Well, my cold has cleared up, but it left something worse in its stead: a hacking cough and acute insomnia. Over the past four days I have tried Tylenol PM, exercising, reading until my eyes burned, three kinds of cold medication, and without a hint of hyperbole here folks, actually counting fucking sheep. So yeah, intricate culinary masterpieces? Not happening this week.

Although I haven't had the energy to go to the store, we still have a full stock of fresh local produce and meats thanks to our convenient CSAs. In particular, there was a beautiful porterhouse in the freezer that I had been speculating about since it arrived there. I finally settled on making a recipe for steak au poivre from the Niman Ranch Cookbook. Quick enough not to send me reeling to the couch in exhaustion, and simple enough to commit to memory, I am sure that this is one I'll turn to when I need something fast but delectable. The pan sauce, made from broth, whiskey and cream, is reduced to a velvety thick consistency that clings to the tender meat and conceals a peppery bite in its comforting meatiness.