When in doubt . . .

. . . start with a roux.

Fortunately for Thursday's dinner, I'd already made the bulk of the jambalaya (everything but rice), and was just finishing up the last steps of the chocolate mousse Thursday morning when Robert hurt his foot.

Had it not been so, I might have let him bleed out while I folded it all together.

But his wound was well timed, so all was ready (except for getting the greens for salad later in the day), and on the coldest night of the year, we served a very warm meal indeed.

Thousands cheered.