The ultimate way to be a kid again

Thank you Royal Air Mail for ferrying to me so quickly and securely my very own Benedict Cumberbatch colouring book. And, the heartiest of thanks to Liz Larkin for alerting me to the very existence of this terrifically awesome activity.

As soon as I saw this, I knew one must be mine. And here it is. Happy Thursday to me. Delightfully, this is no mere coloring book. It's much more, what with the word bubbles just waiting to be completed by moi and the invitations to "draw a dream house for you and Benedict to share," "draw the hearty meal you'd cook for Benedict" on the plate you see here, etc. It's really incredibly interactive, obviously the stuff dreams are made of (grow in unrestrained fashion from?).

If you don't hear from me for a week or so, this is why. ;)

Chicken and a hell of a haiku

Wednesdays are our hairiest afternoon of the week. Once pick-up happens, we are full speed ahead until bedtime, sometimes even skipping baths to safeguard sleep and my sanity. Nonetheless, it's for good reasons, so I try to prep dinner stuff well in advance so meals don't fall by the wayside too. Tonight was the Zuni Cafe chicken, roast potatoes and kale with parm. Scrumptious! I mean, just look at this golden bird.

Cooler and even more wonderful, however, is this haiku that Jack wrote during the final few minutes of his Writers Notebook (homework) period this evening. I am floored by how strong this is!

Middle of nowhere

Voids all around the strange place

Nothing nowhere blank

Sometimes your own children can really surprise the hell out of you in the coolest of ways.

Cookie review: Natural Nectar Choco Dream

Remember the scene in Love Actually during which Hugh Grant, as the British PM, is presiding over a meeting and asks "Who do you have to screw around here to get a chocolate biscuit?" just as Natalie wheels in a cart of tea and said biscuits?

I am certain that dashing Hugh wanted cookies like these, the dark chocolate version of Natural Nectar's Choco Dream cookies, and when I eat a couple, I imagine Hugh sitting alongside me, jovially saying, "bloody hell, these are perfect!"

I buy these cookies on an exceedingly regular basis at Whole Foods though I always wait until they go on sale for two/$7.00 because the random per box savings of $.49 makes me feel irrationally nice. Behavioral economics in action, folks.

Not only do I find the rectangular shape pleasing, but I also admire that they maintain the perfect amount of crunch while also being incredibly sturdy. These are not cookies that are going to break in half or crumble if you breathe on them wrong; they are durable, and I like that about them. Additionally, they are not overly sweet. What sugar your tongue does discern is offset wonderfully by the tannins in the dark chocolate.

I am partial to dark chocolate so haven't tried the milk chocolate variety but I suspect it's tasty too, not least because Natural Nectar doesn't seem to trade in white "chocolate" which, frankly, always makes me take a baker more seriously. I have a strong aversion to white "chocolate" because, on the few occasions I've tried to give it another go, it always makes me think I'm chewing on white wax. If I wanted to eat a candle, I just would.