I grew up in the kitchen with my mama and grandmas and aunties. When I was a little girl my mama sprinkled flour across the counter and let me draw pictures in it while she baked. As I got older, I got to do more grown-up jobs. She taught me how to read recipes, measure ingredients and decipher spices.
I loved being in the kitchen because that’s where I found the greatest samples of food and the best stories cooking.
When I sat at the table with my grandma rolling lumpia, she would tell me about her childhood growing up in the Philippines and Hawaii. Grandma would giggle about the days when my grandpa would dedicate songs to her on the radio. She would share techniques for Filipino cooking, which is as much about the process as it is about the ingredients.
When I would pull up a stool to the counter, my mama would tell me about her adventures in the kitchen with her dad. I learned about our Italian-American heritage. I discovered the secret pasta sauce recipe. My mama unraveled the stories of her dreams, failures and the roots of her faith.
We bonded right there in the kitchen.
As a mama of three girls, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen today. We create, we taste, we dream up stories. One day I heard that familiar scrape of the stool across the kitchen tile. My middle daughter, who is named after an Italian chef, wanted to help mama. I happened to be making a Flourless Chocolate Truffle Torte. When she saw the chocolate swirling in the mixing bowl, she looked up at me very earnestly and said, “When does the licking begin?”
A classic line that will go down in history in our family. I am sure it’s also a line that will climb into one of my manuscripts one day.
And that’s just what happens in the kitchen: stories are born. My latest book, CORA COOKS PANCIT, details the story of a Filipino girl who learns to cook her family’s favorite noodle dish with her mama and uncovers some family history in the process. The story came out of my own experience cooking with my grandma Cora.
I happen to have a hand-scrawled copy of my grandma’s pancit recipe. I believe recipes are also a kind of story, a narrative of ingredients and traditions. That’s why we decided to include the recipe for the dish in the back of my book. When I do school visits, I talk about the ingredients with the kids and we cook pancit together.
I also included some details in the book from a Filipino friend who grew up in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. One day when we were cooking together she told me about her dad who cooked for the hundreds of farmworkers who picked strawberries and grapes in the fields. This added another layer to my original manuscript because I could share a piece of California history as well.
The kitchen can also be a place to test out a lot more than just recipes. If your writer’s brain is blocked, droopy, stuck or uninspired, go feed it. Throw open the cupboards, dig in the refrigerator, turn up the burner and make something. I call it cooking therapy. Sometimes just the act of making myself a snack or cooking up a meal gets my creative juices flowing. While I’m cooking, I’m working out the kinks in my plot or adding nuances to my characters – sometimes consciously, sometimes subconsciously.
Julia Child said, “This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook. Try new recipes. Learn from your mistakes. Be fearless, and above all, have fun.”
Sounds like great advice for writers too.
Bon appétit!
A SPOONFUL OF WRITING PROMPTS TO HELP YOU COOK UP YOUR NEXT MANUSCRIPT:
- Describe the most delicious meal you can imagine. What are the smells, the colors, the tastes that inspire you there?
- Sketch a scene in words or pictures from your childhood that involved food. Was there a traditional dish or meal you often made with your family?
- If you were inviting a famous chef to dinner, what you would you serve? Invite your own children or perhaps your inner child to be a part of that story.
- What food makes your stomach turn or your nose turn up? Write a story about a child avoiding or facing that food.
- Go in the kitchen. Make yourself a snack. Dig in. Then imagine what would happen if that tantalizing snack came alive.
Dorina is the author of three books for children, including CORA COOKS PANCIT which won the Asian Pacific American Librarian Association’s “Picture Book of the Year.” Her poetry has also been published in Cricket magazine.
Dorina loves creating healthy recipes for her family and friends. To balance all that eating, she runs half marathons with her hubby and knits. When Dorina is not writing or stirring up stories in the kitchen, she is the director of The Haitian Bead Project. The project features upcycled jewelry made by Haitian artisans who are rising out of poverty. Dorina loves working with the Haitian women and sharing their stories in the U.S.
Visit Dorina online at DorinaGilmore.com, Twitter @DorinaGilmore or check out some of her recipes on the Health-full blog at MissionFitness.co.
Dorina is giving away a signed copy of CORA COOKS PANCIT!
This prize will be given away at the conclusion of PiBoIdMo. You are eligible for this prize if:
- You have registered for PiBoIdMo.
- You have commented ONCE ONLY on today’s post.
- You have completed the PiBoIdMo challenge. (You will have to sign the PiBoIdMo Pledge at the end of the event.)
Good luck, everyone!
387 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 18, 2013 at 6:34 am
taracreel
What a beautiful post and a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing you history and some new writing prompts. I love it!
November 18, 2013 at 8:56 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I hope it helps you cook up something new, Tara!
November 18, 2013 at 6:36 am
Malena Fuentes
Last advice was a bit frightening! Anyway, thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 8:57 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Sounds like you have a fun food story in the making!
November 18, 2013 at 6:40 am
Catherine
Thank you for the awesome writing prompts.
My new PB manuscript has a foodie theme so I have moved to the kitchen to write it, somehow it is easier to write here 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 8:58 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I have a few more foodie manuscripts in the works too! So fun! Can’t wait to see yours in print! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 6:40 am
Yvonne Mes
I love the diversity in these posts. How could cooking not be an inspiration. It is a basic need, an art form, is social when cooking with others and is rooted in our cultures.
November 18, 2013 at 8:59 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Yvonne, I wholeheartedly agree. Food offers a rich platter for serving up great stories!
November 18, 2013 at 6:42 am
Sarah Kilfoil
I agree that recipes are a kind if story narrative. When I try a new recipe, I write several things in the cookbook page: the date, a few contextual details, and whether or not my family liked it and why.
November 18, 2013 at 9:01 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Sarah, that’s how my recipe blog was born. I wanted to remember our food journey and the stories behind the meals. Sometimes it’s a simple thumbs up or thumbs down. Usually I’m tinkering with ingredients! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 6:49 am
B Lee Draper
What a prescient post! My story idea for today is called ‘Elephants Don’t Eat Eggplants’. I love the spoonful of prompts & the idea of cooking therapy & I must say, that first photo is beautiful. You just look so joyful & full of life!
November 18, 2013 at 9:02 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Now that’s a story I’d like to dig into. I love eggplant; my kids don’t!
November 18, 2013 at 6:50 am
Tina Cho
I, too, have stories about food. You’re right about stories being born in the kitchen! It was fun to read about your story again and see photos.
November 18, 2013 at 9:03 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Tina! Looking forward to reading some of your foodie stories too!
November 18, 2013 at 6:53 am
Janet Smart
Enjoyed the post! I have included food and family traditions in my writing also.
November 18, 2013 at 9:04 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Janet, as I child I was constantly hunting down books about food and traditions! Glad to hear you are working on some too!
November 18, 2013 at 6:58 am
lmconnors
Great post; and with such loving memories, you must have a lifetime of story ideas! Best of luck.
November 18, 2013 at 9:05 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Yes, I’m always cooking up ideas. Now if only I could find the time to write all of them… Or even dig into just a few!
November 18, 2013 at 7:03 am
erin
Wonderful post and source of inspiration. Thanks!
November 18, 2013 at 9:06 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I hope this generates something new for you!
November 18, 2013 at 7:04 am
Margie Moore
Great article that has brought new life to an idea of mine. Thanks so much for the reminder that food is a link to memories!
November 18, 2013 at 9:45 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Margie, I’m so glad this post could get your creative juices flowing. Happy writing!
November 18, 2013 at 7:04 am
lindamartinandersen
Dorina,
I often get writing ideas while in the kitchen, especially when I stand at my kitchen window and wash dishes. I enjoyed your post very much. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 9:46 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Yes, Linda! Me too! I also get ideas when I’m showering or running or knitting or feeding my subconscious mind in some other way! Thanks for reading!
November 18, 2013 at 7:05 am
Deirdre Sheridan Englehart
I love cooking therapy! Great ideas and connections to your family and past!
November 18, 2013 at 9:47 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
My hubby knows that when I have that “It’s-been-a-crazy-day” look in my eye that he needs to send me to the kitchen for some cooking therapy. Calms & inspires me!
November 18, 2013 at 7:06 am
janenorton
I love the strong bond of family that runs through your cooking experiences. How inspirational…and the Julia Child quote is wonderful! Thank you for your inspiration! 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 7:06 am
Christine LeBlanc
Love it!!! Cooking and writing, both so creative but can be so scary. Just made cookies the other day with my girls and used it as a math lesson (they never knew since they got to munch on chocolate chips!),
November 18, 2013 at 9:48 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Christine, that sounds like a book waiting to happen! Go write your experience. Everything is easier with chocolate! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 7:16 am
gpatmiller
Now you are weaving writing into your family’s cooking heritage and adding another layer to the love in your kitchen. Lucky daughters!
November 18, 2013 at 9:16 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You are right! It’s funny because my oldest has seen me writing recipes and sketching stories for so long that now she carries around her own little sketch notebook and jots down stories in the kitchen and draws ingredients.
November 21, 2013 at 12:32 am
writersideup
Oh, I just LOVE that your daughter does this 🙂 How special! Following in mama’s footsteps 🙂 Wonder what SHE’ll cook up!
