B is for BANANA TREE, VERY PRETTY: Food For Thought #AtoZ

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

My daily #AtoZ posts combine two concepts in under-300-words per day:

an appealing food choice along with thoughts that spring to mind.

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Though not so exotic as some Hawaiian fruits, the banana, or more specifically the apple banana is a favorite of mine. It makes a sweet treat on its own any time. Sliced and eaten with creamy peanut butter, either in a sandwich or straight, is a nourishing meal and a quick source of energy.

 

While researching my third Pepper Bibeau mystery on the Big Island of Hawai'i, I stayed at a spa outside of Hawi in North Kohala. The property was rampant with fruit trees, and the bananas were ripe for the picking. Imagine strolling outside on a crisp tropical morning and gathering your breakfast fresh from a swaying banana tree. With no one around to monitor your take, you might even help yourself to more than one!

 

The sight of the rising sun seeping through the dark green banana tree leaves will jumpstart the imagination of even the most writer-blocked author.

 

For years, I enjoyed baking banana bread on weekends. To this day, the memory of butter melting on a warm, fresh-from-the-oven slice makes my mouth water. The only thing better is a favorite dessert, Bananas Foster, which is halved bananas sautéed in a combination of several ingredients including butter, brown sugar, and dark rum. Spoon the mix over vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.  

 

Have you ever had the "real deal" of

Bananas Foster at Brennen's in N'awlins or

apple bananas ripe from the tree in Hawai'i? 

 

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A is for AND SO IT BEGINS #AtoZChallenge 2017: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 

This year for #AtoZChallenge, 

I decided to combine two concepts in my under-300-words daily posts:

FOOD For THOUGHT

 

Each day's post contains an appealing food choice

combined with the emerging thoughts of an incurable writer. 

 

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AND SO IT BEGINS.

 

Eating an artichoke, petal by petal, brings a multitude of thoughts to mind. After peeling the layered petal from the boiled artichoke, I dip the tender end into my concoction of mayo and lemon juice gently place the petal between my front teeth, and slowly strip away the flesh. The soft pulp blends with the acidic flavor of the dip, sending my taste buds soaring, along with my imagination. 

 

Of course, the exotic or erotic could easily come into play here. But my mind gravitates toward mystery. As the petals peel away from the artichoke's center, I peel back the layers of a character's personality. Dip my protagonist's fingers into someone else's business. Strip away the barriers that conceal a killer's motives. And once all the petals are removed, I've laid bare the artichoke's heart. Just as, while fleshing out the details of a plot, I also discover the heart of the mystery.

 

After all the boiling and peeling and stripping away of unnecessary parts, not unlike eating an artichoke, the meat of the project reveals itself on the page, and on your tongue.

 

Nirvana.

 

Are you energized when your story's plot is laid bare and all the pieces fall into place?

 

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