I have my usual, presumably preschool-induced bimonthly cold. It is just transitioning from the fever stage to the congestion stage. I’ve been drinking herbal tea all day and am sick of it. I wanted a hot beverage with a little more body, maybe a little spicy.

So I went to the fridge and found chicken stock base and fresh ginger. I reconstituted a teaspoon of Better than Bouillon with hot water and three slices of ginger. Perfect. I am feeling much better now, but I reserve the right to start complaining again in the morning.

Today on Gourmet.com:

Tamago Gohan to Start the Day

> “I grew up eating the best of Japanese cuisine as well as the best of Argentine cuisine,” he said. (At this point, my brain contained a big bowl of golden rice with a grilled steak in the background trying to get my attention.)

Recently on Serious Eats:

Funny Fortunes

> In five minutes, you will be attacked by a pear. It will eat you because you were going to eat it.

Today in the Seattle Times:

For brunch, a cheese-filled blintz is bliss

> So, thanks to Manushkin and Leventhal, blintzes have become part of our regular breakfast repertoire — a tough lineup to crack, I have to say. We even have a blue tablecloth, just like Rosy’s, and we eagerly lined up our first round of blintz crepes on it. Then we had to put the tablecloth in the laundry before breakfast. My recommendation: use a plate.