Tired because of this true story, food

Yesterday was a bit rough, culminating with me crying into a pot of beets like an extremely sad young Russian mother. More about that later. Anyway, I had two large'ish glasses of red wine, dished all over Benedict (as you know) and called it a day. At 2:30am, Oliver toddled into our room and affixed himself to my side in my bed. At 3:00am, Percy raced up the stairs like he'd neglected to pee for eight days and had just realized that the time is NOW. I got up to let him out, waited while he took his sweet time in 18° weather, let him back in and ambled back to bed. Once there, it became abundantly clear that only a person already asleep could ignore the sonorous rumble roaring from Tom. As such, I relocated to Oliver's bed. No sooner had my eyes shut than Nutmeg jumped on my stomach followed by Percy ON MY HEAD.

"What the F*(&?" I cried out, scaring the balls off both animals who fled with unusual speed.

This kind of nonsense, including a nightmare, went on and on, and I have felt like twice-flattened roadkill since 6:35am. I can't make coherent sentences for pete's sakes.

Long way of telling you that while I have much more to say, I simply cannot go on. Instead, to bed!

But I'll leave you with two pics:

  • what the teary beets turned into (a lovely soup with roasted garlic, crème fraîche and chives;

www.em-i-lis.com

  • and, tonight's meal for myself: pumpkin ravioli with salted browned butter and Parmesan.

www.em-i-lis.com

Browned butter makes everything better.

Tomorrow we get to dine alongside Gabrielle Hamilton (Prune) and hear about her new cookbook!!!!

Is Benedict Cumberbatch currently the most charming man in the free world?

Methinks the answer is a resounding YES! Please observe the following videos.

1) Benedict is a genius at impersonation:

 

2) Benedict makes mispronouncing 'penguin' sexy and charming as all get-out:

 

You're in love now, right? DUH!

Benedict Cumberbatch

I'd beat those chasers down, y'all!

yup!

For the puzzlers out there

As y'all likely know, I am an enormous, obsessive puzzler. I love puzzles, particularly crosswords and jigsaws. I must bring your attention to my newest fave: White Mountain's 1,000 piece Historic Washington, DC. This is a stand-out puzzle, hard enough to be a real challenge, but fun enough so that frustration never mounts. LOVE! www.em-i-lis.com

Cold weather is here or coming. This is a great indoor activity for those days you simply cannot force yourself out!