Why do you write? Maybe you have a story burning in your heart. Or a character with an unforgettable voice. Or maybe you like playing with words. That's why I like writing... and cooking, too.
Dave Barry* once wrote that the reason he's a successful humor writer is that he knows that Boron is 10x funnier than Bromium.**
The art of the right word or turn of phrase separates the author from the documenter. Is every word the most it can be? The funniest? The sharpest? The freshest?
It drives me crazy when professional writers say flabby things like, "in other words," or "another way to say it is." As a writer, it's your job to zero in on the truest experience with the least amount of words.
This is an unusual, addictive snack with a drum-tight recipe -- only three ingredients and minimal prep. Like words, the right ingredient can separate the chef and the cook.
I could have done radish and cayenne chips, or taro and sesame seed ships. But, let's face it, kohlrabi and fenugreek are much funnier.
RECIPE:
Kohlrabi is one of the few things you can find at greenmarkets in the winter. They taste like a cross between a broccoli stem and a water chestnut. Fenugreek has caramel, autumnal tones with a hint of bitterness.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Slice the kohlrabi with a mandolin. Toss with fenugreek and salt. Lay them flat on a cookie sheet. Don't crowd or overlap them, or else the slices will steam, not crisp. Bake until they curl and brown, about 12-15 minutes. Let cool and harden. Then eat!
* Yes! I like Dave Barry and Everybody Loves Raymond and I use coupons at Bed Bath & Beyond. So sue me.
** I cannot confirm 1) that Dave Barry said that and 2) those are the right elements that were mentioned by whoever said it. But that's what I remember and you get the idea!