I generally leave the monthly New York City RWA chapter meetings determined to sit down at my computer and write, write, write! At the meeting this past Saturday one of our very talented members led an exciting presentation on the five senses. During the discussion, my mind drifted back to my current work in progress, Courting Scandal. I could not wait to get home and write, my imagination churning with new ideas from all the talk of sights, smells and tastes. Instead, when I walked through the door to my apartment, I went straight for the kitchen. It seemed all that talk of smells and tastes inspired me to cook, cook, cook versus write, write, write.
At this juncture, I feel I should mention that I follow a strict vegan diet and have for about twelve years. My husband on the other hand eats just about anything. Dinner preparation in our home can be very interesting.
Seeing as I came straight home fully intending to write, I had not stopped by the grocery store and thus was left to cook my heart out with whatever we had on hand. Thanks to Costco and the weekly farmer’s market in our neighborhood, I could allow my creativity to run wild. For my husband’s dinner I turned to one of my favorite non-vegan cookbooks, Everyday Food: Great Food Fast, and selected a Pan Fried Shrimp with Green Curry Cashew Sauce. From The Veganomicon, one of the best vegan cookbooks ever written in my humble opinion, I made a Chickpea-Quinoa Pilaf (if you’ve never cooked with quinoa, I highly recommend it!).
After a few hours of inspired cooking, my kitchen was filled with enticing smells and tastes. I thought my main course creations were delicious (admittedly I did not try the shrimp, but my husband seemed quite pleased.) Dessert however was another matter.
I decided to make a low-fat vegan apple pie, this time without a recipe. The result, while tasty, hardly resembled a pie apart from the fact that I’d baked it in a pie dish. Apparently there is a limit to the amount of fat one can remove from apple pie and still have something more than a few baked apples dusted with cinnamon, who popped out of the oven begging for a sugary crumb topping. I believe even the pre-made graham cracker crust was offended. In the end it tasted great (after I added a bit of vegan ‘buttery’ spread and sugar), although it still looked like an example from Martha Stewart’s guide on how not to make dessert.
Today I’m back at my computer ready to write, write, write with only brief breaks for leftover apple disaster!
Sarah, I had no idea you were so talented in the kitchen! I’m not…at all! Though I did run for food as soon as I got home as well…however, it was a run to Subway sandwich shop and not my own kitchen (which is mostly stocked with breakfast items
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I agree that the presentation was very inspiring though, and I’m having a great time writing this morning!
Great post
I can see an entire cookbook for “the rest of us”, Sarah, starting with “Apple Disaster” for dessert. This is just the perfect scenario to include in a romance!
I’m glad that you enjoyed the presentation on the senses – and that it inspired your creativity, whether it was writing or culinary. One can certainly “feed” the other.
I applaud any and all kitchen experimentation, as scared of it as I am for myself. What would be your most romantic food/meal?
Jerrica and Lise, thanks for stopping by. And I agree “apple disaster” would be a great scenario for a romance novel!
Erica, I think chocolate fondue with fresh fruit would be at the top of my list for most romantic foods!
It sounds like a delicious night. No matter the disaster pie. lol. I’ve made quite a few in my day and I’m sure many more to come. As long as it taste good and you can spoon it out is all that counts. I so admire your cooking skills and being able to adapt to you and your husbands needs.
Wasn’t it a great meeting? I was scribbling ideas in a notebook of how Purgatory should smell… Not really great, I decided.
Oh, I sooooo need to get the Veganomicon! How cool!
Apple disaster sounds great!