Baked Ham Sandwiches /. Thoughts on "The Vow"

This will be a quick recipe post, because my main reason for posting today was to talk about my thoughts on The Vow (see below). But I don't want to disappoint you foodies out there! ;) These sandwiches were quite tasty, and worked really well to freeze for later lunches. (though I definitely recommend freezing PRIOR to cooking - we didn't, and I wish that we would have. They were still good though :P)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup dried minced onion
• 1/3 cup prepared mustard
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 8 hamburger buns, split
• 16 slices deli ham
• 8 slices Swiss cheese

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine butter, onion, mustard and poppy seeds. Spread about 1 tablespoon over both halves of buns. Layer ham and cheese on the bottom halves; replace tops. Wrap each sandwich in foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 6-10 minutes or until cheese is melted, or freeze for up to 2 months.
2. To use frozen sandwiches: Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted.

First of all - WAYYYYYY too much onion going on in these sandwiches! It was very overpowering to the other flavors, which were fabulous when you were able to get past the onion. Thoughts for the future on that  - either decrease the dried minced onion by at LEAST half, or possibly substitute them for some sauteed diced onion. I think you could probably leave the butter and mustard (we used Dijon - I probably need to buy stock in Dijon mustard, because I put it on EVERYTHING!) amounts the same, though that may change the mixture to more of a soupyness then a thick paste. Depending on how the mixture came out, I may just put it on one half of the sandwich instead of the top AND the bottom. I didn't have any poppy seeds on hand for this batch, but I think I would endeavor to get some for next time and see how that changed things. We ended up scraping off some of the onion mixture, and that being done, the sandwiches were really good! Definitely will make again with some changes.


The Vow: At this point, I'm pretty sure anyone who REALLY wants to see this movie has seen it, so forgive me if there are spoilers. Just got done watching it with some friends and am still processing - what better place to do that then cyber world? The reviews of the movie have definitely been mixed, probably with most people disliking the movie. I think I am neutral, with stronger leanings towards the "liked it" side. I think it was a less cookie-cutter movie and less of a romantic, slightly comedic film then it was portrayed in the previews. I was expecting the usual boy meets girl, falls in love, bad thing happens, they have some issues, but love triumphs in the end. If you haven't seen the movie, this next part might not make sense, but I shall forge ahead anyway!
      I was very disappointed that Leo (the male lead) signed the divorce papers. He had spent several weeks pursuing his wife, who couldn't remember who he was. Paige (the female lead) went back to her family, threw herself at an old fiancee, who was the last relationship she remembered, and really didn't seem to treat Leo as though the situation had any effect on him, just on her. Her treating him like that was very disturbing, yet with a movie title of "The Vow", I wanted and expected him to keep persevering! I think the film did an incredible job of showing real emotions that would be happening in that situation - he kept pursuing her based on their previous relationship, trying to encourage/force her to remember what they had. And he kept being hurt and frustrated when she just didn't remember. I wanted him to pursue a relationship with her, not based on what they HAD (which of course she can't remember), but what they COULD have in the future and quit trying to force the past into the future.
      In the end, after the divorce and 6-8 months of not seeing or talking to each other, that seems to be what happens. She still doesn't remember but wants to forge a new relationship with him. I can understand where both of them are coming from and it made sense to me. While I disliked the way Paige treated Leo, I can sympathize with the frustration of having a whole life you don't remember. I can't imagine waking up and having someone tell me they are my spouse, who I can't even remember meeting!

      A little disclaimer - I am not saying that as a blanket statement and there are a lot of unknown factors to be considered. I am NOT advocating for a situation in which there is un-repentance (repentance = a discontinuing of the behavior and an active pursuit of rebuilding the relationship with their spouse), repeated offense in this area (which I think indicates un-repentance, or an unwillingness to change), or unwillingness to forgive on the part of the wronged spouse. I am saying that to truly forgive someone who has hurt you that deeply in both beyond yourself, and demonstrates a grace undeserved by the offender
     I hope to nurture THAT grace towards my spouse, to accept the weaknesses and love regardless of the faults. I know that I can't do that on my own. And how grateful I am for a God who loves me that way, and who will give me the support to love that way too.