November 18, 2013 at 7:18 am
Nancy Tandon
I love blended heritages! And now I’m hungry for noodles. ; )
November 18, 2013 at 9:49 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Ours is definitely a melting pot – Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and then I married a Scottish-Armenian. Go figure! Stories abound!
November 18, 2013 at 7:25 am
Diane Kress Hower
What a yummie post! It is full of wonderful ingredients for success but most of all love! Thanks Dorina!
November 18, 2013 at 7:31 am
rgstones
I love cooking therapy. Excellent post, what a great way to spark inspiration and create memories with family.
November 18, 2013 at 7:37 am
Sue Poduska
Wonderful ideas! Thanks so much for sharing about your family and your process. Cooking was a happy time in my family too.
November 18, 2013 at 7:43 am
Melanie Vickers
The topic of food has brings so much emotion to families, especially children. There will scenes in my NaNoWriMo book about the food we cherish and enjoy in Appalachia. Thanks for your inspiration.
November 18, 2013 at 7:45 am
One Happy Writer
Querida Dorina (Dear Dorina), I can totally relate to your post and stories. I’m from Aruba and here food and cooking are so important. They bring families together, they keep us bonded to our history and traditions, they are a great excuse for any celebration. We also say: “Bon Apetit” here and “Danki” is Thank You for sharing your background and inspiration. It’s Monday and I’m bursting with ideas 🙂 Sunny greetings
November 18, 2013 at 9:50 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You’re from Aruba!? Wow, thanks for reading! I would love to taste some of your recipes!
November 18, 2013 at 7:49 am
Juliet Clare Bell
Thank you, Dorina. What a lovely post! I’m passing it on to my author friend who is filipina but living in the UK as I suspect she’ll love your book. If you haven’t read her book, Tall Story, by Candy Gourlay, I’d highly recommend it for you and any of your children who are 9 plus (lots of teenagers and adults also read it). It was shortlisted for loads of prizes in the UK and won SCBWI’s Crystal Kite for Europe. Thanks again, food for thought…
November 18, 2013 at 7:56 am
Laura Zimmermann
Great post!
November 18, 2013 at 7:58 am
cat jones
Your post brought back so many happy baking memories 🙂
It’s also given me an idea!
Cheers
November 18, 2013 at 9:51 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
FUN! Glad to hear you were inspired! Time to get cooking on that idea!
November 18, 2013 at 8:03 am
RaChelle Lisiecki
“Noodles represent long life and good health; they must not be cut short so as not to corrupt the symbolism.” You learn something new everyday! Today is was pancit. Thank you for the writing prompt ideas, Dorina. You seem quite lovely.
November 18, 2013 at 9:52 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
RaChelle, what a fun quote! That reminds me of the first time I introduced my hubby to my Italian grandma. She served up a plate of spaghetti and he was trying to cut it with a knife instead of twirling on his fork. She was NOT happy. A story that’s going down in history in our family!
November 18, 2013 at 8:04 am
writeknit
There is so much love in cooking it makes a perfect vehicle for a children’s book 🙂 Thank you for a love filled post this cold Monday morning.
November 18, 2013 at 8:04 am
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
What a way to stay close to your family and bring others in! Thank for the prompts!
November 18, 2013 at 8:05 am
Sandy Perlic
I loved hearing about your family – how lucky you are to have such great memories and traditions! Thanks for the prompts – my brain is already mulling over possibilities.
November 18, 2013 at 9:53 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I appreciate your encouragement, Sandy! Time to get cooking on some of those possibilities!
November 18, 2013 at 8:06 am
jheitman22
Dorina, thanks for giving us this food for thought!
November 18, 2013 at 9:08 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Buon appetito!
November 18, 2013 at 8:16 am
naturewalkwithgod
Thanks for this post that made me stop and recall times in the kitchen with my grandmother and mother. Lots of good memories. I like the idea of cooking therapy. 🙂 –Kim
November 18, 2013 at 8:16 am
Laura Purdie Salas
Lovely stories! I hate to cook, but I do admire people who are creative in several different arenas:>) And my piboidmo idea yesterday was about food (I love food, just not cooking).
November 18, 2013 at 8:27 am
rlkurstedt
I’m hungry and it’s only 8:30 am. Sounds like a beautiful book.
November 18, 2013 at 8:29 am
Dee Almond
I got three ideas just now while reading your post. Thanks Dorina.
November 18, 2013 at 9:09 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Oh that makes my heart happy! My prayer is this post gives us all an appetite to create!
November 18, 2013 at 8:30 am
Meline
I agree completely. A lot of life and its joys happen in the kitchen. Great post, thanks for sharing.
November 18, 2013 at 9:14 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
And even some of life’s sorrows, arguments and failures reveal themselves in the kitchen. It’s a great pressure cooker for it all!
November 18, 2013 at 8:34 am
Kathy Doherty
I have memories of helping my Italian grandmother make homemade ravioli. Thanks for jarring those memories. And prayers to the people in the Philippines.
November 18, 2013 at 8:34 am
Therese Nagi
Dorina you have given many plenty of food for thought picture book ideas.
You are rightabout so many great stories cooking with family members. Can’t wait to read Cora cooks pancit.c
November 18, 2013 at 8:36 am
Christy Mihaly
My mother and my grandmother (and, probably her mother too) hated to cook . . . and I carry on the tradition, generally . . . but my husband cooks! I’m thinking I might be able to mine this material for some humor, or maybe a boys-can-cook piece — but, no recipes from my grandma! The pancit story sounds wonderful, and I do love pancit. Thank you for the post.
November 18, 2013 at 8:37 am
megmillerwrites
What neat memories! Can’t wait to read your book. My mind gets inspired in the kitchen too! Oddly enough it inspires my littles too and they (2 and 4 yrs old) are little chatterboxes in the kitchen. LOL. I’ll enjoy it while I have it and flesh out my ideas in other ways for now. I love your Julia Child quote too.
November 18, 2013 at 8:38 am
Alicia van Thiel
Dear Dorina, I truly enjoyed reading your post! Such a personable, beautiful reminder of home, family, and stories shared. Thank you for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 8:39 am
Alexa
Thanks for sharing such touching family traditions, Dorina! Will be looking for your work!
November 18, 2013 at 8:43 am
nicole snitselaar
Very nice article !
Made me realise that I cannot follow a recipe.. I must always do it the way that suddenly pops out of my mind ! kind of instinct…
Pfiou ! I am really a rebel to rules ! 😉
Thank you for making childhood memories come back ! I Could see myself drawing in the flour or making a scene with matches, the “glue” being a mixture of flour and water ! 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 9:13 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Nicole, I hardly ever follow recipes either. I read them, then go to town creating my own method and tinkering with ingredients. It horrifies my mother! 😉 Embrace your process!
November 18, 2013 at 2:59 pm
nicole snitselaar
🙂
November 18, 2013 at 8:47 am
heather sisson
I love the connection between a recipe and a story. i completely agree and the way you explained it is just wonderful :}
November 18, 2013 at 8:50 am
Rosie Pova
Good food and good writing…sounds deliciously happy to me!
November 18, 2013 at 8:50 am
Sue Heavenrich
some of the best ideas come while stirring… or washing the dishes. But the “when does the licking begin” is the best – I can’t wait to see that in a book!
November 18, 2013 at 8:50 am
laurenhk
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I could almost feel the beautiful intimacy of those moments in the kitchen. How wonderful to have woven a tapestry of past, present, and love together while cooking.
November 18, 2013 at 8:54 am
Abigail Aguirre
Your book sounds lovely. Thank you for the post.
November 18, 2013 at 8:56 am
Patrick Waldron
Yum, yum!
November 18, 2013 at 9:01 am
saputnam
Thank you, Dorina. What a wonderful post! The kitchen is indeed the soul of the house. I have also included recipies in the back of some of my books and have also written about the orgins of some foods
November 18, 2013 at 9:11 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Ooh, I’d love to check out some of your recipes. Please share!
November 18, 2013 at 9:08 am
Joanne Sher
Love this. So inspirational! I dated a Filipino for several years, and I absolutely loved his pancit! Thanks for bringing the memories back!
November 18, 2013 at 9:10 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Joanne, that’s funny. I’ve had several people tell me they dated someone Filipino and they really miss the food! 🙂 Happy Writing!
November 18, 2013 at 9:11 am
Marcy P.
Yours is the only post where I’ve read ALL of the previous comments… because I love you 🙂 and I wanted to see how everyone else read a story I’ve been familiar with for some time and which has enhanced my life (and my husband’s- I’m a much better cook for knowing you). I’ve been a professional writer these last years because of your generous mentorship and friendship- and you continue to be generous in your encouragement and mentoring of others. You are a treasure and your gifts to the world are changing it… so thank you for making this a better place and for loving fellow writers and illustrators 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 9:13 am
kevanjatt
I had to google pancit, and when I did I saw lots of great looking dishes. Now I must try some! Looking forward to seeing your book.
November 18, 2013 at 9:14 am
Debra Daugherty
My mother was also a good cook, and your story brought back wonderful memories of my mother preparing family dinners and baking candy and cookies for the holidays. You’re right, there are some stories there that I should be telling. Thanks for the idea!
