You are a true friend. Pat yourself on the back. Also, if one can at all help it, never turn down brunch. I'm sure that's some kind of rule.

A nice steep walled Martini glass. I had three Martinis this evening in a lovely heavy bottomed, steep sided mid century modern glass my grandfather used to take his evening Martinis in. He only allowed himself one. I am not feeling virtuous.

5. FINALLY, in the mid 18th century, Mayonnaise was invented.

4. Though it wasn't a good ham and cheese sandwich until the middle of the 18th century. Lettuce has been around for six thousand years, the Romans were using mustard as a condiment, the Columbian exchange would have brought tomatoes into the mix, and ...

3. Since the oldest evidence for cheese that's been found is a bit over 7,000 years ago, and ham is a bit under 3,000 years old we still had to wait a long time for a proper ham, and cheese sandwich.

2. Evidence for flour is older still. Humans were making flour at least 32,000 years ago.

It's good as the star of celery root soup, and sometimes I include it among the root vegetables in my stew.

If you are aiming for a particular type of stew having made a few versions, and having a recipe is handy. After making many varieties though you can make a stew with any particular characteristics you want. Stew is time consuming, but easy, and forgiving. It's also very restorative, and comforting.

The Enterprise pizza cutter was the pièce de résistance of a very appetite inducing video.