Loving Thoughts

Valentine’s Day, or Feast of Saint Valentine, began as a liturgical celebration of the early Christian saint named Valentinus.  He was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and ministering to persecuted Christians under the Roman Empire.  The word Valentine means Valor in Latin.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

To Tickle You Pink:

“Wearing your heart on your sleeve is more than just a phrase.  In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

Romeo and Juliet live on.  The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

The chocolate box has been around for more than 140 years. The first Valentine's Day box of chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868.

Roses are the flowers of love. The favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love is the red rose.  The bud stands for strong romantic feelings, so it’s no surprise they make up the most popular Valentine’s Day bouquets.

                                

             

                                                      

Seasoning

Seasoning, such as an herb or spice, is used to magnify the natural flavor of a food to make it richer or more delicate.  When I was younger I viewed cooking as a means to an end, and the end being cleaning up!!  As I have journeyed through various culinary experiences, I have grown to appreciate the importance of cooking - it's value to nurture and provide energy to our bodies and souls.

Seasonings are often divided into the following groups:

1. Saline seasonings—Salt, spiced salt, saltpeter
2. Acid seasonings—Plain vinegar (sodium acetate), or same aromatized with tarragon; verjuice, lemon and orange juices
3. Hot seasonings—Peppercorns, ground or coarsely chopped pepper, or mignonette pepper; paprika, curry, cayenne, and mixed pepper spices
4. Saccharine seasonings—Sugar, honey

Most recipes call for the addition of salt.  The main use for salt in cooking is to draw out water from the food.  There are various types of salt:

• Table salt - mined from underground salt deposits
• Sea salt - harvested from evaporated seawater
• Kosher salt - larger crystals used in koshering or preserving process

In biblical times salt was harvested from the Dead Sea and was used as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange.  The scriptures teach us to be the 'Salt' of the earth. Our lives should enhance and give meaning to the experience of life.  Like salt, we should draw out the pain and suffering others are facing to season their lives with love and compassion. 

I have been blessed in my life that whenever I was struggling with even the simplest of trial or worry, a person with salt was put in my path to draw out what I was in need of, and enhance my life.  All I had to do was be open to their 'seasoning'. 

"Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50

Special Days

Special: exceptional, extraordinary, unusual, unique

The month of February is special for me because it is my birth month!!  I am grateful for the gift of life and the blessings that the years have brought on my life journey.

Some fun facts about February:

• Birthstone is Amethyst - my amethyst ring is heart shaped
• Flower is the primrose
• Second month of year/Third month of winter
• Valentine's Day
• Presidents' Day
• National Black History Month
• Famous people's birthday: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Gertrude Stein, Joey Bishop, Morgan Fairchild and Rebel Wilson

I was the youngest child in my family - or the 'baby'!  Or better known as the 'spoiled one'!!  I could always depend on my maternal grandmother, Nannie Hayes, to have my favorite sweets on hand - Hostess chocolate cream filled cupcakes or Keebler chocolate chip coconut cookies!!!  These are my 'comfort' foods to this day.

Some fun facts about birth order of the youngest:

• Individual in the family
• More playful/sense of humor
• A lot of confidence/'risk' takers
• Charmers
• Thrill/pleasure seekers

And under the Zodiac sign, I am an Aquarian - Water Bearer, the eleventh sign, or "Age of Aquarius"!  The Water Bearer brings the most precious liquid as a gift and showers the world with their thoughts and new ideas.

Some fun facts about Aquarians:

• Humanitarian/ philanthropic
• Visionaries/progressive thinkers
• Freedom-loving/individualistic
• Sympathetic/compassionate
• Treasure many friends and acquaintances

These are all fun and interesting facts swirling around the true inner essence of Penelope, whose spirit strives to reflect God's love and compassion.