November 18, 2013 at 9:15 am
Lisa Lee
Cooking and running! Two great ways to make memories with the family.
November 18, 2013 at 9:16 am
LovableLobo
Great post! I enjoy cooking with kids, teaching them to create, while having great conversations.
November 18, 2013 at 9:17 am
Nancy Armo
The connections that food can bring are endless. Loved the post!
November 18, 2013 at 9:19 am
Cathy C. Hall
We’ve had several memorable cooking stories in our family. Maybe not memorable in a *good* way, but still. (You don’t forget serving raw turkey–and every Thanksgiving, someone has to tell that story. Again. ) 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 9:24 am
storyfairy
This should help a lot with one of my stories! Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 9:24 am
Kathy moncrief
Dorina, WE LOVE PANCIT at our house! Our dear friends, who have lived across the street from us for 11 years, are from the Philippines and share their pancit every time they make it! They have a 17-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy, and a beautiful one-year-old girl, Elle. I’m thinking this will make the PERFECT Christmas gift!
Pancit aside, I agree that cooking and kitchens are where the best stories are born. How lucky that you get to share yours with your three beautiful girls!!!
November 18, 2013 at 9:54 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Kathy, just let me know if you’d like a signed copy for them. I’d be happy to ship it! It’s part of Filipino culture to make lots of extra food and share it with friends & neighbors! Hope this post also inspires some stories in your home!
November 18, 2013 at 9:25 am
Pam Jones
There’s nothing more heartwarming than those memories of when we were small and the love and stories shared by our family. Wonderful!
November 18, 2013 at 9:26 am
Susan Cabael
What a great quote from Julia Child to apply to writing. Now to dig into some family traditions to find that gem of a story–thank you for sharing yours!
November 18, 2013 at 9:28 am
Mary Kate O'Keefe
Such a timely post to share traditions! Thank you so much Dorina 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 9:32 am
MSackman
So heartwarming to read about your family, their traditions and how it carries over into your writing. These are things readers of all ages can connect with.
November 18, 2013 at 9:32 am
Pam Brunskill (@PamBrunskill)
Lovely post. I like the idea of cooking up stories in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 9:34 am
Lori Dubbin
I have such a warm feeling in my heart from your post about your family, sharing traditions, and the emotions that come from cooking together. Cooking therapy = using all 5 senses and more! I look forward to reading “Cora Cooks Pancit.” Thank you so much for your lovely, inspiring post this morning. It is filled with so many “juicy” ingredients!
November 18, 2013 at 9:56 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Lori, I appreciate your encouragement! It’s fun to connect with other writers who “get it.” I hope you will engage your senses today and cook up some new story ideas for PiBoIdMo!
November 18, 2013 at 9:34 am
Jessie Miller (@pigknit)
This post made me hungry 😀 I love when books are inspired by the writer’s life.
November 18, 2013 at 9:36 am
Michelle @ Fitztopia
I can see the value of connecting with a reader through the comfort of food, and I love the way you have woven stories into those moments. I just need to learn how to balance my creative cooking, so it becomes inspiration and not indulgence! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 9:37 am
Linda Knoll
Our family also has lots of food stories!
November 18, 2013 at 9:37 am
Donna L. Sadd
Great post, Dorina; I ate it up! It took me right back into the kitchen with my Grandma, who taught me how to make the family sauce at age 9. I carried on the tradition with my nieces, and got them cooking and baking at 3 and 5 years old, and we’ve got all sorts of funny videos posted on YouTube. Now my idea wheels are spinning! :0)
November 18, 2013 at 9:37 am
Monette Pangan
Love this! I’m Filipino and haven’t had real pancit since moving here to the US in 2009. I should learn from Cora =)
November 18, 2013 at 9:57 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Salamat, Monette! My book includes our recipe. I know every Filipina makes it a different way… Time to get cooking!
November 18, 2013 at 9:38 am
Janie Reinart
Family, food , and storytelling ! Wonderful! I have five children, so there where always five spoons to lick! Many blessings Dorina for all your good works!
November 18, 2013 at 9:57 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Janie! I love that licking is a part of your family’s food experience too. My daughter just cracked me up when she said that. Happy writing!
November 18, 2013 at 9:39 am
Denise Bowman
I have my grandmother’s cookbook as well! I love seeing all the recipes in her own handwriting. It is a treasure. Thank you for the post!
November 18, 2013 at 9:43 am
Linda Gammon
Thanks for “feeding my imagination.”
November 18, 2013 at 9:48 am
Stephanie Shaw
Thank you, Dorina. Pie-making is when our family comes together. There are no better ingredients than memories to make them perfect. Several memories go into the oven and one always comes out.
November 18, 2013 at 9:51 am
Lynn
I hadn’t thought of a story beginning in the kitchen, but your prompt #5 combined with #1 and #4 gave me a crazy idea idea. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 9:53 am
Keri Collins Lewis
A beautiful family! My Filipino babysitter made us pancit growing up — love it, miss it, will have to make some! Love the prompts too! Thanks!
November 18, 2013 at 9:56 am
Gretchen Haertsch
Your post spoke to me since I love to cook too. It’s such a creative activity, after all . . . just like writing! Thanks for the prompts, too. I am inspired.
November 18, 2013 at 9:57 am
Jackie Wellington
This post reminds me of growing up on a small Caribbean island.
I learned to cook because that was what girls were suppose to do – cook, clean, and sew. But my most treasured moments were with my great-great-great-grandmother who died at 103 years old. She never went to a doctor and she cooked everything from the land. She did not buy can vegetables. She killed and cooked her own goat, pigs, and chicken. And when she was sick or anyone was sick, she went outside pick plants, trees, and herbs, and boil or pummel then into paste.
These moments are special and I plan on putting them in picture books one day. Thanks for reminding me of a time when family bonded while cooking. I enjoyed this post. 😀
November 18, 2013 at 10:00 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Jackie, sounds like you have a fountain of memories and ideas you could employ in a story. My husband and I live in Haiti part of every year working with our non-profit. I’ve learned a lot from my island friends about cooking from the land! Get cooking on some of your story ideas!
November 18, 2013 at 9:57 am
Shirley Ng-Benitez
Fabulous post, many thanks Dorina!
November 18, 2013 at 9:58 am
Sharon K Mayhew
What a lovely story! Most of my family special moments involves a nice cup of tea. 🙂 I do have a manuscript with a comforting (grandma’s) breakfast recipe at the end.
November 18, 2013 at 10:01 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
What kind of tea are you drinking today? I’m sipping some Pumpkin Spice Rooibos I found at Trader Joe’s. Positively delicious. Maybe there’s a tea story in the works for you. You are inspiring me!
November 18, 2013 at 9:59 am
shirleyngbenitez
Your book is lovely, Dorina! Congratulations!! And thank you SO much for the wonderful prompts you’ve shared. I am going to try them..and when it involves food, it’s already a win! 🙂 Thanks again!
November 18, 2013 at 10:14 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Shirley, it’s amazing how writing about food makes it a universal story!
November 18, 2013 at 9:59 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Jackie, sounds like you have a fountain of memories and ideas you could employ in a story. My husband and I live in Haiti part of every year working with our non-profit. I’ve learned a lot from my island friends about cooking from the land! Get cooking on some of your story ideas!
November 18, 2013 at 10:02 am
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
When I cook for the holidays many stories of my mother and grandmother cooking come to mind.
November 18, 2013 at 10:03 am
Nancy Churnin
Dorina, thank you so much for your delicious post. I look forward to reading your book and discovering pancit! You brought back memories of cooking with my grandmother in the kitchen. My grandma has been gone for many years and we all say now we wish we had written down the recipes. But it’s not just the recipes we miss, is it? As you said, it is the time spent and the stories and the laughter. Still, my grandmother was an immigrant and, I think food was a way of passing along memories, traditions, a link between the old country and the new one, of preserving roots. Food, why we eat what we eat, what makes a food of one country rather than another, is a sensory way of passing down history. We do not have my grandmother’s recipes, but you have inspired me to follow the trail of where the foods she cooked began. Who knows where that may lead?
November 18, 2013 at 10:15 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Nancy, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have several story ideas cooking in your oven. Go write! You may discover a wonderful journey that reunites you with your grandmother…
November 18, 2013 at 10:05 am
cherylsec
Thank you for sharing about your family and cooking traditions. “When does the licking begin?” How fun! That definitely should be in a children’s book. Thank you for the fun writing prompts, too!
November 18, 2013 at 10:06 am
cantsing1
Oh my, I want to show up in Dorina’s kitchen – like a mouse who will not be shooed away! Yum!
November 18, 2013 at 10:07 am
Elizabeth Kellough
I did not have the great fortune of growing up with an Oma (grandmother) nearby. However, my Mom who became a Homemaker and Childcare Worker in The Netherlands, did bring some wonderful recipes along when she immigrated to Canada in the 50s. We have one in particular that has become a heritage recipe. The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all call it Oma Soup. If you say there will be Oma Soup, they will come. Although we each have our own version of Oma Soup now, my siblings and I are all Omas, so the recipe name is sure to stick.
