I'm not much of a cook, although I'm learning. But bread! My new favorite is Molly Macrae's Pilgrim Bread (mysteryloverskitchen.com), adding some oat flour and apple cider vinegar to lighten it a bit. I'd be interested in your non wheat recipe if you don't mind sharing
Barbara- You're absolutely right in that cooking is such an artful therapy. Something about the creation and deconstruction process really aligns with humanity. I appreciate this reminder.
Your beloved must enjoy your writer’s block cooking! I like to bake, and often will make biscuits, scones or cookies when I’m working through decisions or am stuck in the muddy side roads of life. Recently I tried an Alexandra’s Kitchen recipe for lemony buttermilk currant scones. I subbed light buttermilk, used half plant butter and cut the sugar. Then worried while they baked, but the recipe was very forgiving and they were delicious. Five out of five from my better half! https://alexandracooks.com/2012/11/13/tartines-currant-scones-lemon-cream/
I use all of them a various times, but the most thumbed books are 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, largely for the female journey; Story by Robert McKee for the negation of the negation, and The Writer’s Journey, Vogler.
I was hoping that you would share the title of your new favourite cookbook footnotes but I can’t find footnotes (2)
I do love to cook I love starting something from the beginning and finishing something beautiful and even just new or different. However I live with somebody who consumes food en masse seemingly without thought so I find it disappointing watching all that beauty disappear down a hole in record time. He always says “thank you that was lovely” but I mean I don’t see any honest appreciation of the hours and beauty… obviously that’s a me issue.
I’m always food inspired when reading your books thank you very much I have however decided that each time I read one of your books it’s time to forget about the waistline for awhile.
As an aside I just finished reading “The forty rules of love” by Elif Shafak - similarly Ella’s cooking in that book had the same effect- have you read it?
Thank you for your beautiful work (and my expanding waistline) I would love to know the name of your new favourite recipe book.
Sorry about the footnotes malfunction. Still learning the interface. The cookbook I'm in love with at the moment is The Secret of Cooking, by Bee Wilson.
Your post reminded me of the HP ads way back when, the “what if” ads where someone is seen going into a phone booth and calling in a solution. It is why limited hours in the office is so important and taking breaks and going for walks. The solutions emerge when the mind is other directed. I have even gotten them in dreams. Cooking is wonderful and oh so creative especially when one is not forced to do it. There are so many inspirations these days with the wealth of cookbooks and the internet blogs. Fresh ingredients from the garden as well as herbs make everything taste so amazing. I always enjoyed food and garden in your books which for me was a great draw. I think I have read all the ones that are being re-released, though I could probably re-read them. Many thanks always.
There is SUCH a wealth of possibilities for our cooking these days. It's wonderful. I'm also starting my first garden here, and looking forward to what I can grow. Definitely parsley and thyme and a bunch of dahlias, though those wouldn't taste particularly good.
It's a take-off of one I got from the NYT - cook your pasta, save back some liquid. In a pan, cook chopped onion and garlic - 3-5 minutes. Then add turmeric. I probably put in about a tsp. And salt and pepper to taste. Then mix in 1/2 cup half and half, stir, then add the drained pasta and the reserved salted water until well coated and your kitchen smells amazing. It made a filling lunch. I cook by feel mostly, taking recipes and making them my own.
First, I LOVED your post. I could taste and feel it. Anything cooking or food relates grabs my attention. I love to cook and for the same reason- the beginning, middle and end. How satisfying to start and finish a "project" in one day, maybe even one hour! And, the finished result is typically delicious. Food is my love language. I cook almost every night.
I love your books and look forward to reading the newest one!
Yes for sure, nice to get a reply, I didn't expect that, thanks! It was a timely note because I am currently struggling to sort through some ideas for a sequel to 'Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind', it wants to begin but multiple ideas are like a box of tangled embroidery threads needing to be sorted
And your love of flowers and plants are always part of the story too. I just finished "The Scent of Hours," and the only part I recognized about your stories was the love of the perfume and her love of food. I do wish the story was longer though.
