Babes and Hunks

Ok so I know reactions to the LJ "12 Babes of Christmas" range from "hubba hubba" to the urge to write a gazillion word essay on sexploitation but I'm sure the one thing all camps can agree on is the desirability of pressuring robont the "sponsor" of the 12 Babes to participate in the approximately parallel "8 Hunks of Hanukkah". So, whatever your motives, go and vote for him here.

Kitten pictures

Preliminary kitten pictures here. More when they are feeling more co-operative.

Piment d' espelette

A lot of Basque recipes call for piment d'espelette which is a kind of paprika made from a specific kind of pepper grown in the Basque country. I had never seen it at the market until today and have tended to substitute smoked paprika. Today Schefflers had some jars hidden away amongst the truffles etc. Unfortunately it was $19.99 for 50g which is decidedly pricey. I'd like to try it but the proprietor said it really wasn't all that exciting. So I didn't.

ETA: Oddly enough one of the other stalls at the market now has fancily packaged flageolets verts and lentilles du Puy. The latter cost something like $11.99 for 500g which is a bit ironic since the bulk place immediately next door has them for $1.65/pound. I'm a bit suspicious of the fageolets too because, as I understand it, the 2004 crop was pretty much wiped out by drought so I suspect they are fairly ancient.