Gratitude List: 10 Foods

Obviously, I will not be recording my gratitude lists in the sequence previously introduced.  Whatever it may say about me, the truth remains that the compilation of my food list in its simplest form would require less than a minute.  Clearly then, I am starting this listing exercise with "easy."  However, I shall acquiesce to the creation of a more informative final product than merely a simple enumeration and do hereby agree to embellish my list with correlating background and/or miscellany.  Also, by the way, there will be no ranking implicit in the numbering here either because that would push this "easy" task to so beyond "difficult"!

  1.  MANGOS.  I didn't taste my first mango until after I was way grown up.  Sadly, decades of my life passed without knowledge of its delectable perfection.

  2.  BERRIES.  I refuse to be more specific because I really, really like lots of different berries!

  3.  POMEGRANATES.  Beautiful color, beautiful flavor.

  4.  WATERMELON.  Although I'm not a big fan of most other kinds of melon, I could breakfast, lunch, and sup on watermelon.

  5.  SALMON--grilled and served with fresh lemon.

  6.  FRESH GREEN SALAD.  (Italy has the best ones in the world.)

  7.  PIZZA.  It must have a traditional tomato sauce, not a white sauce or any other variation.  I especially like a good vegetarian pizza.  (Italy may also have the best ones of these, too!)

  8.  HOT OATMEAL--steel cut (pinhead)...and don't forget to add vanilla.  Best if served with walnuts and fresh fruit.

  9.  BROCCOLI.  Steamed, please.

10.  DARK CHOCOLATE, 70-85% cacao.  Currently I'm particularly partial to Godiva's dark chocolate truffles and dark chocolate cherries.

I elected not to include drinks in the food list but will add a drink addendum: 

1.  WATER.  Nothing can ever quite measure up to water as a comprehensive go-to drink.

2.  DIET COKE.  Alas and alack!  Although I have reached the point in my life where I kind of wish it did not have to appear on my list, anyone who knows me knows that Diet Coke would still be on the list.  For years I have preferred a fountain-generated Diet Coke, but lately I've discovered myself leaning more toward my nephew Justin's opinion:  Diet Coke from a bottle--the only way to guarantee a correct calibration of fizz and flavor.

3.  MANGO SMOOTHIE...the way they make them in the Philippines!