Taking Tea in the Kasbah



Dear Readers and Visitors to the Kasbah,

The Queen has bestowed upon me the keys to the kasbah, not only while she is out of town for a few days, but also throughout the month of November while she is holed up in her writing cave during NaNoWriMo. Yes, the King of the Kasbah has returned.*

So you know that what means, right? We’ll be rockin’ the kasbah King-style these next few weeks. Oh, I know I have to keep a certain amount of decorum, class, and dignity here but since we’re all friends, I know that we can keep any indiscretions that may happen on the down low.

I’m not saying we should outright lie to the Queen. I have more integrity than that, fair readers. What I’m saying is if there happens to be, say, a beverage spilled on a pillow or silly string stuck to the lamps during a dance party or even the discovery of the secret location of the writing cave, let’s keep it between ourselves. I don’t want to needlessly worry the Queen with such trivial matters as a few holes in the wall, because as we all know that’s what the installation of the big screen telly is for.**

Now that we have that cleared up, I thought I’d preempt all of my own distractions that would keep me from getting a post written (remember the last time I had the keys?) and jump right into talking about this NaNoWriMo thing the Queen and her writerly friends are participating in this month. I know the Queen is pressed for time these days, what with simultaneously becoming a Maverick Marplot of Mental Health as well as cultivating a new career as a Private Detective with wicked Cirque du Soleil moves. But then she goes and adds on writing a novel in a month. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in full support of her getting that thing D-O-N-E done. The sooner the better because between you and me, she could use the confidence boost. She could also use an adventure, but that’s just one guy’s opinion.***

Being the supportive friend that I am, I decided to find ways to help the Queen of the Kasbah save some time during this busiest of months on things that she has to do every day anyway, things like eating and drinking. So, in the interest of time-saving techniques, I was quite intrigued by a recipe I found that combines three of her favorite things, thereby streamlining her schedule: Chocolate Bourbon Pudding. She’ll get her chocolate and coffee fix as well as a hearty shot of bourbon to keep the creative energy churning. It’s win-win-win.

Given her discerning tastes, I couldn’t simply just post the recipe and leave it at that. I did what any self-respecting King of the Kasbah would do: I made some and conducted a taste test to see if it would be Queen-worthy.

Here’s what I discovered:

Any recipe is tasty if you have a bottle of bourbon open while making it.****

Chocolate Bourbon Pudding

(from versesfrommykitchen.blogspot.com)

300g (10.5 oz.) good quality dark chocolate

100ml (3.5 oz.) hot coffee

2 Tbsp. bourbon

250ml (8.5 oz.) heavy cream

1 Tbsp. sea salt, divided

1/4c. pistachios, finely chopped

1. Chop the chocolate and add to medium bowl. Add in the hot coffee and bourbon and mix until chocolate is melted and smooth. This is a good time to have a sample of the bourbon.

2. Bring heavy cream to a boil, then pour straight into the chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Add in 1/2 Tbsp. of the sea salt. Are you sure you sampled the bourbon fully? Perhaps another nip is in order.

3. Pour into 4 small coffee cups, or if you plan to abscond with it directly to your own writing cave as soon as it’s been in the fridge for a few hours to set, just leave it all in the mixing bowl. Why dirty more dishes if you don’t have to, right? Give yourself a medicinal dose of the bourbon if needed while waiting.

4. Before serving, sprinkle with remaining sea salt and pistachios.

And for the other NaNoWriMo-ers out there feeling crunched for time, I suggest you get someone to make this for you. Just tell them it will shave minutes off the time you’d devote to eating, thereby giving more time to getting those words on the page. If anyone knows where the Queen’s writing cave is located, feel free to make her some and drop it off there. I would do this myself but since I am lacking a set of directions I’ll have to rely on you fine people to do my bidding for me.

Until next week, best of luck to all feverishly working on their novels and may you have people in your life willing to make you some coffee and bourbon-laced pudding.

Best to all,

Ben

*Just like last time, let’s not mention this title to the Queen. We haven’t had the whole “How do you feel about monarchies?” conversation yet. I know. Awkward.

**That was a mostly, somewhat hypothetical situation. Let’s just not mention this one either because we all know it wasn’t just me doing the limbo in the kasbah, right?

***An opinion I should probably keep to myself, but really, haven’t you all heard it a thousand times before? I know she has…

****I know, I know, this is supposed to be a PG-13 blog. Let’s pretend I didn’t mention my overzealous sampling of the libations.

~*~

*Editorโ€™s note: The views, ideas, and opinions expressed in the Letters from Benedict series are works of fiction and obviously did not come from the actor himself. This series is just my way of expressing adoration for Mr. Cumberbatch and his work and is not intended to be seen or read as a true collaborative writing endeavor with him.

14 thoughts on “Letters from Benedict: On Rockin’ the Kasbah, King-Style

  1. Now that’s a fine recipe. Only problem is: I have no one to make it for me. So now it becomes another available excuse for NOT writing, since I must make it.

    Benedict: I am not taking part in the NaNoWriMo as I have too many excuse to not write this month. Please pass on my best wishes to Tami. Tell her I hope she writes a whole passel of very good words.

    • The thing about the recipe is that it’s quick to make so it shouldn’t take up too much of your time. And thanks for the encouragement on NaNo! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. on ,
    livrancourt said:

    Your Highness,
    What did you have in mind, exactly, for ***? Because if it involved, say, Prague or maybe Reykjavik, you could totally sell her on the idea.
    Just sayin’…

    • Benedict is as secretive with his plans for adventure as I am with the writing cave’s location. Perhaps someday we’ll find out…

  3. You are actually sweeter than I had envisioned, Mr. Cumberbatch, but please don’t tell Tami I said that because, well…we all remember what happens if she has one of her episodes of “over-care” concerning any and everything that pertains to you! Lord knows, we don’t want to evoke THAT again. I think your chocolate Bourbon pudding sounds delightful. I must warn you, however, that Tami becomes quite acrobatic when imbibing any spirits, so just tuck that under your belt and walk softly…while carrying a big stick, of course. My best to that hard-working gal during Nano!

    • Thanks, Jodi!

      And no, I didn’t read a thing you just wrote above about “episodes” and acrobatic moves and imbibing spirits. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. Here’s the thing, your Kingliness. I believe a King should not only know how to stir up delectable yumminess with a silver spoon, but I also believe he should serve it, on a silver platter, while reciting love poems with a silver tongue.

    Thank you.

    • Dear Sherry,
      Duly noted. If I should ever acquire directions to the writing cave, I will polish up the silver and deliver copious amounts of bourbon-laced pudding while reciting her favourite poem.
      Signed,
      Ben

  5. Tami. I mean Queen Tami. The time is now. Give the guy directions to the writing cave. Polished silver and copious amounts of bourbon-lace pudding while reciting poetry. Really. The time has come. Otherwise, I’ll send you the address to my cave. Damn he’s nice.

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