How Did I Not Know I Was This Weird...?

Let me first say, I know I'm a nerd.  I know I am the Google Queen in my circle of friends and family, and my little head is always full of (mostly) useless facts and random information.  However, I did not grow up thinking this was abnormal!  It is only recently that I have discovered... I'm weird.

Hubby and I were talking the other day, as he was ordering some new checks for us online, and we realized, much to both our surprise, that I could rattle off all the numbers he needed to order the checks from memory.  The credit card number needed to order them, including the security code on the back and expiration date, the account number for our bank, and here was the shocker, the routing number for the bottom of the checks!  A conversation then followed where Hubby realized I knew both our social security numbers, driver license numbers, his badge number and the license plate to his patrol car, the plate number of my car, my mom's driver license number, random phone numbers for us and family members, etc.  I was unaware this was not normal.  I thought these were things everyone knew.

From as far back as I can remember (and apparently before then, even), I've always enjoyed knowing things.  I like memorizing things, looking things up, and will randomly quiz myself on details to see if my brain subconsciously remembers things I've read or seen.  I'm this way with numbers, spelling, my surroundings, and any other time I feel like it.  Everyone doesn't do this?  Hm...

Food Network Tendencies

I've been watching a lot of Food Network lately... well, not just lately, since my obsession with that particular channel has been going strong for years.  I love me some Alton Brown in all his nerdy glory, sweet southern Paula Deen with an obsession of her own: butter, and Kerry Vincent with her ice queen exterior and hair wrap thing...

Watching all that food made me start thinking about my favorite ingredients... not dishes, meals, or recipes, but the ingredients themselves.  Here's my ten favorite ingredients (that I am thinking of right now... I reserve the right to change these as I remember new things, or the next time I go walking through the grocery store!):

1. Heavy Cream - that's right, whipping cream.  I love it.  It's the main ingredient in ganache, which I also love!
2. Butter - you know a little butter will fix most anything.  Except burns.  Do not put butter on a burn.
3. Leeks - as far as veggies go, this is one of my favorites.  I'll take leeks over regular onions any day!
4. Garlic - we put garlic in just about anything we cook; I don't know what I would do without it...
5. Chocolate - no one should be surprised by this!
6. Tomatoes - I will eat tomatoes any way, any day... by themselves or in something, cooked or raw, I don't care, they're awesome!
7. Basil - yum yum yum.
8. Cilantro - chopped cilantro goes in just about anything... salads, omelets, enchiladas, pico de gallo...
9. Shrimp - by far my favorite protein...
10. Avocado - It doesn't even need to be mashed up into guacamole, I'll eat avocado straight with a spoon from the peel!  Note - avocado was the first food (besides milk and organic brown rice cereal) I fed my baby!

I am proud to say I did not get up to go raid my pantry to think of these... that's probably a good thing, because if I'd gone to check, we might have ended up with my twenty favorite ingredients!  Take a minute to think of your favorites... feel free to post them, I'd love to know how people's kitchens differ!