[jQuery] get paragraph text from a ul

[yoyoryu]

i'm new to jquery and have a problem with a ul. i'm trying to get the
value of p from the list can someone help me out?

jquery->

$(".menu_item").click(function(){
                if ($(this).('p').text = 'Home')
                {
                        window.location.href="index.html";
                }
        })

html ->
<ul class="menu_list">
                <li>
                        <p class="menu_item">Home</p>
                </li>

                <li>
                        <p class="menu_item">Bla</p>
                        <div class="menu_subitems">
                                <ul>2007</ul>
                                <ul>2008</ul>
                        </div>
                </li>
</ul>