I also love the Blues series which are so Sensuous and magical.
So much the plants and flowers! Agree that Scent of Hours was a bit different. Written at kind of a hard time, but also an exploration of things I loved. (Manitou Springs.)
That sounds like a wonderful Easter feast! It makes me hungry to read or write about food, too! And I love putting the food into the books, and should do more recipes here, maybe. They fell out of favor in novels, so I quit, but the food is still there a lot.
I'm a tried hard but failed novelist -- and at 85 the one on my hard drive will stay there -- but I still love to cook. Nothing but knitting so soothes my soul as time spent chopping, peeling, stirring or kneading. Mindless yet mindful at the same time. And I love Admin Nosrat. My daughter gave me "Salt, Fat" for Christmas. What a treasure.
I made creamy turmeric pasta for lunch this afternoon. I wasn't stuck, but I've been slow on my word count due to a few family issues going on since late February. Now, I'm knocking on the deadline door for two books which seemed totally reasonable when I signed the contract. Anyway, the pasta was amazing and the house smells wonderful.
Thank you for this evocative reminder of faith that the writer brain is resolving the issue while one cooks, walks, sleeps and enjoys the rest of life's blessings! I know that feeling when someone asks..'but what about...?'
Yum. Will have to try that one.
I'm not much of a cook, although I'm learning. But bread! My new favorite is Molly Macrae's Pilgrim Bread (mysteryloverskitchen.com), adding some oat flour and apple cider vinegar to lighten it a bit. I'd be interested in your non wheat recipe if you don't mind sharing
One step at a time is how we all learn. The bread sounds amazing! My recipe for gluten-free flour comes from The Gluten Free Bread Book, and it's a great one. https://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Artisan-Bread-Five-Minutes/dp/1250018315/
Thank you!
Barbara- You're absolutely right in that cooking is such an artful therapy. Something about the creation and deconstruction process really aligns with humanity. I appreciate this reminder.
Your beloved must enjoy your writer’s block cooking! I like to bake, and often will make biscuits, scones or cookies when I’m working through decisions or am stuck in the muddy side roads of life. Recently I tried an Alexandra’s Kitchen recipe for lemony buttermilk currant scones. I subbed light buttermilk, used half plant butter and cut the sugar. Then worried while they baked, but the recipe was very forgiving and they were delicious. Five out of five from my better half! https://alexandracooks.com/2012/11/13/tartines-currant-scones-lemon-cream/
What are your favorite plotting books? I seem to collect writing books. Thank you for a lovely post.
I use all of them a various times, but the most thumbed books are 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, largely for the female journey; Story by Robert McKee for the negation of the negation, and The Writer’s Journey, Vogler.
I was hoping that you would share the title of your new favourite cookbook footnotes but I can’t find footnotes (2)
I do love to cook I love starting something from the beginning and finishing something beautiful and even just new or different. However I live with somebody who consumes food en masse seemingly without thought so I find it disappointing watching all that beauty disappear down a hole in record time. He always says “thank you that was lovely” but I mean I don’t see any honest appreciation of the hours and beauty… obviously that’s a me issue.
I’m always food inspired when reading your books thank you very much I have however decided that each time I read one of your books it’s time to forget about the waistline for awhile.
As an aside I just finished reading “The forty rules of love” by Elif Shafak - similarly Ella’s cooking in that book had the same effect- have you read it?
Thank you for your beautiful work (and my expanding waistline) I would love to know the name of your new favourite recipe book.
Sorry about the footnotes malfunction. Still learning the interface. The cookbook I'm in love with at the moment is The Secret of Cooking, by Bee Wilson.
