Have you ever really loved a woman?

Have you ever really loved a woman?

"May I?" A generous offer followed by the swing of a strong arm broke the unnerving silence in the hallway. Prior to my mini-enchantment with the interior of the Esplanade and my pre-occupation with the drifts of melodic tunes seeping out from the concert hall, I truthfully, was more taken by my date than anything else in the room. With a shy nod of approval, I linked my bare arms thru his in a loop that sort of conceeded future events as we walked up the grand stairwell. That, was one and half years ago...

After all this time, a very different pair stands before the world. Slightly a little worn from struggles, a little bruised from the fist fights, a little more parched from the squabbles, yet still, very much in love.

I've always thought about the difference between 'being in love with someone' and to 'love someone'. The former usually exists in the courting days, when one fluctuates between a state of infatuation and deep forlorn of being lonely. The latter on the other hand is on the other hand more chameleon like, adapted to various situations. Whatever it is... he makes me both want to stay in love and to love him with all I've got.

So what is it like to really love a woman? as summarised in Bryan Adam's spanish inspired ballad.

'To really love a woman
to understand her
you’ve got to know what deep inside
hear every thought
see every dream
and give her wings when she wants to fly
and when you find yourself lying helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman '

that's what loving a woman is about. But I would reckon it gets 10 times worst if you're tasked with the responsibility of loving a woman like me. Especially the part 'lying helpless in her arms', meaning a tickle attack coupled with a tau-pok tactic from me... resulting in a laughing meek lamb in my arms. Kudos to Babe.

So to 'reward' him for his efforts.. or rather our efforts at hanging in there without getting at each others throats first for the last 18 months, I made a mini gift for him. And though small in size and value, It speaks volumes! Homemade granola to go with your favourite bowls of yogurt. I'm praying that you'll like it.

Easy Homemade Granola
recipe adapted from 'BAKED - new frontiers in Baking' by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

This granola is great for snacking on it's own, and for layering in fresh fruits and yogurt parfaits.

1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp plus 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup pecans
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup dried black raisins

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celcius. Line a baking sheet with parchment
2. In a large bowl, toss the oats with cinnamon and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, honey, brown sugar and vanilla till completely combined.
4. Pour the honey mixture over the oats and use your hands to combine them. Gather up some mixture into a fist. Repeat till all the oats are coated in honey.
5. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it out evenly with a few clumps here and there for texture.
6. Bake for 10mins then remove from oven and using a metal spatula, flip the granola over. Sprinkle the cashews over the granola and return to oven.
7. Bake for another 5mins then repeat the same steps of flipping the granola then sprinkling the pecans over. Return to oven.
8. Bake for another 10mins then remove from oven. Let cool completely before mixing the raisins in. Use your hands and transfer the granola to an airtight container where it would keep for a week.
   
   
   

and with this gift... I'm just hoping, with the teeniest light in my heart that perhaps I have finally found that 'someone' who makes my life complete.

Happy 1.5 year anniversary Babe.