When we are born our first bout with individuality is when our parents bestow upon us the gift of a name. What is in a name? Does a name define who we are or how we are perceived by others? What about those souls who are lost to their families, perhaps they ended up homeless and one day when their time was up they couldn’t be identified? They are just as much a human as anyone else but because their “name” was not known they were coldly stamped John or Jane Doe.
This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and one of the reasons I have chosen to assist The Monday Night Mission on my My Change For A Ten project when I lose my first ten pounds. I am so close, at nine pounds at the moment. I am hoping to make the ten pound loss Tuesday and then I will set the date when I will visit and assist The Monday Night Mission.
WALK IN EMPATHYStep into my worn shoes,How would you feel?When People walk by,Forgetting you are real.Beyond your reach,The hopes of a warm meal;Or a place to lay your head,To let your weary body heal.Your spirit is broken,Yet your head held high;Only to be ignored,By oblivious eyes.A face with no name,Is what they see;Unloved, forgotten,Throughout society.Such lonely solitude,Unanswered prayers;Hopelessness and sorrow,But no one cares.Who will miss youWhen it’s your time to go?Will anyone remember,Your name is not John Doe.© Rose Bruno Bailey
The name Rose has caused many a remark from people when they first meet me. Usually it is the standard ” that is my great great grandmother’s name;” thanks a lot pal, for making me feel ancient. Or sometimes it is the cheesy “oh Rose, the name of beauty, the flower, by some guy dripping in too many chains and men’s cologne.” When the movie Titanic premiered I got lots of “never let go Rose.” When I first met my husband he actually believed I gave him a fake name.
My husband and I bought a cooler, beach chairs and other things because we want to start having picnics at the beach. I know it is late in the season, but this is Southern California and we can picnic at the beach pretty much any time of the year. I was trying to figure out healthy sandwiches for me to take, that are not full of all the sodium that comes with cold cuts from a deli. This is what I thought would be the perfect beach sandwich for me and my healthy lifestyle.
That brings me to the origin of the Sandwich. It was named after John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich, he was an 18th-century English aristocrat. Apparently he requested his valet bring him his meat inside two slices of bread. He was playing cards and wished not to get his hands greasy. Soon others followed suit requesting to have what Sandwich had.
Many sandwiches over the years have gained individual names of their own. The BLT, The French Dip, The Dagwood, The Club Sandwich to name a few.
This inspired me to make my favorite sandwich to take on my autumn picnics for my outings to the shore. Malibu breeze and a delicious light sandwich to feed my senses. I first had this unusual yet simple sandwich at my friend Marguerite’s house back in Cleveland, Ohio. Marguerite was French,world traveled, sophisticated, and whimsical. She sliced a french baguette, and spread some Dijon mustard on both sides. Then she topped it off with thinly sliced green apples and sharp cheddar cheese. My version is a bit more gourmet, but in honour of my long lost friend. I have decided to name it THE MARGUERITE. A whimsical, sophisticated sandwich with a french origin just like it’s name sake.
You will need for one MARGUERITE
A good french baguette or whole grain baguette
Extra virgin olive oil.
One green apple, sliced thin.
Brie cheese, enough to spread on both sides of the baguette. I use a small portion for mine.
Arugula, a generous handful
Toasted pecans( lightly spray cooking spray on a cookie sheet. Place pecans on sheet,and toast for five minutes in an oven set at 350 degrees for about five minutes). Just a few on mine, I have to watch portions.
Drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil, and a teaspoon of a good Dijon mustard.
Drizzle olive oil on baguette and place on a cookie sheet in a pre-heated oven set at 400 degrees.Bake baguette for about ten minutes til crusty.
Spread Dijon on both sides of the baguette.
Spread a generous amount of brie on each side of the baguette.
Top brie with a handful of the toasted pecans, spread them in the brie so they are firm in the sandwich.
Place thin slices of apple on one side of the baguette in a uniform line.
Top it off with a generous handful of fresh arugula.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar on the arugula,and a bit of sea salt and ground pepper.You may wish to use a bit more olive oil, the choice is up to you. I think the olive oil on the baguette suffices but again individuality comes first. It is your Marguerite Sandwich.
Close tightly, slice in half, and enjoy this distinctive yet delish sandwich which is reminiscent of walking barefoot in a field in Paris during springtime in a Monet painting.
Oh la la c’est marveilleux
