One summer while visiting my parents, I spent a day baking snickerdoodles. Seven different recipes. Dozens of cookies. The idea was to conduct a taste test on my captive-audience family. My sister got in on the act and wrote up a detailed survey about color, texture, flavor, etc., something my goofy brother-in-law made sure to answer in ridiculous ways that years later still makes me smile.
From those surveys, I built a new snickerdoodle recipe, taking preferences from one cookie and trying to meld it with another. And what I came up with is snickerdoodle heaven. I’m not kidding. The cinnamon to sugar ratio, the shape, the way the cookie spreads– it’s perfection.
Why did I do all this? For a manuscript I was working on at the time, A COOKIE, A JACKET, A LETTER. A snickerdoodle recipe figures into the storyline, and I felt like I needed to get it just right.
What have you done in the name of research?
Not as much yet. I’d love the recipe! Not that I bake much.
I have purchased fantasy encyclopedias that I’m sure no one but a fantasy extreme lover would spend about $30 on and be excited to buy it because the book is out of print.
Hah…that’s fantastic! And you get a recipe out of the deal. Great idea.
Most of my research is either in the paranormal scope–creatures, mannerisms and such–or hands on with my four kids. 🙂
Pretty much all my travel is in the name of research… I love finding the hidden gems whenever and wherever… a book I have enjoyed recently for travel in my home state is called Alabama Curiosities. Every state should have a book like this, because I know every state has curiosities. Then I would have even more excuses to GO. xo
Great post. Cookies are always a good choice, despite the calorie count.
I’ve licked my coat in the name of research.
Ha, I love this!
That’s great… hmm, I once ordered a box of astronaut ice cream. It wasn’t as good as I’d remembered. lol.
Brooke, you’ll need to explain!
Yum!! Clearly I’m writing the wrong things! 🙂
I’ve done a ton of book-learning (or internet searching) kind of research, but I can’t think of anything I’ve done physically – usually it’s the other way around. I’ll travel somewhere, eat something, find a hobby, and then find a way to work that into my story.
I like your idea though. I may have to try that!
First off – I want to know why the cookie recipe isn’t included? You’re killin’ me! 🙂
I’ve bought SO many books “in the name of research” that I can’t count them all. But I do love them and I totally NEED them. I’ve also traveled, which was fantastic and I’m scheming to do more of it.
Cooking in the name of research? Not so much. Now where’s that recipe??
Oh sheesh, I wrote an article about The Cakewalk for Hopscotch for girls and I wanted to include a cupcake recipe to go with it. I wanted it to be “my own” you know, but apparently I’m not gifted in making up my own baking recipes. They tasted like bland muffins. Scratch that research.
Ha, I’m totally planning to do something similar with brownies for a project I’m currently revising. All in the name of research, right? 😉
Ooo, I could go for some snickerdoodles right about now. My husband was telling me, just this morning, another “in the name of research story”. Apparently Jim Butcher was doing research for one of his books at the aquarium at a time when he had his long pony tail and beard. Standing before an enormous tank, school groups of children all around, he asked one of the aquarium staff what would happen if the tank broke. To clarify he added, you know, if someone shot it. What would happen? I have feeling the school groups moved on.
Went up in a hot-air balloon! I’ve always wanted to do it, but last year, I wrote a book with a hot-air balloon flight in it. I left the scene blank until I’d experienced it myself.
I have NO IDEA what a snickerdoodle is, but it sounds fantastic!
Hmmm, I’m thinking that I need to write a book that revolves around cinnamon buns…
I’ve never done anything as tasty as that and I’ve never heard the term ‘snickerdoodle’ before… but they certainly sound delicious.
I’m guessing a snickerdoodle is a strictly American cookie, from Rosalind and Jade’s comments. Ladies, it’s a sugar cookie with cinnamon on top. It’s funny, I like them, but I wouldn’t consider them a favorite (unless, of course, we’re talking about my superior recipe ;). I picked snickerdoodles because the baker in the manuscript is named Dr. Hickenlooper, and I thought it fun to say the two words together.
Wise Agent Michelle suggests I hold off on sharing the recipe. If the book ever does go somewhere, it would be loads of fun to share then…
And Tracy, I’d love to hear a cinnamon bun story!
I did a ton of research for my first novel, an adventure novel. It was a very intense experience, but I enjoyed learning about the subject, then writing about it.