The Four O'Clock

A stroopwafel warming on top of a steaming cup

There is a specific hour — somewhere around four — when the day goes flat. The inbox stops making sense. The tea's gone cold twice.

This is stroopwafel weather.

Set one on top of your cup — coffee, tea, whatever's steaming — and leave it for a minute. The steam softens the caramel inside until it goes molten and the two thin waffle layers give a little. Then you eat it warm, over the cup, and the afternoon takes the hint.

It's a small Dutch trick and it works every time. Two minutes, one biscuit, and the slump passes.

We box them by the eight, because four o'clock comes every day. Keep a few in the drawer.