I was all set to go yesterday. I knew what I’d write about. The photo was ready – or well, as ready as it was going to be. A beautiful frittata I made last week with fresh peak-season veggies I’d made several times in my new frittata pan to get just right. I sat down at the computer, wrote up a post, attached the photo, and then couldn’t find my notes on the recipe itself.
I looked everywhere for those notes. When I have an idea of something I want to make, I take notes. I write down everything I do, from the ingredients to the order of the them, how they’re prepped, and how they’re added. Everything, in short, that can affect flavor and texture. Afterwards, I decide if something needs to be changed, something added, something eliminated for the next round. Every once in a while I get it right on the first or second try. Sometimes it takes weeks. I have a coffee mocha ice cream using coconut milk I’ve been working on for months. My husband and I tire of it, it slides to the back burner, and I pick it up again later with a fresh palate and perspective.
My problem (if I’m honest, one of many) is I don’t have a system for writing down those notes. Sometimes I use a notebook (one of at least four that I’m using at any given time), sometimes a scrap of paper that’s handy because I don’t feel like looking for one of said notebooks. My iPad, my Mac, and iPhone are three other options frequently used – I could do an ad for Apple, which is hysterical to anyone who reads this and knows me well enough to know I came kicking and screaming to using all these electronic devices.
I could blame it on the fact that we’re shuttling between Tahoe and the Bay Area every week, spending most of the week here in Tahoe. Whatever I need at any given time is always at the other house. And while the physical reality of moving around doesn’t help, it really only highlights the need TO GET A SYSTEM. One I can stick with. So that my life doesn’t feel as scattered as it is.
You will see that lovely little frittata at some point, I’m sure the notes will turn up, but it won’t be today. Instead I thought I’d share a black bean soup I made over the weekend that was just killer. Black beans have a starring role, to be sure, but they’re balanced with tomatillos, corn, tomatoes and avocado. It’s a hearty and flavorful soup, but isn’t the same without a topping of chipotle sour cream, lime juice and cilantro. I know this because I have the notes right here in front of me 
Black Bean, Tomatillo, and Corn Soup
Ingredients
Black Bean, Tomatillo, and Corn Soup
- 1 poblano chili pepper (also called pasilla peppers)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups chopped white onion
- 3/4 cup quartered, husked tomatillos
- 1 2/3 cup corn kernels (2 medium ears of corn)
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, including the liquid
- 1/4 cup tomato puree
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 2/3 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Topping
- Limes
- 2 avocados, sliced (1/2 avocado per bowl)
- Cilantro
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
Instructions
Roast the poblano pepper under the broiler until the skin is blackened all over, turning the pepper as needed. Place in a paper bag for five minutes. Peel, chop off the top, open up and remove all the seeds. Coarsely chop and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and tomatillos and sauté until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the corn kernels and sauté another two minutes.
Add the black beans and liquid, tomato puree, tomato, chopped roasted poblano, tomato, and broth. Simmer for 15 minutes and add the lime juice, salt and cayenne pepper.
Prepare the toppings: slice the lime into wedges, slice the avocados, chop the cilantro, and stir together the sour cream and chipotle.
Been there, lost that, love this. I buy red Moleskine notebooks in the 3-pack, and use them exclusively for food notes. I actually started last summer, when I knew I’d want to keep a food (eating and cooking) journal while in Italy and France. I continued the habit at home. They’re small enough to fit in a purse, and red is an easy color to find. It’s greatly minimized losses.
This soup is divine! Well worth the loss of the fritatta notes. Easy for me to say!
I see a shopping trip ahead of me. This is a great idea, for both the size and color. I’m spending the month of September in Italy and want to keep and food journal too, so this advice is timely. Thanks so much!!!
Forget the frittata – this is fabulous!!
I’m loving the support on this!! Thanks Liz. I was so frustrated yesterday…
Gorgeous soup – if it means displacing the frittata, then it’s worth it!
Thanks so much Lynda!! It wasn’t as gorgeous as your frittata you posted over the weekend, but it was really good. I’m sure the notes will turn up. Heading back to the Bay Area later today and I’ll be searching there for them next
I appreciate your comment very much.
I’m inspired to make this soup, Susan! And I’m with thesolitarycook—a brightly colored notebook just might solve your problem!