Your post brought back some wonderful childhood memories and certainly some food for thought. Your writing prompts gave me some great ideas that had me laughing out loud. Off to write them down before I forget.
Thank you for the great post!
November 18, 2013 at 10:17 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Elizabeth, that sounds like a wonderful title & story in the works. I’m sitting here right now working on a new manuscript about a special Haitian soup! Time to get writing!
November 18, 2013 at 11:11 am
Elizabeth Kellough
I was thinking the same thing as I was writing it! 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
Anika Denise
Dorina, lovely post… thank you! I can’t wait to read to read your books with my girls. Feeling we are kindred spirits. I’m also the mother of three girls and we all love picture books featuring FOOD! (My forthcoming pb was inspired by my mom and grandma, who always cooked and baked with kids and grandkids). A delicious way to kick off week 3 of PiBoIdMo!
November 18, 2013 at 10:18 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Anika, thank you! I would love to sit in the kitchen with you and your girls! Please share the title of your coming PB so I can hunt it down. We are foodies over here!
November 18, 2013 at 10:14 am
skeerswriter
Great post and I love the tasty tips! Putting together a story is like blending ideas, memories and imagination all together — sometimes it’s a treat and sometimes it’s a flop — but the process is always fun!
November 18, 2013 at 10:35 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You’re right! Maybe you could write a story about a culinary flop. Just food for thought… 😉
November 18, 2013 at 10:17 am
Kelly Parker
This makes me think of some of the funny stories my mom tells me about when I was little. Love this!
November 18, 2013 at 10:18 am
creationsbymit
What a wonderful story of family, food, & bonding time! The warmth in this post is obvious!! And the writing prompts are great!
Michele Katz/Creations By Mit
November 18, 2013 at 5:02 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Michele! I appreciate your feedback. Hope you are inspired to write more ideas today!
November 18, 2013 at 10:23 am
Courtenay Schurman
Fabulous! My daughter and I had a similar cherished line experience just last night that I’m already thinking will make a good line in a children’s book, whether middle grade (she’s nine) or PB will have to be decided… LOVE the kitchen as a source of ideas! Thanks!
November 18, 2013 at 10:29 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Courtenay, write it down! I make little photo books each year for my girl’s birthdays on Shutterfly. This quote made Giada’s book but I definitely think I need to build a story around it. Can’t wait to read yours!
November 18, 2013 at 10:28 am
abrianc
I love cooking and drawing food! This post reminds me of making apple pie with my grandma 🙂 Thanks for the post!
November 18, 2013 at 10:30 am
katiemillsgiorgio
Love this “food for thought.” Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 10:30 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I think I need apple pie for breakfast! Time to get cooking!
November 18, 2013 at 10:38 am
Marty McCormick
What a lovely approach to writing, this view of food and how it feeds body and soul, and family and tradition. Lots to consider today. Thank you, Dorina.
November 18, 2013 at 10:38 am
klmcmorranmausl
I have been wanting to make banana bread. I will have to try being creative in the kitchen. Thank you for sharing.
November 18, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Oooh, dreaming about banana bread emerging warm from the oven with melty butter careening over a slice and a cup of tea to wash it down. Recipe for a book!
November 18, 2013 at 10:39 am
Shawna JC Tenney
Great post! These are things I probably wouldn’t have thought about on my own! Thanks!
November 18, 2013 at 10:40 am
Peyton Leung
Some delicious food for thought and inspiration! Thank-you for sharing, Dorina.
Also, I love that you are director of an organization supporting artisans.
Keep the awesome posts coming, Tara!
November 18, 2013 at 10:47 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks for the encouragement, Peyton! It’s a joy to empower the women in Haiti & help them write a new story with their lives. http://www.HaitianBeads.org for more details. 😉 Happy writing!
November 18, 2013 at 10:40 am
Kelly Ramsdell Fineman
What a lovely, inspirational post. It has reminded me of all the time I spent as a child in the kitchen with my grandmothers and great-grandmother. I took quite a lot of notes from this post, and one of the chief takeaways for me is the observation that in Filipino cooking, it’s as much about the process as the ingredients — so, too, with writing.
Thanks for this post, and for the writing prompts!
November 18, 2013 at 10:48 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Kelly! Cooking has taught me so much about writing. I’m eager to hear how your ideas pan out!
November 18, 2013 at 10:41 am
bethanytelles
Ahhh! My friend! I’m so proud to see your name on here. Love your ideas on how to cook up some inspiration!
See you tonight!!
November 18, 2013 at 11:50 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Bethany, you are one of the reasons I keep cooking up new ideas. You inspire me, friend! Can’t wait to see some of your picture book recipes from this month!
November 18, 2013 at 10:43 am
Jessica
I think that many of us have those fond memories in the kitchen with grandma or mom. Sometimes people don’t realize the impact those moments will have on us at the time.
November 18, 2013 at 10:43 am
Angela Padron
Great post – love the book as well as the illustrations.
November 18, 2013 at 10:44 am
Juliana Lee
I woke up this morning to the joy of a gushing hot water heater and spent the better part of the day sopping water with old towels and moving things out of the puddles in the adjoining office, laundry room, and storage areas. I am so happy to have stopped to read this post now that I’ve got a professional down there cleaning and repairing! It really makes me stop to be thankful for the love of family and the shared stories we have. This article came at just the right time…. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 10:49 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
OH Juliana, I’m happy this was an encouragement in the midst of your beautiful mess. I suspect you will find lots of story ideas if you start hunting today!
November 18, 2013 at 11:59 am
Juliana Lee
My husband actually suggested ‘the day mom and dad put a swimming pool in the basement’!
November 18, 2013 at 10:46 am
MichelleLynn
Thank you for this moment of inspiration. As a fellow cook and memory keeper, I am inspired to tell my Grandmother’s story. Gratzie!
November 18, 2013 at 10:50 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Buon appetito, friend! Can’t wait to read yours!
November 18, 2013 at 10:47 am
Vikk Simmons
Lovely post full of memories and insights.
November 18, 2013 at 10:50 am
julie rowan zoch
This post makes me want to be in Dorina’s grandmother’s kitchen! Already have one idea with food this month, but reading here has added another layer!
November 18, 2013 at 11:51 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Julie, you are invited to our kitchen anytime if you want to make the journey to Fresno, California or Pignon, Haiti where we split our time. Both my grandmothers are in heaven now but their kitchens live on through stories like CORA COOKS PANCIT! 😉 Happy Writing!
November 18, 2013 at 12:54 pm
julie rowan zoch
Happy for you that you had the chance to know and appreciate your grandmothers.
November 18, 2013 at 10:52 am
Dana Schlingman
I have a long history of hating cooking – so it is great to see the creative merit in it (Perhaps someday I will grow out of that of that dislike). Thanks for sharing :^ )
November 18, 2013 at 10:58 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Dana, maybe you should write about it. I would venture to say you have some cooking escapades to share about whether you love or hate cooking! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 10:54 am
Jacqueline Adams
My Italian-American grandmother lived with us, and as a kid I was privileged to spend time helping her with recipes that no one makes anymore, because it’s so much faster to pick something up at the store. My brother and I were just talking about taking a day to make one of her old recipes. This post gives me added motivation to do that! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
November 18, 2013 at 11:44 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Jacqueline, sounds like a delicious adventure in the ktichen & for your writing! Buon Appetito!
November 18, 2013 at 10:58 am
Ashley Bohmer
Yay! Let the cooking begin… 😉
November 18, 2013 at 11:00 am
danielledufayet
What a yummy story full of love and inspiration. Thank you for sharing. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home.
November 18, 2013 at 11:03 am
Cindy Cornwall
Love to hear about others’ cooking and family experiences. Sadly, I come from a long line of New Englanders who boil/burn their food. But, I am a decent baker myself: my girls and I love to bake chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin pie…. so maybe I’m revitalizing a long-lost tradition. Dorina, you sound like a wonderful person, sharing your family memories with your girls and working on behalf of Haitian artisans. I’m inspired by your positivity!
November 18, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Cindy. And don’t you worry, we set off the smoke alarm regularly at our house. I call it “failing forward” and employ the same attitude toward rejection letters that turn up in my mailbox. You might just have a story in all that boiling and baking and pie. Dig in!
November 18, 2013 at 11:17 am
Laura Lowman Murray
What a lovely post, Dorina.The kitchen is certainly a place for sharing and connectedness. I always laugh at the fact that whenever we have company, whether it is family or a neighborhood gathering, everyone hangs out in the kitchen. I have never had pancit, but I am going to look it up and try it now. And I adore your daughter’s line “When does the licking begin?” THAT definitely needs a home in one of your stories! Thank you for sharing with us!
November 18, 2013 at 11:49 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Laura, that’s how our kitchen always was growing up. Now i have a tiny little kitchen and we stuff all of us in it regularly for story time. 😉
November 18, 2013 at 11:25 am
Laurie Young
I truly loved this post as I spent many hours as a young girl in the kitchen with my grandma… Thank you for “stirring” up such great memories for me 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 11:44 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I’m glad you were inspired. I hope those memories grow into picture books, Laurie!
