Great Book

I have just finished reading Last Chance to Eat: the fate of taste in a fast food world by Gina Mallet. What a funny book and scattered throughout are some classic recipes. I made her Ian's Thames Mud and was amazed at how elemental a recipe it was - clean chocolate taste and wonderful texture - And SO SO easy. If you are even a little bit of a foodie, you should read this. At the very least, make this instead of buying a cheesecake next time you have a dinner.

Classic Chocolate Mousse

8 extra-large eggs, separated
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
3 tbsp black coffee
1 tbsp brandy

Beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow. In a lo-temp oven, melt the chocolate in the coffee, and before it starts to thicken, blend in yolks with an electric beater or balloon whisk. Add brandy.
Beat egg whites until absolutely stiff.
Put 2 spoonfuls of beaten egg white into the chocolate mixture and mix gently. Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites.
Spoon into a glass bowl or individual ramekins; leave in refrigerator for several hours.

Houseplants

Have you ever seen a Jade plant flower? I haven't either. Apparently they do this when they think they're about to die. I guess this is a testament to my ability to manage a single houseplant. One that folks claim is unkillable. Heck, this plant spent a year in my father inlaw's basement while we lived in Victoria....and yet here it is in my window, thinking it's going to die.