The soup was honestly really good, Laura, although I know there can be so much subjectivity around these things. And yes, Cynthia has spurred me to buy the brightest colored notebook I can find
If I lose my notes from my upcoming Italy trip, I will be a lot more than just frustrated….
The 2nd and 3rd paragraph of you post described me perfectly, especially the 3rd. except I have a PC, no ipad, mac or iphone. And yes, the lovely little frittata notes will turn up, these notes always turn up when you least expect them to.
Love your soup.
Thanks Norma!! Kindred spirits. I like to think it’s just a creative mind at work, but I really need to be more organized. Thanks so much for the support!
Susan – when you’re ready to use a formal ‘test sheet’ let me know! But even with that, believe me, it’s easy to get carried away cooking and skip the note taking. I can make myself crazy!
It takes quite the discipline.
As you are a professional recipe developer, I bow to your experience and knowledge Rosemary!! I would love to use a formal test sheet – what a fabulous idea. I would love to see what you use. I tried to recreate the recipe in my head yesterday, but I had made it several times, and just couldn’t remember the final form for sure. And I had invested way too much time into it to shoot from the hip at the last moment, and hope for the best.
I don’t mind no frittata my friend this looks wonderful
And I know exactly what you are talking about!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much CCU – it sounds like I’m not alone in my habits
Have a great week!
I do not tire of the coffee mocha ice cream.
I stand corrected, coffee mocha lover!!
I know just how you feel Susan. My problem is I write on what ever is available at the moment and then sometimes tear off the bottom to use as a grocery list, LOL. Or I just use that and who ever knows what happens to it. I love this soup it really sounds delicious. I have yet to use the tomatillos though. I am going to have to remedy that one. Wonderful recipe.
The responses to this have been sooo validating
. And you should really try tomatillos. They add such a nice tartness and texture to dishes. It’s great in salsas too!
Been there. I totally know how you feel. I have three recipes in my queue waiting for the “notes” to show up!!!! However, glad you shared this soup, looks amazing. Pinning!
How funny! I totally relate, obviously. Thank goodness we can save posts as drafts until the notes all show up
!!
This is simply mouthwatering! I have been thinking of making a black bean salad, but now I will go for the soup!
Will give this a go when I get ome tomatillos in the Autumn-thank Susan!
As much as I love frittata I appreciate you sharing this soup! It looks divine and I’m pinning it to make. And just this week I went through something similar in searching for notes on a recipe, so you are not alone!
Your black bean, tomatillo, and corn soup looks so fresh.
I don’t mind eat this every day. LOL.
Thank you for sharing.
You can submit your black bean, tomatillo, and corn soup pics on my Food Photography site.
It is a food (and drink of course) photography site where members can submit all food (and drink of course (again) LOL ) pictures that make readers hungry.
Well, you know it’s fun to make others hungry (and thirsty)!
What a beautiful (and yummy!) soup. Yep, agree with everyone else a little notebook is the way to go! I try to keep one in my purse because you never know where inspiration will hit and writing it down is the only way I’ll ever remember it haha
Count me in on the recipe-note-loser list! Running this problem by another blogger, another notebook user, I concluded that ONE notebook would be the answer. I have multiple notebooks, and even more pieces of ‘transitional’ pieces of paper. For you, one notebook that goes with you might be best. But then, you will need another notebook just for Italy! (Years ago I made a meatless spaghetti sauce, Italian sausage style, using lentils. Didn’t write it down and subsequent attempts never worked. Almost learned my lesson then…)
The soup looks great, and I just made a pressure cooker full of black beans. Just need tomatillos.
Is tomato puree just tomato paste?
No, that would be too thick. Tomato puree is more like tomato sauce without any seasoning/spices.
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Rainy Day Comfort
My family loved this! They’re already demanding that I make it again. The poblano and tomatillos added a really unique flavor profile that we hadn’t tried before, but I’m excited to use these ingredients in even more recipes. Thanks!
Oh I’m sooo glad it worked out so well for you and your family!! And thanks so much for letting me know!
The Wimpy Vegetarian recently posted..Steamed Mussels in White Wine with Fennel
very nice colors & theme
http://profiles.wordpress.org/frankiebip4 recently posted..http://profiles.wordpress.org/frankiebip4
However, the most important things on which almost all of
our activities rely are the home appliances. Where VPN is concerned, often the best VPN for Hulu, is onewhere you’ve paid for the service.
An energy efficient heating system should be part of every home.
web page recently posted..web page