dinner party.

{black bean soup with home-made croutons and avocado}

I love cooking for people.

If I had my way, I think I would cook for a friend everyday.

I have learned about myself that food is somewhat of a love language. To cook for a friend represents providing for them, inviting them into my space, and sharing a necessary piece of life with them.

On Friday, some friends came over for a dinner party. It was lovely. There was seven of us, all women, and each one of them has become someone special to me over my past year in grad school.

Our question of the evening was to choose five words to describe yourself. It was insightful, and a fun exercise of naming ourselves.

Walt Whitman has a beautiful poem titled What am I After All

he says;

What am I after all but a child, pleas'd with the sound

of my own name? repeating it over and over;

I stand apart to hear - it never tires me.

To you your name also;

Did you think there was nothing but two or three

pronunciations in the sound of your name?

I love to see the process of an individual naming herself. I love to see people owning the things within them that they love.

This, in my opinion, is a walk toward freedom.

oh, and my words were...

ebullient

playful

reflective

dreamer

{roasted red pepper, mushroom, and parmesan flatbread}

{pepper flatbread, zuccini and walnut pasta, squash flatbread, spinach and feta salad, and black bean soup}