Cooking Without Recipes

[like2eatmuch]

Hello All : I am working on a book to teach people how to cook without using recipes and wanted to gauge the interest level of such a book. So I thought I might ask you all about it.
- Would you be interested in a book that can really help you cook without worrying about using a recipe? It will be a fun, stress-free method that will allow the reader to 'feel' their way through cooking to increase their confidence level. I will be happy to answer any questions anyone may have about it.
Thanks!!!

[mcnerd]

Hmmmm, teaching history without giving details of past events. Teaching cooking without specifying ingredients, proportions, spices, or how to cook/use them.

Doesn't sound appealing to me, but I'm from the old school. I like to have something that worked for someone that I can either use as is or adapt to my own taste.

[Drama Queen]

I agree with McNerd all the way on this one. I'm not getting how you can teach someone to cook if you have no guidlines as to proportions, ingredients etc. Why would you want to learn to cook without recipes? How will you know when you have the right amounts and how do you define the methods?

I've been cooking for 48 years and as good as I am, I still depend on recipes. Sometimes I make one up, sometimes I tweak a recipe to suit me, but I still use recipes. No, I wouldn't be interested in a book like that. And by the way, just how would you "teach" someone to cook without using the guidlelines? Please explain to us.
I don't mean to sound judgmental, I just don't understand what you hope to accomplish.

[Bello Mama]

I don't call myself a professional cook. but I feel really comfortable in the kitchen. When I try something new I use the recipe..and then change in around to fit my family's tastes. I get cold sweats watching the chefs on Top Chef having to create something out of the blue. they are trained chefs.. not happy housewife's like myself. there are basic rules and mixtures that any cook knows ( don't put me on the spot I will draw a blank) and I just don't see how a book teaching us not to use recipes would teach us to cook. but I too would be interested in know how you would put this forward.