Stirring the Plot, Bay Leaf Style

Stirring the Plot -

          Bay Leaf Style

Cooking with a bay leaf is a lot like writing back story or character sketches.

Part of flavoring your plot is tossing in a variety of ingredients while you’re writing the first draft. You can always remove some of the ingredients later. If you write them in, at least you’ve got them handy when you need them. You might even find their unique flavor will thrust your story in a different direction; just like my Nikki did when she jumped onto the counter while I was photographing the bay leaves. I certainly hadn’t intended for her to be part of the photo, but must admit that she added her own unique twist to it.

While the bay leaf isn’t an impressive shade of green, its flavoring and scent can be quite memorable. Details in your story can be the same way. Dropping subtle hints at the appropriate time can foreshadow action, provide character details, or even grow your plot.

My philosophy:

MEASURE when you cook and USE ABANDON when you write. 

If you allow your story to SIMMER, your characters and plot will absorb sufficient flavor. Then when you’ve reached the editing and revising stage, you’re ready to pull out superfluous details, much the same way you allow a soup or stew to absorb the bay leaf’s flavor before you pluck it out and toss it away.

Then, SERVE IT HOT.

Note: No, my cat's not eating bay leaves, but she obviously liked the scent well enough to jump onto the counter to sniff at them. For those of your concerned that bay leaves are poisonous to cats, rest assured that I took no chances and removed Nikki and the bay leaves from the counter as soon as I took the picture.  Then I checked the ASPCA’s website http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ and learned the bay leaves used in cooking are not toxic to cats, though they can be toxic to some livestock – which is not the same as saying you should feed them to your cat. The leaves remain quite stiff even after simmering for hours and your pet could choke on them.