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06 February 2019

Creativity & A Whole Lot Of Calories Through Food | IWSG


The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is a place to share and encourage, where writers can express their doubts and concerns without appearing foolish or weak. It's a great place to mingle with like minded people each month during IWSG day.

Every month there's an optional question which may prompt folks to share advice, insights, a personal experience or story. Some folks answer the question in their IWSG blog post or let it inspire them if they're struggling with what to say.

This month's question is:

"Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?"

Check out how people have answered this month's question, as well as the other insecurities and writing topics they may have shared by visiting the IWSG sign-up list here. You can see how I answered the question below.

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I really struggled to answer this month's question. I don't think of myself as a naturally creative person. I've tried my hand at a number of creative pursuits -- knitting, painting, ballroom dancing to name a few -- but never really stuck at anything for very long. Except writing. That's been going on since I started this blog way back in 2013.

I sat staring at my computer for the longest time trying to come up with something creative other than writing while I was snacking on some pretzels. Then it hit me -- I enjoy cooking and that's a creative sort of thing, right? 

My hubby and I have been doing a lot of cooking lately, trying to make restaurant-level curries. I think we finally hit the nail on the head a few weeks ago when we made butter chicken. You know what the secret it? Butter. Lots and lots of butter. That's what makes it taste like it came from a restaurant. Restaurants know the secret to great flavor - lots and lots of fat.

I don't have any pictures of the butter chicken itself, but if you're interested in trying your own hand at butter chicken, you can find the how-to and recipe in this YouTube video.



PS Simon is on strike today. He thinks it's stupid that we make curries. Why anyone would eat anything other than wet cat food and full-fat milk is beyond him.

What creative pursuits do you enjoy? Do you like Indian food?

25 comments:

  1. I love Indian food. I love butter too. Yes that's why eating out is so good...all that fat.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

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  2. Cooking can be very creative.... Unless I'm involved. Ugh. I need a recipe and don't let me sniff the spices and add anything or in the trash it goes.

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  3. Simon on strike is a good thing.
    Lots of butter? No surprise fat makes it taste better. That's like that line said by Sheldon's mom on The Big Bang Theory - secret ingredient love? No - lard!

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  4. Ooooh. That looks yummy! My husband is the creative when it comes to cooking. I tend to get very boring with my meals.

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  5. Indian is among my favorite foods to cook. Thai comes in as either a close second or neck-to-neck. The butter chicken sounds delicious.

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  6. Yup, fat always makes things taste better. Too bad I'm on a diet right now!

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  7. I can't have that kind of fat I'm afraid.

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  8. Indian food is very good, and a lot of it is vegetarian so i can have it.

    This question would stump me, too, since i am not a creative, just a copier.

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  9. I'm not fond of Indian food. Still, this sounds pretty good. Shame on Simon. He's got to expand his horizons. :)

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  10. Cooking is definitely creative. They even call great chefs artists, don't they?
    Although I don't like Indian food - too spicy for me.

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  11. Indian food is not one of my favorite cuisines, but it is one of Mark's, so once or twice a year we go out to an Indian restaurant. We have quite a few (vegetarian) friends who cook wonderful curries, and I truly enjoy them then.

    Yes, I think cooking is a creative outlet. Well done, coming up with an answer. I didn't get any further than "none" other than writing. :-) Maybe Simon can try coconut milk one day?

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  12. I love Indian food, especially butter chicken. I've never made it myself, I may have to give it a try now.

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  13. Hmm. I had Butter Chicken the night before last which my daughter had just made.
    I grew up in Natal on the east coast of South Africa where there is a substantial Indian population and grew up with Durban curry, and I love it. Anyway, to answer your question, I'm a carpenter and have lots of machines and equipment with which to be creative, so that's what I do, make things all the time.
    Yes there are areas of my life where I get to be creative and some of it you've already viewed, I was a "Set Builder" in the film industry for about thirty odd years so the possibility of you seeing one of the movies where my work is on display is very real. Right now I'm working on wooden bow ties, right up my ally, pretty and in a material I really enjoy working in, wood.
    That is both parts of your question answered. "What creative pursuits do you enjoy. Do you like Indian food."
    Blessings to all the sensible creative folk out there, Geoff.

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  14. Cooking can be very creative! And the results can be enjoyed by everyone, including those not so creative in that field, such as myself. I'm lucky to have a very cooking creative husband ��

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  15. Butter makes everything better...except my behind. :)

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  16. I love making a handful or recipes like banana bread and cocoa muffins - either gluten free or regular with variations like coconut-pineapple-banana bread and chocolate chip-cocoa muffins. However, dinner foods have never been my forte. I might have to try that butter chicken!

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  17. Butter does add a wonderful flavor. I'm going to give the recipe a try.

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  18. Cooking is a wonderful creative pursuit! I enjoy cooking and eating :)
    Mmmm...butter chicken. I'm going to have to give that recipe a go. I LOVE Indian food! And Simon doesn't know what he's talking about. Being able to mix up a delicious curry sounds like a wonderful pursuit and a nice talent to have in your cooking arsenal :D

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  19. Cooking sounds wonderful.
    Love to Simon!

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  20. Sulking Simon doesn't know what he is missing.

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  21. Fat... and salt... make any dish taste better. Too bad most of the stuff that tastes good isn't good for us. Even so, the older I get, the less I worry about it. Life's too short to eat margarine or low-fat mayo. :)

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  22. Oh, Simon, you're missing out. Now I want curry! Yum. And yes, cooking is creative. Good on you! And Happy Writing, my dear.

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  23. I certainly hope cooking is creative, because that was my choice too.

    There's butter in butter chicken? Talk about a spoiler. ;)

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  24. "Restaurants know the secret to great flavor - lots and lots of fat." LOL.

    Ronel visiting for Feb's IWSG Day Being an Insecure Writer -- And Happy About It

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  25. I'm no fan of spicy food, but my hubby loves Indian food. I've been taking a different approach to cooking lately since we have the same thing over and over, and our cupboards seem to be filling with stuff that I have no idea where it comes from! I look at what we have, I google those ingredients, and viola! Recipes for those things pop up. Most of the time, it's not stuff I will eat, but my hubby has been loving it!

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