#36 – What I learned from my chicken soup

They told me a chicken soup could cure anything. Turns out that includes writer’s block.

I made chicken soup yesterday and it drove me mad. I couldn’t get the smell, the taste, or the look right (there’s a reason I’m using a stock photo).

I had some for lunch today and it was incredible. How come?

It came down to 4 things:

1) Remember to breathe

It was bubbling away on the stove. I tried a little. Needs more parsley. I tried more. Needs more salt. I tried more. Needs more – wait, less celery.

I was tinkering with it more than Pep Guardiola in a Champions League final. Overthinking was making me add too much, make it all too complex.

When I had to step away from it for a little while, I came back calmer and with a clear head. The soup really was okay, far from the failure I predicted.

2) Get the hard work done early

Peeling, cutting, rinsing, boiling. Getting the prep work done early was a must so I could throw it all in the pot and let it cook.

The longest part was finding a recipe online and scrolling past the person’s life story to get to the important part.

3) Too many cooks don’t always spoil the broth

My partner wanted to add parsnips to the soup. To me, a parsnip was like a potato you order from Wish. I was reluctant to include them.

They turned out amazing. The idea challenged all my preconceived poultry notions, but it made the final product much better.

4) Remember to savour it

Most importantly, enjoy it! It’s no use working yourself up until you reach your boiling point and not savouring what you have. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Next week: Coming out of my cave, and I’ve been doing.. just fine