November 18, 2013 at 11:25 am
Bridey Mendoza-Moore
I come from a childhood of minimal and purely functional cooking… and am working hard to change that tradition for my family. Always sounds so romantic, what you describe. I am inspired to do more now thank you; and to think about how to bring my cooking, lack of cooking, desire to cook into my writing! Thank you again Dorina.
November 18, 2013 at 11:48 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I set off the smoke alarm regularly at our house so don’t think it’s all romantic. Sometimes it’s just writing the not-so-picture-perfect adventures too!
November 18, 2013 at 11:27 am
Lisa Healy
Cooking is procrastination therapy for me, so the suggestion to cook for writing inspiration should really stir up some new picture book recipes!
November 18, 2013 at 11:45 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Ah, yes. A bit of procrastination for me too but sometimes I come away with even more ideas after I cook. Would love to hear where your picture book recipes lead.
November 18, 2013 at 11:28 am
Alicia Schwab
Wow, I think from all the comments you can see how much “food and family” is such a wonderful theme that we can all connect with. I hope you can share more stories from the kitchen soon.
November 18, 2013 at 11:46 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Alicia. I’ve had such a delicious morning sipping my Pumpkin Spice tea and reading all the commentary here .Inspired! I hope you will find some new ideas on today’s journey!
November 18, 2013 at 11:34 am
Debra Shumaker
Love the writing prompts – especially about the one where the snack comes alive! I’ll have to sit with that one awhile and see where it takes me. . .
November 18, 2013 at 11:44 am
Bridey Mendoza-Moore
P.S. As someone learning to cook and bring my children into it I love books just like yours that give me and my kids the story PLUS an actual recipe. It gives us a great springboard into exploring cooking together. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 11:47 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Bridey, me too! Our best (albeit messy) adventures are in the kitchen at our house. I hope your day is full of new recipes for picture books!
November 18, 2013 at 11:45 am
Theanna
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Cooking can be a lot of fun and you’re right, it does inspire many stories. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 11:53 am
Robyn Campbell
What a lovely post and helpful ideas to get our story ideas onto paper. We’re spending a lot of time in the kitchen on our farm too. We have a huge kitchen, since that’s where we all convene. If we’re not cooking, we’re chatting! Ha. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. *waving*
November 18, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Hi Robyn, I’d love to venture into your kitchen. I bet some delicious stories are brewing there. Happy writing today!
November 18, 2013 at 11:55 am
Noel Csermak
Thank you for your generosity in sharing your culture, your traditions and especially your story. I’d better go wash the dishes to make room for some new creativity!
November 18, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Noel, if dishwashing is your muse, please know you are welcome in my kitchen anytime! Here’s to creativity!
November 18, 2013 at 11:57 am
kathalsey
Dorina, Love the story prompts and the back story of your PB! Kitchen tales bond families as do recipes! Just wish I had my Grandma Hackman’s old cookbook! It was lost after she died. May just have to cook up a story about it!
November 18, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Sounds like you have a great story idea already in the works. Sending you lots of cooking love & inspiration today!
November 18, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Ellen Mott
A great idea to use cooking for inspiration! I loved cooking with my mom and granny, especially when we did big family dinners. We worked well as a team and had fun. My daughter never showed interest in cooking, but at least one of my 2 of my young granddaughters does, and she loves to help me in the kitchen.
Happy cooking and happy writing.
November 18, 2013 at 12:02 pm
tpierce
Wonderful post, Dorina. I love the idea of drawing inspiration from kitchen memories and the potential for sensory details that cooking stories hold.
November 18, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You can use those sensory details in all kinds of stories too! When I do school visits, I cook pancit with the kids and we talk about the five senses and how they are so useful in writing!
November 18, 2013 at 12:20 pm
joyacey
Dorina, Do you know how your five fingers correspond to the five senses? It is an easy way to help children remember the senses.
Thumb–most useful finger because it is opposible, is for sight, the sense most often written about.
Pointer, the come here (hear) finger is for sound–this finger moves like sound waves move. Second most frequently written about sense.
Tall man, middle finger for the sense that has been with you the longest, smell–it is the first one that develops in utero because animals need to be able smell friend from foe and smell where food is.
Ringman for touch. If you wore a ring you would feel it and I wear my wedding ring on this finger and I’m very, very touched that my dear husband gave it to me.
Pinky, the smallest finger is for taste, and that is because this is the sense least often written about. Do you know why? (Kids have fun trying to answer this question.) So there you have the five senses–3 s words and 2 t’s.
November 18, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks for sharing that about the senses! A great way to share with kids!
November 18, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Amy D
Love this post, and the fabulous lady behind it. You are always an inspiration to me, Dorina!
November 18, 2013 at 12:05 pm
helen dening
I love “kitchen stories”. My mother won one of the first Pillsbury Bake-off contests. Her stories and winning recipe have been handed down, sharing history, love, and great story ideas. Thank you for adding a little flavoring to our lives.
November 18, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Sounds like you need to put that story in the oven!
November 18, 2013 at 12:10 pm
joyacey
Excellent writing prompts. Thank you for including those. This post makes me hungry.
November 18, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Jewel Sample
Awesome inspirational post. Reading your post and the first writing prompt I was reminded of my own family traditions of eating favorite foods, loving the connections and memories formed and praying before each meal together. Thank you for the spark of memories and the great writing prompts.
November 18, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Jewel. Glad you were inspired. It sounds like you have many stories/memories that need grow into manuscripts. I pray this PiBoIdMo is fruitful for you!
November 18, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Heather Greene
I love the photos you’ve shared. You have such a lovely family! Heading to the kitchen…thanks Dorina!
November 18, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Linda Hofke
This is my favorite PiBoIdMo post so far. I love to cook, love ethnic foods, love to write family stories, plus I love the prompts you’ve given. So that’s 4 thumbs up (or maybe two thumbs and two big toes?) from me. Would love to win this book.
November 18, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Linda! Sounds like we are kindred kitchen spirits. 😉 I hope those prompts result in a published picture book for you. I can’t wait to read it!
November 18, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
Wonderful post. Thanks for the writing prompts and for sharing your daughter’s quote. That really does belong in a picture book.
November 18, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I know, right?!? I hate to be one of those mamas always quoting my kids but this one is just too ripe to overlook. 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 12:23 pm
underthemapleleaves
Family history; broader, cultural history, and food! Sounds like a winning recipe of tasty reading too
November 18, 2013 at 12:24 pm
mellin4333
What a great idea… I love food! I also love the art from Cora’s story. Such beautiful use of color, and soft texture!
November 18, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks! My illustrator, Kristi Valiant, did an amazing job. She really did her homework on the Filipino culture and she even cooked pancit herself to get in the mood!
November 18, 2013 at 12:32 pm
danacarey1
Whelp, now I’m really hungry!
I love having recipes from the different sides of my family. Even if I can’t quite match my grandmother’s Irish Soda bread or my other grandmother’s meatballs, I love trying. Now I just need to cook up another idea for today. Thanks, Dorina for a great “appetizer”!
November 18, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You’re welcome, Dana! You definitely have a few picture book ideas cooking in your kitchen. Irish soda bread and meatballs are two of my faves. Maybe you should write about never quite matching grandmother’s recipes but a child creating something all their own??
November 18, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
I love the image of generations of women gathered in the kitchen together, and I enjoyed learning about the creation of your book. A kitcheny kind of warmth radiates from your post! Thanks for the great food-related writing prompts.
November 18, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Debra
I also like to cook and bake and have written a couple stories inspired by my interest in food. I am looking forward to reading Cora Cooks Pancit.
November 18, 2013 at 12:40 pm
kpbock
What a great post! I think that memories from the kitchen are so strong with so many people. Not only cooking, but just people gathering there. What a great place to collect ideas!
November 18, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Daniela Weil (@Daniela_Weil)
thank you for your post. the kitchen is the most likely room in the house where stories will flow, for sure! i’ll keep my antenna extra on!
November 18, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Sandie Sing
Food is the focus in the Asian culture. Bravo for making the Filipino culture be exposed. We have a large community in Stockton. I hope the teachers and librarians will read your book to the youngsters. Thanks for your tip.
November 19, 2013 at 2:27 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Sandie! I’ve been to an event in Stockton before. Would love to go back! I know there is a large Filipino community. It’s always a joy to see kids light up when they see the word pancit and they’ve actually tasted it before!
November 18, 2013 at 12:50 pm
belindambrock
Thanks for sharing…this is definitely one of the best posts I’ve read. I could really relate, as my mother’s kitchen reminds me of all that’s good in the world.
November 18, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Eileen
Delicious ideas. Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 12:51 pm
gail maki wilson
Love it when I meet a new author and discover I recognize the illustrator’s work!
November 18, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Franziska Green (@franziskagreen)
Now I’m reaaaaaaaaaally hungry! What a yummy read.
November 18, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Catherine Johnson
Fabulous! I’m a snackaholic.
November 18, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Russ Hogle
Thanks for the inspiration and ideas, now I really feel like cooking up a story. I learned a lot about cooking when I was between the ages 11-14. My father had taken ill, mom had to go to work, so I was the child she taught to “help” her fix meals. Though it was a difficult time, I loved learning from mom, and was so proud when I presented a meal that everyone liked! Thanks for reigniting those memories.
