugs to you,
Karyn
Aw, thank you so much! It means a lot to me!
The fruit… thing looks delish!
I am an only child, and I am very similar to both of my parents in so many ways. I love hearing the stories of other people’s families though! Thank you for sharing!
Discount stores rock.
Love,
Emma
Wow…what a gorgeous shot AND a great idea…fruit in a wrap. Love it. Thanks for dropping by my way today. You have quite the interesting story there my friend…. I think everyone feels they are opposite of their siblings. I have always felt the ‘odd one out’. But now…being the youngest but getting older myself…I am finding more similarities than differences. Funny how that happens. Take care kiddo and I will be back!
yay for being real! I think it must be the big sister/baby brother roles b/c my brother and I butt heads a lot and are opposites, but not the same you listed for you and your brother.
My mom and I are opposites, but at the same time very alike so there are “flare ups” every once in awhile. haha!
The fruit in a wrap is a good idea and your photography of the wrap could not be more beautiful!
LOL…me and my hubby are exact opposites
Since I believe opposites attract we’ve been sailing pretty well 
By the way love the wraps!
Oh Sophia, yet another compelling post. You are quite the writer (and that’s a big compliment coming from the ego-head English master’s student over here! hehe!). Thank you so much for the award! It means a lot coming from you. In terms of the living with someone different…yea…DITTO! And it’s my TWIN! We are sooo different! But our shared life experiences and that little thing called love…well, it binds us together inextricably. My boyfriend and I are also pretty different. But I think it’s because we’re so different that we really enhance each other’s lives in interesting and fun ways. When it comes to someone I butt heads with, I always try to gain perspective from the person…it’s hard sometimes…but always worth it. I bet underneath your bro’s stoic shell is a boy who thinks his older sister is just plain amazing!
LOL.. the differences are amazing, isnt it funny? teo relatives so different:)
This compote, looks like to me, looks undeniably delicious!!
congrats on the award!
you and your brother are so different which is something that I’m always amazed, because you came from the same family and same background and still so opposite to each other. I don’t have anyone in my family who’s like that because I’m the only child, but I wish I had a brother/sister even he/she is different to me.
that compote looks so pretty and amazing, perfect for sandwiches and wraps!
chutney/relish sound good to me- whatever it is called, looks delicious and berries and goats cheese are a match made in heaven!
Your brother sounds like he is living very much in the moment- I can imagine it’s not easy to get along all the time but I kind of think it’s awesome how he is out there having a good time whilst he can…:)
Love your berry-fig goop! Perfect for a sandwich spread:)
All my sisters and I are relatively alike…I am just the most extreme on most traits!
That wrap looks wonderful. I have 3 daughters and they are all completely different!
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