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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
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Dear Reader,
Once a week in my column I feature readers' writing questions and comments. If you have a writing question, you can reach me at: Suzanne@Emailbookclub.com
One of the things I learned early on in my writing career was how to go with the flow. In fact, I do my best writing when I get outta the way and simply let the words flow. Book club reader Margaret Maione, emailed about my Beef and Bean Soup recipe, but little did she know, she also sent a recipe for writing. In the beginning her intentions were to follow the recipe, but instead, she allowed herself to go with the flow.
"Hi Suzanne: I tried your Beef & Bean Soup this weekend and my husband and I really enjoyed it. It fit nicely into our plan of eating better. Shopping for black-eyed peas in Wyoming can be a challenge or humorous, at best. At the first store I only found 'southern-style' black-eyed peas with onions, garlic and bacon added. The next store I tried didn't have any black-eyed peas. The third store had black-eyed peas, but with green beans. And finally after one more try, just when I thought a can of plain black-eyed peas might be impossible to find, I found one.
As I prepared the soup, I [accidentally] opened the 'southern-style' black-eyed peas with a little extra onion, garlic and bacon, so I decided to use it. When it came time to add the ground beef (in Wyoming, we call it hamburger), I had a 1-lb. package in my freezer, but the recipe only used one cup) so I measured one cup and then stood there debating about adding the rest of the package (about another cup). At the last minute, I figured the rest of the ground beef would probably end up unused and wasted, so I threw it into the pot. What's a little more ground beef?
The next dilemma were the tomatoes. The recipe used an 8 oz. can, and I only had a 14 oz. can, so I threw in the extras. What's a few more tomatoes?
The last item to add was the beef stock. I only had chicken stock in my pantry. Maybe I would have to call this Suzanne's Beef and Bean Soup (kind of). It was too late to run to the store so I used the chicken stock. The soup came out fine even with the changes, plus I had enough for another meal. I know you didn't expect a litany on your Beef and Bean Soup, but I'm trying to write more and knew you would understand! Best Wishes from Wyoming,"--Margaret Maione
(Suzanne responds:) I know you didn't ask a writing question Margaret, but since you mentioned you're trying to write more, keep doing what you're doing. Every good cook learns how to start with a recipe and then go with the flow, changing a recipe to fit his or her needs. Every good writer learns that you might start with a plan, but then you need to get outta the way, and go with the flow.
*If you need writing inspiration, here's the link to other writing questions and answers I've featured: http://tinyurl.com/WritingQ-A
*And if you're hungry for Beef and Bean Soup, here's the recipe: http://tinyurl.com/3ldxuu6
*Email writing questions to: Suzanne@Emailbookclub.com
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/
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