We have a nine-year old, eighteen-pound cat who loves me to the point of embarrassment. Where I am, is where Max wants to be. On the couch, in bed, in the kitchen – he loves to be near me. Max also has the dulcet purr of a Sherman Tank.
And sometimes that means when he snuggles up next to me when I’m asleep, I wake up.
That happened at about 3 a.m. the other morning. Snuggle, snuggle, PURR, PURR, TRILL, TRILL. I scratched him under the chin until he was content, and I rolled back over but I couldn’t fall back asleep. Then my stomach started rumbling, so I slowly eased out of bed.
And Max scrambled after me, by using Jedd’s head as a springboard for the floor.
So now everyone was awake. Our other cat, Coop, made a beeline for the food bowl anxiously awaiting some kibble.
It was time for a very early meal.
I asked Jedd if he wanted some pasta.
“I could eat,” he said.
When it’s that late at night (or that early in the morning depending on where you fall on the agrarian time schedule) commonsense goes out the window. Instead of olive oil, the butter came out. Instead of water, chicken broth made an appearance.
Needless to say, as unhealthy as the pasta was – it was most excellent.
3 A.M. Pasta
Serves 2.
Ingredients:
4 oz. vermicelli pasta
6 cups canned, homemade or powdered chicken broth
1½ tablespoons unsalted butter
Black pepper
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons capers
Parmesan
Instructions:
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 6-7 minutes. Drain off water and return to the cooking pan. Add butter and black pepper. Stir well. Divide between two plates. Top with tomatoes, capers and parmesan to taste.
(Photos by Launie and Jedd Kettler)