My brother surprised me today.

I’d always thought he was sort of a wandering soul, aimless and directionless, being satisfied with whatever life throws at him and just…you know, going with the flow. Maybe I even looked down on him a bit, for being happy in a mediocre school, with mediocre grades, always striving for nothing more than average.

But boy, was I mistaken.

We had our weekly college prayer group today, and today we all shared about what we thought our “calling” was. What did we want to achieve in life? What was God’s purpose for us?

When it came to my brother’s turn, I kind of expected him to just do his usual shrug and say, “I dunno.” But instead, he began giving a detailed sharing about how much he learned through his major of hospitality management in college, and that he really had a feeling that God would use him in this direction. He said that though he wanted to work in this business field, his ultimate dream was to fund for mission trips to all around the world, to support my dad’s ministry, and to build orphanages in China. He said it so sincerely and solemnly that I totally believed it would come true.

I’d always complained about how my brother has no vision in his life and how he is always wasting his time on meaningless things. But one day, a friend of mine who is also friends with my brother told me that she felt I didn’t give my brother enough credit. She suggested that my brother had more potential and wisdom in him than I thought and that the reason he did not open up to me was because I already had a prejudice against him and did not give him the opportunity. At that time I got rather upset, but now…I admit that perhaps…she was right.

This realization just made me question once again the way I view other people: Do I have an iron-wall of prejudice in my perception of others? Am I blind to the goodness and potential of other people? And why…oh why do I view other people this way? What gave me the right and privilege of criticizing other people? Am I so great to pinpoint the flaws of others, much more my own younger brother’s?

Yeah, so I totally repented today.

I’m so sorry, little bro! From now on I shall never look upon you that way again. I’m sure there is much more wisdom and potential in you than I gave you credit for! (After all, you are my brother, haha)

And speaking of prejudices…I used to hate peppermint. I thought it tasted like toothpaste. But I repented for that also today when I put on my oven mitts to bake this wonderful, aromatic cake this morning:

It’s Double-Chocolate Peppermint Cake!!!

Two different batters: one dark chocolate batter, one peppermint-infused white chocolate, both studded with more chocolate chips, baked together into one glorious cake!! Intense? Yup. But yet so…light in a sense because of the moistness and the refreshing peppermint!

I got the recipe here from Baking Bites. Try it, you’ll think it’s Christmas already!

And you know what prejudice I’ll never get rid off? That anything with blueberries is gooooood. That my blueberry-walnut pesto is freaking versatile and amaaaaaaazing (Yes, it needs that many “a”s). Of course, today’s highlight meal of the day needed another good dollop of that pesto:

Blueberry-burst Chicken Flatbread Pizza

• whole wheat flatbread
• 2 tablespoons blueberry-walnut pesto, mixed with a bit of Greek yogurt
• bunch of fresh salad greens
• grilled chicken, chopped
• deli ham, torn into pieces
• handful fresh blueberries
• handful crumbled feta cheese
• handful shredded cheddar cheese

Smear the pesto mixture all over the flatbread, pile on the rest of the ingredients, bake at 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

Helloooooo, baby!

It’s so simple, yet the flavors are so intense and complex.

Juicy bursts of the acidic-sweet blueberries, the intricate flavors of the pesto, the smokiness from the chicken and ham, and of course the pungency of the feta and sharpness of the cheddar!

I found Organic Valley feta cheese on sale at Whole Foods, so cheese-whor
e that I am of course I had to grab it (who cares if I already have five different kinds of cheese in my fridge!)

Oh, and I made one for my brother, too. That’s my way of apology. Others may buy flowers, but I cook/bake. He gobbled it up

Okay, now. I’m off to stretch out and relax. Actually, I’ve been sedentary all day, but these skinny, much-abused feet need a break:

They’re going to be busy soon in the future, running all around the world, so they need their rest! Tee hee.

Question of the day: Care to share a prejudice you have against someone/something? Or if that’s too personal…What is your way of apologizing?

Related posts:

1. Oiling up my rusty culinary skills
2. Proud to be a PK
3. Two Different Peas in a Pod
4. I’m a Cow, Hear Me Moo
5. Well-Rounded Confidence

Tagged as: baking, cake, cheese, chicken, chocolate, ham, pesto, pizza, salad