November 18, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Dawnyelle
This is a beautiful post! Cooking is one of my favorite things to do as a family-and one reason I enjoy writing-your recipe analogy was perfect! Thank you! Now let’s getting cooking!
November 18, 2013 at 1:23 pm
miki
This is a marvelous post – the photos, the stories, the tips, the food and storytelling theme. Thank you, Dorina (and Tara).
November 18, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Sherry Walz
After reading your post, my mind wandered back to days, long ago, when I sometimes got to spend the weekend with my cousin. One time we decided to bake a chocolate cake, however, it came out very flat. . . Not because we left out some ingredients, but because we ate too much of the raw cake mix. What a fun memory for me! I might just have to weave this into one of my stories. Thanks for inspiring me with your memories that were created in the kitchen.
November 18, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Sherry, that sounds like a fun way to develop the cousin relationship. I can’t wait to read that scene in your next book! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Anne Bromley
Thank you, Dorina, for this wonderful post on cooking up a story, and how it begins with cooking your favorite foods. Great memories reside in all that licking and smelling!
November 18, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Anne, it’s ALL about the licking & smelling. Well, and tasting too! Buon appetito!
November 18, 2013 at 1:34 pm
kirsticall
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about cooking and writing!
November 18, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Ann Birnie
KITCHEN STORIES! How could I have forgotten that? That’s where everyone seems to wind up on the holidays or at a party! My mind is wandering back to my own family kitchen at this moment!
November 18, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Susan Nicholas
I would love to find a way to include my family recipes into a story. Thanks for the writing prompts. I hope I can now cook up the perfect story!
November 18, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Susan, enjoy the process!
November 18, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Patricia A Miller
I loved eating Pancit when I was stationed in Guam many years ago. My 8 y.o. loves cooking with us – and with her Grandma, who had 9 children. She’s learned to measure and how to do canning with produce from our garden. Will have to buy your book 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I’m so glad you’ve actually tried pancit before! It’s a favorite at our house. And when I share it with kids they all can relate to the noodles no matter what culture they’re from. Email me if you want a signed copy. I’m happy to ship to you!
November 18, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Holly Bliss
Great advice. Loved the prompts!
November 18, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Laura Renauld
Fun food prompts. Thanks!
November 18, 2013 at 1:56 pm
schriscoe
Thank you for sharing! I really enjoyed this post!
November 18, 2013 at 1:56 pm
sketched out
Wonderful post! I often use cooking as a creative unblocker. It usually works deliciously. Thanks for the insight, inspiration and the great writing prompts!
November 18, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Tracy Molitors
Thanks, Dorina. There are so many memories around food (good and bad) that I could probably fill a notebook with just those!
November 18, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Julie Grasso
What a wonderful post and so timely. Yesterday I wrote an entire MS around a dish I love, so reading this today was just fabulous. The book looks great and I know my daughter would love it. Thanks for an inspiring post
November 18, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Julie, how perfect! I love when the messages resonate all around me!
November 18, 2013 at 2:09 pm
shiela fuller
Thank you, Dorina for guest posting today and offering a copy of your book to us!
November 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Maria Gianferrari
Thanks for the great post, Dorina! Cooking and writing definitely go hand in hand (or is that hand and mouth?)
Looking forward to reading your books!
November 18, 2013 at 2:14 pm
LeslieG
I was just thinking before this post about how much of our childhood revolves around food: liking it, not liking it, wanting more, being full, wanting to help make it, connecting us to each other. Great time of year to be mulling that over (pun intended!), too. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Exactly! Holiday time is ripe for writing stories about traditions!
November 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
I love how stories from the past seem to come out when in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Christine M. Irvin
Ummm…you’re making me hungry….great story!!
November 18, 2013 at 2:42 pm
jdrury002
Some of my fondest memories are baking with my Grandmother and now, as a mom I love baking with my daughter!
November 18, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Manju Howard (@ManjuBeth)
Thank you for your tasty post.
November 18, 2013 at 2:54 pm
teresamis
Maybe we could all have Thanksgiving at Dorina’s this year. Thanks for a spoonful of writing prompts.
November 19, 2013 at 2:38 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Just got a mental image of the some-750 PiBoIdMo folks crowded into my little house in Fresno. Sounds like quite a party! We might have to so it Charlie Briwn style and just serve popcorn! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Anne Bielby
Cooking together, a great tradition to keep going!
November 18, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Julene Kinser
Thank you, Dorina Gilmore! I’ve read and enjoyed this book! Pancit is delicious. When I told my Filipino neighbor that I had a recipe, she said, “Oh, really?” When I prepared it for her, she declared it “Not bad.” I think it was a compliment. 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Excited you decided to try it! All Filipinos made pancit differently. I’m glad you enjoyed the book!
November 18, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Stella Jane Stauffer
You have absolutely warmed my heart with your post. Your love for your mama, aunties and grandmothers is so evident.
Your story about making pictures in flour spread by your mama was wonderful.
Your message gives so much lesson about what makes for some very special picture books for children…and their parents.
Bless you for what you do.
You made my day a happier one.
November 18, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Stella, thanks for sharing your encouragement! I love sharing stories. I hope you are inspired to write your own!
November 18, 2013 at 3:37 pm
bookseedstudio
This is a generous post (& site treasure box, Ms. Tara Lazar!) I expect to work with the tip #1 soon, about dreaming up the most amazing meal we can imagine, for one of my critique groups as a writing prompt. Loved seeing the photos of a family I love. Brava! to both Dorina & Tara.
JG
November 18, 2013 at 5:38 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
JG, I would love to hear what results from this writing prompt with your group. Buon appetito, friend!
November 18, 2013 at 3:50 pm
lisajmichaels
Your post is so well written, (you even included the sounds in your kitchen), it made us feel as if we were there with you and your girls! I can imagine your book is written equally as well, so I look forward to enjoying it.
Your illustrator, Kristi Valiant deserves praise as well… the book is beautifully illustrated! Way to go Kristi – Woo-hoo!!!
November 18, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you enjoy the book!
November 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Jill Siegel
Lovely and inspiring post! 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Joanna
Food and the whole growing/cooking/eating experience often creeps into my manuscripts. Lovely posts.
November 18, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
It’s just hard to stay away from the food theme. Thanks for your encouragement! I look forward to reading your next book! 😉
November 18, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Emi Howe
I ♥ the idea of flour pictures. Brilliant xx
November 18, 2013 at 4:47 pm
renajtraxel
Yummy advice. “When does the licking begin.” Lol. Perfect.
November 18, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Barbara Messinger
Good snacks alway enhance writing! I smelled wonderful aromas while reading this post. Thanks,
November 18, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
I’m so glad you could smell the inspiration! Here’s to a day of delicious story ideas!
November 18, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Jennifer Kaap
I’m hungry now… Pancit is yummy! Thanks for the inspiring advice.
November 18, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Salamat! Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Dawn Young
Love that you create so much more than just food in your kitchen! Thanks for sharing.
November 18, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
You’re right, Dawn. My kitchen floor is always a mess and the stories abound!
November 18, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Joanne Roberts
Thank-you for sharing your family story and how it has shaped you as a storyteller and as a mom. You’ve inspired me in more than my writing today. Thanks to you and Tara for your PiBo encouragement.
November 18, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Kirsten Carlson (@kirstencarlson)
Wonderful hearing how inspired you are by food and recipes and the stories within them. I love that you write about what inspires you!
November 18, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Teena Raffa-Mulligan
What a wonderful story to share, Dorina. It conjured up such vivid images and triggered my own childhood memories of my mother and my two grandmothers. My imagination had been feeling a bit flat – your post had just the right ingredients to revive it. Thank you!
November 18, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Glad to hear your imagination was buoyed up by this post! I wish you well in your picture book idea adventure this month! Buon appetito!
November 18, 2013 at 5:49 pm
viviankirkfield
Dorina…I know that we are soul-sisters, truly!
Every word you wrote about the value of inviting kids into the kitchen resonated with me…when I was young, we lived with my grandmother who LOVED to cook. Early in the morning, I would tip-toe downstairs, to join my grandmother…we rolled dough for apple turnovers, ground meat for meat pies in her old-fashioned clamped-on-the-table meat grinder…she taught me a lot about cooking…and even more about loving and caring for others.
Thank you also for sharing the quote from Julia Child…another amazingly courageous woman who was passionate about the importance of cooking…you are so right…her words are perfectly appropriate for writers!
November 18, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Vivian, how fun to find another soul sister! I wish you many delicious adventures in the kitchen and as you write. Julia Child is one of my inspirations! Have you seen the picture book about her cat Minette?
November 18, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Shannon Anderson
Your photos are beautiful!
November 18, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Laura S.
What a delicious post! I especially love the writing prompts.
November 18, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks for your encouragement, Laura! I hope the prompts lead you to a grand picture book recipe!
November 18, 2013 at 6:13 pm
DaNeil Olson
Thank you for the reminder that we never need to look farther than our own life for inspiration.
November 18, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
So true! I’m glad you found the more universal message in my post. Happy writing!