Your post reminded me of the HP ads way back when, the “what if” ads where someone is seen going into a phone booth and calling in a solution. It is why limited hours in the office is so important and taking breaks and going for walks. The solutions emerge when the mind is other directed. I have even gotten them in dreams. Cooking is wonderful and oh so creative especially when one is not forced to do it. There are so many inspirations these days with the wealth of cookbooks and the internet blogs. Fresh ingredients from the garden as well as herbs make everything taste so amazing. I always enjoyed food and garden in your books which for me was a great draw. I think I have read all the ones that are being re-released, though I could probably re-read them. Many thanks always.
There is SUCH a wealth of possibilities for our cooking these days. It's wonderful. I'm also starting my first garden here, and looking forward to what I can grow. Definitely parsley and thyme and a bunch of dahlias, though those wouldn't taste particularly good.
It's a take-off of one I got from the NYT - cook your pasta, save back some liquid. In a pan, cook chopped onion and garlic - 3-5 minutes. Then add turmeric. I probably put in about a tsp. And salt and pepper to taste. Then mix in 1/2 cup half and half, stir, then add the drained pasta and the reserved salted water until well coated and your kitchen smells amazing. It made a filling lunch. I cook by feel mostly, taking recipes and making them my own.
First, I LOVED your post. I could taste and feel it. Anything cooking or food relates grabs my attention. I love to cook and for the same reason- the beginning, middle and end. How satisfying to start and finish a "project" in one day, maybe even one hour! And, the finished result is typically delicious. Food is my love language. I cook almost every night.
I love your books and look forward to reading the newest one!
Thanks for your post, Pascale. Food is one of my love languages, too. I think it's my main language from me to myself, especially when I'm tired.
Yes for sure, nice to get a reply, I didn't expect that, thanks! It was a timely note because I am currently struggling to sort through some ideas for a sequel to 'Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind', it wants to begin but multiple ideas are like a box of tangled embroidery threads needing to be sorted
And your love of flowers and plants are always part of the story too. I just finished "The Scent of Hours," and the only part I recognized about your stories was the love of the perfume and her love of food. I do wish the story was longer though.
I also love the Blues series which are so Sensuous and magical.
So much the plants and flowers! Agree that Scent of Hours was a bit different. Written at kind of a hard time, but also an exploration of things I loved. (Manitou Springs.)
I find cooking very creative and just listening to people putting together delicious food always makes me hungry.
I just made an Ham and Egg casserole for Easter that came out yummy and I made Cinnamon rolls by scratch and that came out good too.
That's why I love your recipe series where every book has recipes in it.
That sounds like a wonderful Easter feast! It makes me hungry to read or write about food, too! And I love putting the food into the books, and should do more recipes here, maybe. They fell out of favor in novels, so I quit, but the food is still there a lot.
I'm a tried hard but failed novelist -- and at 85 the one on my hard drive will stay there -- but I still love to cook. Nothing but knitting so soothes my soul as time spent chopping, peeling, stirring or kneading. Mindless yet mindful at the same time. And I love Admin Nosrat. My daughter gave me "Salt, Fat" for Christmas. What a treasure.
Love that you wrote a novel even if you didn't love the end result. So many people say "Someday...." Mindless yet mindful. Yes!
I made creamy turmeric pasta for lunch this afternoon. I wasn't stuck, but I've been slow on my word count due to a few family issues going on since late February. Now, I'm knocking on the deadline door for two books which seemed totally reasonable when I signed the contract. Anyway, the pasta was amazing and the house smells wonderful.
Mmm. Turmeric pasta sounds delicious. Recipe?
I make soup when I get stuck. Not sure why, but soup. And Salt Fat Acid Heat is just delightful. I love Samin. One day I will learn to make Tahdig.
Me, too on Tahdig! And what is it about soup? It is just so nourishing, spiritually, mentally, physically.
Thank you for this evocative reminder of faith that the writer brain is resolving the issue while one cooks, walks, sleeps and enjoys the rest of life's blessings! I know that feeling when someone asks..'but what about...?'
Faith is one of our cornerstones, isn't it?