When You Try a New Recipe, Write Down the Results
This illustration is part of my Collective Food Wisdom series, for which I asked people across different languages and cultures to share a nugget of food wisdom or advice they’ve received that they continue to carry with them in their kitchen, garden, or life.
This piece comes from my cousin-in-law Cæcilie, who I'm so glad to call family.
What is the most useful piece of food wisdom or advice you have ever received?
Cæcilie: When you try a new recipe, write down the results on it. That way, next time you're going through your cookbook trying to figure out what to make, you'll know what's good and what's not. And if you've been really dutiful with your note-taking, you'll also know if it needs salt, etc.
Who gave it to you?
Cæcilie: My father did it a lot.
How does it show up in your life?
Cæcilie: When I go through the cookbooks at my mom's place, I find the recipes my dad tried out with his notes: "super delicious," "very juicy," "boring." And it's a great way of finding the right recipe when all you remember is that great stew he made several years ago that had beer in it ;)
I need to remember this one! I'm so appreciative of others who make helpful notes. There have been many times when I pull a recipe and feel an instant jolt of connection to whomever jotted the notes—often family members who have since passed or friends who live long distance.
It’s something about seeing their handwriting or imagining them going through the same steps, or the smells and tastes that result when you get the recipe right.
For me, food is the ultimate connector.
So...take notes. Capture what works, what doesn't, and what to try next time. Pass on what you learn. You never know what connections—neural, memorial, social—those notes will spark.
To sink your teeth into more Collective Food Wisdom, and perhaps even hang a reminder of it in your own kitchen, head on over to my shop. Sometimes I sell the originals, too, so make sure you're signed up for my monthly inspiration email to be notified next time they go on sale, and you can snag your favorite.