November 18, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Jen Carroll
Thanks! Now I gotta go make some homemade hot cocoa 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Raising my mug to you, Jen. Happy writing!
November 18, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Gloria Amescua
I love the writing prompts.
November 18, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Lynn Anne Carol
Hello Dorina,
I just loved your post. The kitchen was always the hub of our home, both my mothers home and ours. I still at 62 have an overstuffed chair in the middle of it.
I taught our six children at home and to this day the girls talk about learning fractions through baking. My favorite was a cookie sheet sprinkled with flour and giving the kids matchbox cars. It was an hour of fun and 20 minutes of clean up.
Thanks for the great ideas and congratulations on your endeavors.
Lynn
November 18, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Lynn, sounds wonderful! In fact, I just wrote down a story idea this morning about about picture book teaching fractions through baking. Maybe you’re the one to write it! Dig in!
November 18, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
Just for the record, I hate when my brain is “droopy”. I was also a kitchen kid. The best moments of my life happened in the kitchen. I wish I had thanked my mother for them when I had the chance.
November 18, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Kjersten Hayes
Yum, yum, yummy advice! Thanks.
November 18, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Dorina, such a lovely family story from your childhood. Thank you for being so gracious to share with us!
November 18, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Cindy Schumerth
This was a great post. I come from a farming family and have so many great memories of my grandmas, aunts, mom and sister in the kitchen.
Thanks for sharing.
November 18, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Ashley Bankhead
Thanks for the delicious ideas.
November 18, 2013 at 7:14 pm
Patricia Holloway
Yours is an interesting story. I agree about cooking getting the creative juices flowing. Thank you for sharing.
November 18, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Angela Turner
Thanks for bringing up some memories of cooking with my own grandmother. Those were very special days. She was a great cook, but was always changing the recipes just a little and then she never thought it was as good as it should be and made plans to change some more the next time. We couldn’t tell. It always tasted wonderful to us.
November 18, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Deborah Bates Cavitt
Your time in the kitchen with your girls are a treasure.
November 18, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Amy Cohas
Thank you for the very helpful writing prompts! We had a funny episode in our kitchen last night that I now think could be turned into a story idea 🙂
November 20, 2013 at 9:24 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Perfect! Can’t wait to read all about it!
November 18, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Amanda Banks
Thank you for the writing prompts. I can’t wait to try them.
November 18, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Evie Hjartarson
Thanks for your beautiful story. I love that you are sharing these precious memories with others. It reminded me of my Icelandic grandmother teaching me how to bake.
November 18, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Amanda Smith
Ah, Dorina, I saw you mentioning Rooibos earlier. The word just jumped off the screen for me, because it is my in my heart language. It took me right back to my mamma’s kitchen, where there were always two pots of tea, one black and one Rooibos. And I remember cutting green beans while standing on a stepping stool and watching my dad flip a pannekoek (crepe). Just last night, we taught our son to do the same. There might be a story here…
November 20, 2013 at 9:26 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Oh definitely! Go write that one!
November 18, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
I love this post! I was lucky enough to grow up watching my mom and grandma cook. We lived right beside each other and both of them were known for their cooking. I had three sisters. Each of us had specialties that we would cook. I was the fudge queen. “When does the licking begin?” is so cute! We had to take turns licking…or one would get the spoon, two would each get a beater, and one would get the bowl.
Thank you for your helpful tips. I am revising a manuscript now that has cooking throughout. It will be fun to apply your suggestions and see how it improves 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Laurie L. Young
I’m a horrible cook, but I love to read about cooking. I can imagine what it would be like to cook an amazing, reality-altering meal. Food for thought . . .
😉
November 18, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Laura Gehl
Now I really want to try pancit! Also flourless chocolate truffle torte….
November 18, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Karen Mae Zoccoli
Thanks for this post… cooking and creativity ~ sounds delicious! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Suzy Leopold
Such a lovely story that warms my heart. Many family get togethers and memories are all made in the kitchen. Thank you so much for such sweet and savory inspiration. ~Suzy Leopold
November 18, 2013 at 9:08 pm
sspratt2010
Great writing prompts…now I want a dish of homemade lasagna with a crispy edge.
November 18, 2013 at 9:51 pm
helenajuhasz
This is the kind of stuff I would never have dreamed of writing. Thanks for the great ideas!
November 18, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Meredith Pinkstone
One of my favorite wedding gifts was a recipe box full of hand-written family recipes — those memories are priceless! And great fodder for stories. Thanks for the great advice!
November 18, 2013 at 9:54 pm
vijikc
Thank you for such a inspiration! I’m sure I have kitchen memories with my aunt and grandmother.
November 18, 2013 at 9:58 pm
Fashionista Philly
What a lovely post! Dorina bravo for bringing a different ethnic character and story into the picture book world. We need more keep writing on hooray!!!!
November 19, 2013 at 2:33 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Thanks! As a child I was always hunting down main characters from different ethnic backgrounds, especially ones I could relate to myself. I see it as a real need for young readers. As our society grows more multicultural I hope publishers will invest in more books with characters from all different ethnicities!
November 18, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Ariel Smith
What a beautiful post! There is nothing more inspiring than food and family!
November 18, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Gaye Kick
Thanks!!! Just got several ideas from Grandma Schilthelm’s kitchen! YEAH!
November 18, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Julie
Love the family cooking scenario. Thank you.
November 18, 2013 at 10:22 pm
dee win
thank you for your writing tips and for the information about the haitian bead project 🙂
November 18, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Penny
Well, I certainly don’t cook for inspiration – but I love the tradition of sharing family favourites and bonding over a meal! An excellent idea for a book and for families all over the place.
November 18, 2013 at 11:05 pm
LeeAnn Jensen
Thank you so much for the ideas to use cooking therapy. I too spend an enormous amount of time in my kitchen with my family.
November 18, 2013 at 11:10 pm
elisehyldenillustration
And voilà! I now have another PiBoId! Thanks, Dorina!
November 18, 2013 at 11:20 pm
Caroline
What a lovely family memory! My mother’s favorite is when four generations are all in the kitchen together at the same time. It gets a little crowded, but there’s an abundance of giggles, too.
November 19, 2013 at 12:19 am
Alisa Harris-Norico
I loved reading your entry, Dorina! My husbands’ family is Filipino and I am going to have to find a copy of your book for my niece and nephew. Food inspires me as well, I draw recipe comics at http://www.cookingupcomics.com . Happy writing and cooking!
November 19, 2013 at 2:29 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Salamat! I hope you will share the book with your family! Excited to check out your work too!
November 19, 2013 at 12:40 am
cathy john biggerstaff
Thanks for the advice and the writing prompts. My family spent lots of time around the kitchen table so this plucked at my heart strings.
November 19, 2013 at 12:51 am
Dana Atnip
I had to Google pancit; it sounds delicious! I really enjoyed reading about how your family bonded and shared stories while cooking. My father was the cook in my home. I wish I had paid better attention as he was a fabulous cook!
November 19, 2013 at 12:56 am
amievc
Thank you for this delicious post! I can’t wait to try your prompts!
November 19, 2013 at 1:56 am
Judith Snyder
Thanks for your ideas. Now I’ll go cook up some of my own.
November 19, 2013 at 2:28 am
Dani Duck
Great post! I love working with my almost 3 year old in the Kitchen. Never thought of it as a point of inspiration. Thanks!
November 19, 2013 at 2:34 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Dani, listen in. I’m sure your little one will start spilling lines and inspire some stories if you hang out in the kitchen together!
November 19, 2013 at 4:58 am
Tania Cole
my best memories are also in the kitchen with my grandparents!
November 19, 2013 at 6:50 am
deborahholtwilliams
Thank you, Dorina, for this very nourishing post! You reminded me that we are fed by stories as well as by food.
November 19, 2013 at 7:37 am
thiskidreviewsbooks
This is such a cool post! I love to be cooking in the kitchen with my mom and grandmom. 🙂
November 19, 2013 at 8:21 am
Micki Ginsberg
Reading your post made me wish I had been part of your family. Such fun! I want to follow your good advice to “Be fearless.”
November 19, 2013 at 8:28 am
Gail Kamer
Great post for getting your readers to replay some memories 🙂
November 19, 2013 at 8:29 am
Cecilia Clark
thank you 🙂
November 19, 2013 at 9:28 am
RadSheri
Baking with my grandmother was fun but I will have to dig back in my memory for book ideas from that. Thanks Dorina for the prompts.
November 19, 2013 at 9:45 am
lindaschueler
Your story sounds delicious and I cannot wait to read it. I love picture books related to cooking, especially if they have a recipe at the end I can try out.
And I think I will try to get out my creative blocks in the kitchen more often.
November 19, 2013 at 10:34 am
Kathy Cornell Berman
Thanks for sharing your story. I don’t have any foodie stories, but now I am ready to cook one up. I admire your work with the Haitian Bead Project.
November 19, 2013 at 11:04 am
Angela De Groot
Okay, now I’m hungry and inspired.
November 19, 2013 at 11:11 am
Jennifer Voigt Kaplan
In just a few sentences, you conveyed such a wonderful, warm environment where you grew up. I’m sure your books capture that sense and I’m looking forward to reading them. And thank you for sharing that amazing one-liner your daughter gave you. That is a great technique for jump-starting a story. PS — what a beautiful family you have!
