I, daughter, am moving to Spain in approximately 3 weeks.  While exciting and joyful, there have been many stressors along the way.  Visa application, getting rid of stuff, living out of suitcases, saying goodbye to friends and family...you get the picture.  All this while living with mom and dad for the last leg of this Stateside journey.

One of the best parts about living with mom and dad is cooking and eating together.  We are enjoying our evenings once or twice a week.  The other night, I was feeling overwhelmed and consumed by Spain preparations.  The night before dad made a request for a salad that I rarely make (because it is a lot of work) and the rest of the family coerced me into making it.

And, I'm glad.

It's the kind of salad that you have to time just perfectly.


The onions and garlic have to be chopped first

They bounce around in the white wine vinegar with salt and pepper for at least a half hour

Meanwhile, you have to hard boil eggs...

...cook bacon...and prepare the brussels sprouts.

 

of course I can't forget about the mound of french bread cubes...

...just waiting to be bathed in olive oil and crisped in a pan

And finally all my hard work, timing, preparation and patience pays off and I watch the salad come together...

...and VOILA!

And now you see why I am pleased.  I feel this small accomplishment and realize that as I watch this salad come together in order, I can continue to trust that I am not alone in my own journey, and that it too will come together.

And hopefully be just as tasty.