Sybilla Oritur

When i had my wisdom teeth removed back in 2005, i spent a week-end teaching myself how to drive a stick-shift, drinking milkshakes, eating ice cream and being introduced to the Gilmore Girls. It was my lovely friend Lisa who lent me her boxed sets and pushed me into a love affair that continues to this day. It seemed only fitting that on Saturday as she too recovered from the removal of four wisdom teeth, that i should spent an afternoon with her watching Gilmore Girls.

We were not alone. We shared our afternoon with a shaved kitten whose head is on a perma-tilt: Juliette. I discovered that drinking with straws when having just undergone tooth extraction is a faux-pas. Apparently you can suck out the clots… so rather than make Lisa milkshakes and smoothies, i helped her make mashed potatoes (ok, i peeled and chopped). I had never followed a recipe for mashed potatoes before - mostly because i am not very fond of this quintessential comfort food. However, the Joy of Cooking is a god-send and adding garlic and a bay leaf to the boiling water and scalding the milk made the kitchen smell GREAT.