November 19, 2013 at 11:25 am
Debbie Austin
I often am drawn to the kitchen when I am craving a little inspiration. For me, it’s all about baking. Thank you for sharing your own experiences in the kitchen and the stories that inspires. Can’t wait to read Cora Cooks Pancit.
November 19, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Quinn Cole
Your story and family memories inspired me. Creating (baking) is my stress relief. It also calms my mind enough to allow the Muse to peek in. Thanks!
November 19, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Wendy Greenley
A beautiful post about writing, and even more so about family. Thanks for sharing this.
November 19, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Alan Stacy
Holidays at my paternal grandmother’s home: an ancient cast-iron, wood-fueled stove where she created every kind of baked good and treat imaginable. She and her sisters competed with each other to outdo one another – dumplings, pies, casseroles, turkeys, chickens… There was always something good to eat and lesson on “how-to’s” that I still remember to this day. It was amazing to watch.
November 20, 2013 at 9:30 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
That cooking competition needs to find it’s way into a book! Whenever we go on vacation my girls can’t wait to watch the food channel and all the fun competitions….
November 19, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Teresa Daffern
I love your approach to life and writing — thanks for sharing! I will take your advice and get in the kitchen with my two kids. Time to start our holiday baking.
November 19, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Janet Halfmann
Did a lot of cooking with my mother, too. Will need to see if I can capture any of those stories. Thanks for sharing.
November 19, 2013 at 1:56 pm
writeforapples
“When does the licking begin?” What a GREAT line. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
November 19, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Diana Murray
Beautiful post! I have many lovely memories of cooking peroshki and borscht with my mom. Cooking truly brings people together. 🙂
November 19, 2013 at 3:43 pm
amomnextdoor
Whenever I’m baking, I give my children a cookie tray covered with small portions of flour, sugar and spices, for them to mix and bake their own creations. Thank you for the idea of the flour writing–what a wonderful way to invite children into writing and cooking!
November 20, 2013 at 9:28 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Now I’m going to steal that idea to keep my 2-year-old busy. Brilliant!
November 19, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Andi
I think creativity always flows with a full, warm belly. Thanks for the inspiration!
November 19, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Helen Ross
Hi Dorina. Thanks for sharing. A lot of creativity can certainly bubble from letting go, relaxing and chatting when you are cooking or making something. I feel inspired by your post.
November 19, 2013 at 7:29 pm
pbgirl1
What terrific family traditions and memories! Such happy times are bound to bring out the creative side. Thanks for sharing.
November 19, 2013 at 11:16 pm
cheryllovestoread
I’m from the Central San Joaquin Valley and one of my co-workers is Filipino. Even if I don’t win a copy, I’m going to pick one up for his young children. Thanks for the tasty inspiration!
November 20, 2013 at 9:27 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
It makes a great gift, Cheryl! Email me if you’d like a signed copy. I’m happy to ship you one!
November 19, 2013 at 11:31 pm
City Sights for Kids
This post came following an inspired (aka experimental) weekend in the kitchen – both likely leading to my Day 19 idea!
Amanda Sincavage
November 20, 2013 at 9:42 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Amanda, experiments are how new recipes & books are born! Go write your weekend!
November 20, 2013 at 2:30 am
wendymyersart
Thank you for sharing your family traditions and stories. Now I’m hungry!
November 20, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Lauri Meyers
Your cover is delightful!
Oh, that sound of the stool scraping along the floor. When I’m on a different floor than the kids, and I hear that sound, I have to make a run for it! Stools are always taking them on amazing journeys to the candy jar, to the nail polish shelf, to the “messy” paint.
November 20, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Perfecting Motherhood
Oh, a snack coming out alive! For me, it’d be the Nutella monster, all gooey with Nutella. Yum!
November 20, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Priya Gopal
I love food, I love cooking, I love stories
November 20, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Jenny Blum
Thanks Dorina for these inspiring ideas. As a foodie one of my best PiBoIdMo ideas came very early on about a ‘sportsman’ who eats chocolate cake for breakfast. Your post also reminds me of a public speaking intro to a chef I made some years ago and which I called ‘chocolate makes the world go round’. I am sure more stories will come out of my kitchen. I am going to try flour drawing with my 3year old neighbour today.
November 20, 2013 at 11:18 pm
Donna L Martin
One of my favorite past times is learning new things about different cultures. What a great prize.
Lovely post!
Donna L Martin
November 21, 2013 at 9:37 am
S.H. Sherlock
Food-themed books are a great favorite of mine and my kids. Looking forward to reading your “Cora Cooks Pancit”
November 21, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Melanie
What a wonderful post–I especially love the part about drawing pictures in the flour. I do some of my best thinking in the kitchen. It truly is where so many solutions exist, waiting to be discovered!
November 21, 2013 at 9:41 pm
SevenAcreSky
Dorina,
what delightful advice…the kitchen is one of my favorite idea places also, and I love having my granddaughter cooking right alongside me. She cracks an egg, stirs the pot, or flips a tortilla…and an idea is born.
Thanks for your encouragement. I must look for “Cora Cooks Pancit”–already shopping for Christmas.
November 21, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Rachel Smoka-Richardson
Thank you for sharing your story! I look forward to reading your book – it looks wonderful.
November 22, 2013 at 5:56 am
mona861
Oh my, sorry I’m late responding to this. I love it. I’ve always had someone in my kitchen, learning, measuring, tasting. Inspired to review one of my “food” stories. Thank you.
November 22, 2013 at 8:10 am
Michelle Church
What a great idea! My kids used to help in the kitchen, reading this post reminded me of what fun we used to have and the messes we used to make. Thank you for this post! It was quite inspiring.
November 22, 2013 at 9:35 am
littledbl
Classic example of telling a story you are meant to tell! Thank you. 🙂
November 22, 2013 at 4:34 pm
aliciaminor
I was born and raised in the Philippines and the thought of writing picture books using multicultural themes spark some idea. Thanks for sharing.
November 23, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Buffy Silverman
Thanks for the delicious suggestions–your book sounds terrific.
November 23, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Andrea
I love books with food in them! You reminded me to take more time to be observant for ideas during everyday activities — like cooking!
November 24, 2013 at 3:17 pm
colleenrkosinski
Love your writing prompts–they also make me hungry.
November 24, 2013 at 4:43 pm
marciecolleen
Often when I think I am done working for the day and I start to make dinner my manuscripts really start cooking! Thank you for this post!
November 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Kathryn Ault Noble
Dorina, I remember seeing my grandmother and her two sisters sitting in a circle with a large pot on the floor between them. They were shelling peas. It took a long time to fill the pot and they talked the whole time. I don’t remember what, but I remember sensing they were happy. Thanks for the post!
November 24, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Debbie Faith Mickelson
Food is a powerful tool in so many ways. I see it’s been a great tool in your creative process. Thanks for sharing with us.
November 25, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Jacqueline Pearce
Thanks, I may have to rethink my dislike of cooking…
November 27, 2013 at 1:04 am
blanchebaxter
I love the connection between family, history, and storytelling. Some of the sweetest, most thought provoking tales have these ingredients mixed in.
November 27, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Amy Smith
A truly delicious post, Dorina. I’m so glad I saved this one to read the day before Thanksgiving!
November 29, 2013 at 7:09 am
Tracey Jackson
I loved your post as I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. Your ideas got me thinking about time that I spent with my Gran in the kitchen when I was around five. I have clear memories of the particular cups that we used to have tea together! Thanks for your sharing with us.
November 30, 2013 at 1:28 am
angiekarcher
Great prompts…love this!
November 30, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Kelly Vavala
Love this!! My two favorite things…Cooking and story telling! I find this very inspiring especially around the holidays, baking Christmas cookies with my family! Treasured moments with children, parents, grandparents and now grandchildren! Thank you so much for sharing and I wish you continued success with your writing!
November 30, 2013 at 1:42 pm
carolmunrojww
Inventive prompts. A snack comes alive? Yikes! What would I make if I invited a famous chef to dinner? Reservations (I don’t cook except on rare occasions). Thanks for posting. You’ve got me thinking. Two ideas so far.
November 30, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Tracey M. Cox
Love the idea of relating cooking and writing.
Thanks for the prompts!!!
November 30, 2013 at 7:04 pm
alwaysbedancing
My mom loved to throw parties and your post reminded me of a few particularly funny food adventures! Thank you!
November 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Mishka Jaeger
I love kitchen stories. Kitchens are the heart of the house and the family. My 2.5 year old has just started helping me in mine. She eats all the ingredients but almost never the finished product. Thanks for sharing with us!
December 1, 2013 at 10:53 pm
cnparch
Thanks for the prompts. I love this book! And it’s illustrated by my friend, Kristi Valiant. 🙂
December 3, 2013 at 12:12 am
Laurie J. Edwards
Taste is an often overlooked method of inspiration. Thanks!
December 3, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Sue Rankin
I had to dig down deep to find a memory of making something with my mom and siblings, and the memory didn’t come back until we hit December because it was about Christmas cookies! I made my goal anyway, but now I have another bonus idea! Thank you!