When Mango met Basil: it was a sweet story

YOU: "Miss GG, what's your favorite fruit?"
ME: "Mango. Duh."
YOU: after rolling your eyes at the tone in my answer "and your fave herb?"
ME: "BASIL! Ooo so much basil! Basil. Basil. Basil."
YOU: annoyed with this whole thing
ME: "Hey, look! I'll prove it. SEE! I made you something!"

Did you know dogs can be allergic to mangos? Yeah, we didn't either until our rottweiler started losing copious amounts of hair and spent most of her day trying to scratch her itchy feet and skin. Poor Miss Kitty. So, it was my job to go pick up all the mangos that had fallen. Because, like me, she loved mangos too. So I would bring them inside every morning and Miss Elena and I would peel the ripe ones and cut them up to have with breakfast. Needless to day, Mangos= home for me.

Basil, on the other hand, was a later discovery for me. I discovered it when I started branching out from my mother's cooking tree and found my own cooking flavor. Maybe it would be over done but, if I could, I'd make something with basil everyday.

So here you go, a story of when Mango met Basil.

Caffeine Hangover

Whoa. Caffeine hangover. Last night at work was rough. I downed copious amounts of terrible-for-you-caffeine beverages just to make it through. Not only was I already making plenty of bad desicions as to what I was drinking, my employees thought it was hysterical how hyper I was and kept buying me drinks knowing I would only turn them down because "Really, I have had enough" they would just set them on the counter, grin, and walk away... I caved every time!
Must. Drink. Water.
So. Dehydrated.

Anyway, we haven't been spending nearly enough time together lately. I missed you. Clearly you mean something to me since I set my alarm for 7:07 am knowing I was going to have a massive caffeine hangover. I actually mustered the energy to get up. So, believe me, you. are. important. I like sleep. Therefore You>sleep (sometimes).

I just put the contents of the next blog post in the freezer. Hopin' for the best here. When I get up early to make something for you it's either the best thing ever OR I just end up with a bunch of dirty dishes and a mango stained nightshirt. Lets hope it was the first. Here's a little peek to keep you interested. FYI, I don't recommend this method if you're a young lady trying to keep a boy interested. It will not end well. I've watched this go down. No sneak-peeks please and thank you.
So, after my alarm made me want to thrown my phone across the room and break something (kind of like the Limp Bizket song (don't judge me, jerks!)) I laid there for a moment and looked at my cute husband next to me. I think he's beautiful when he sleeps. He's one of those lucky people in this world that sleep without making a noise NOT EVEN A SOUND. How do people do that?! I am infinitely jealous of this talent. I snore a little. At least, I hope it's actually just a little. I do have nice friends that know I'm self-conscious about it so they probably do me a huge favor and downplay it. Seriously, I hate it. HATE it. So, maybe that's why I think my husband is beautiful when he sleeps. That or it's because he's not talking. There there now, sweetie, don't talk... just sleep... you're more beautiful that way.

TIme to clean up the mango mess and make some oatmeal and coffee. I'm going to need it.

Old things.

I like old things.

Not like this.
Although, I'm sure I would love to sit down with them and hear stories but for the purpose of this post, this is not what I mean.

I mean something more like this


this

her

and her

her and all of this

and of course her

ooh! and these

and his voice

I used to want to be her

I collect these (drives my husband crazy)

and how could you not love this?


I love old things. I just do. I don't know why but I do and that's been a pill my cute little husband has had to swallow. I love old movies and recipe books and stories and hats and gloves and cars and traditions and old friends and old pictures and dishes and table clothes. I would sit for hours day dreaming of a life like Doris Day. I wanted to wear dresses, hats and gloves everyday and look so perfect every moment and have a darling husband that would play piano when we'd go out and we'd both sing. How silly it is to me now. I just love it all and I can't help it!

Cafe Dominicano (but not really)

This is my favorite coffee. This is how I stay awake at work. This is also how I save hundreds of dollars a year staying awake at work. This is how I relax sometimes. This is how I begin most mornings. This is how I wish they made coffee in waiting rooms all across the universe. This is how I entertain guests. This is how I'm going to teach you to make coffee for me when I come and sleep at your house and we knit something together.

Step numero uno. have the right stuff on hand. (it's ok, go run to the store. I'll wait.)


2.fill the bottom with water. Keep in mind you can still play with how thick and dark you'd like it by playing with the water/coffee ratio.
3.put that third piece (the filter lookin' thing) into the water and fill with your coffee grinds (the freshly ground are clearly the best for this but work with what you have).
screw on the top,
4. place off to the side of your burner so that the plastic handle doesn't melt off.
5. wait.
6. wait.
7. Do you smell that? That's perfection.
8. pour into your favorite mug (mine is the one I got for my birthday from Bwatt.)
9. add as much sugar and milk as you'd like
10. let all your worries melt away... because now you're caffeinated and can get EVERYthing done.

Minty Watermelon and Bloobs

I'm 96% sure watermelon was created because summer needed a best friend. While many of the other options were great, ice cream, picnics and the beach, nothing was quite as devoted to summer like watermelon. So, I had a chat with summer and we decided to make this. Holy YUM! My incredibly particular husband couldn't get enough of it and I had to make a double batch the next time around not even a week later. So, dig in, take your shoes off, invite your friends and their kids over for a chill day in the back yard and smile before summer is over and she takes her gorgeous bff with her.

Perfect for sharing with these two little munchkins

Oatmeal w/ flaxseed and strawberries!

Day off and so much to do. Visit Papa and make him smile and forget about all the pain he's in. Kiss my husband as least 100 times before noon. Wash the dishes from breakfast. Call my best friend just to say I love you and I miss you. Shave (blah, I hate shaving). Hit up the antique store for some fun plates. Also write a post about my new fave: Summer's BFF, Minty Watermelon and Bloobs.

Welp, gotta go.