Recipe or No Recipe?

[missingarrow]

I’m a recipe kind of guy. I enjoy hunting down weird and unique recipes and trying them out. I cut them out of magazines and scan them in my computer to try at a later date. I’d rather try out a new recipe than experiment on my own. I’m sure I’m not the only one but I get a lot of flack for it.

Do you like experimenting or do you prefer to use recipes?

[Tyler]

I think recipe-followers probably get a fair bit of upturned-noses pointed at them by more advanced and experienced people in the cooking industry, but I must say following recipes is indeed fun.

A couple months ago my girlfriend and I would go through a nice cookbook I received for Christmas and about once a week choose a new recipe and go out and buy all the ingredients, cooking everything from scratch, fresh herbs, etc. substituting nothing.

Then we'd take pictures showing the progress, and after eating the always-delicious meal we prepared, we'd rate the recipe on a scale of 1-10 and write down the rating and when we made it and our notes.

It's really fun.

However, cooking without recipes is always fun as well. But I usually do that more when I'm just cooking for myself... usually afraid whoever else I'm cooking for may not be so... adventerous ;P

[Liketobake]

I like to bake, and cook using a recipe as a guideline, and making many modifications to it.

[KAYLINDA]

I'm with liketobake. Cooking...very seldom use a recipe. Baking...I follow one inserting my own changes.

[pilgrim30]

Hello Missingarrow!

In general, I usually cook without recipes. I frequently make up my own. But have learned to write it down as I go because thinking I'll remember it later, and then haven’t, has gotten me into trouble when hubby asks for a repeat.

Thankfully my husband will eat anything set in front of him at least once!! :D

If it isn't any good, he and I have agreed that he is to let me know. After he has eaten the meal, he will say: You don't need to fix that again.

Thankfully, I seldom get that comment. :D

Yet, if I am baking a cake or bread, I like to use a recipe. But sometimes, I'll "re-invent" the entire recipe, as I did with my Iona’s© Faux Roman Meal Bread recipe (for bread machine) I posted earlier.

What's more, hubby generally always offers favorable comments upon our meal. I am so thankful he is so easy to please. You see, he and I have been married only a little over two years. My former (and late) husband was a very finicky eater. And for the many years we were married, I had the notion I was not a good cook due to his scathing comments. Imagine my astonishment when my new husband told me I was a good cook!!!

If I doubted him, the dinner party we had this last Friday evening has dispelled all fears. I received rave reviews on the entire meal, simple as it was. Spaghetti (with a special touch at hubby’s suggestion), a green salad (with my own special touch), and a dessert - I did follow the recipe – that recently came into my hands called Grape Salad. Rich and luscious!! We also served Ice Tea with the meal, and coffee afterwards.

Making myself hungry here. :D

pilgrim30

[Liketobake]

Hello Missingarrow!

In general, I usually cook without recipes. I frequently make up my own. But have learned to write it down as I go because thinking I'll remember it later, and then haven’t, has gotten me into trouble when hubby asks for a repeat.

Thankfully my husband will eat anything set in front of him at least once!! :D

If it isn't any good, he and I have agreed that he is to let me know. After he has eaten the meal, he will say: You don't need to fix that again.

Thankfully, I seldom get that comment. :D

Yet, if I am baking a cake or bread, I like to use a recipe. But sometimes, I'll "re-invent" the entire recipe, as I did with my Iona’s© Faux Roman Meal Bread recipe (for bread machine) I posted earlier.

What's more, hubby generally always offers favorable comments upon our meal. I am so thankful he is so easy to please. You see, he and I have been married only a little over two years. My former (and late) husband was a very finicky eater. And for the many years we were married, I had the notion I was not a good cook due to his scathing comments. Imagine my astonishment when my new husband told me I was a good cook!!!

If I doubted him, the dinner party we had this last Friday evening has dispelled all fears. I received rave reviews on the entire meal, simple as it was. Spaghetti (with a special touch at hubby’s suggestion), a green salad (with my own special touch), and a dessert - I did follow the recipe – that recently came into my hands called Grape Salad. Rich and luscious!! We also served Ice Tea with the meal, and coffee afterwards.

Making myself hungry here. :D

pilgrim30

Hello again Pilligrim

It is nice that your husband offers you feeback on what you have made. I too like to recieve feedback on what I cook or bake. My boyfriend will give me feedback but he is always very concerned about making sure he gives his feedback in a postive way (even if it does not tantalize his taste buds). This is nice, however sometime he needs urging to give his feedback. I think in time he will give it more freely. Open honest feedback is very nice to recieve because it lets you improve on your recipes, or make something that the people you are cooking or baking for will love. My parents have always readily given me feedback on what I make. My dad is the most blunt, and will tell it like it is, never thinking of feelings. I know this is his way though, and I appreciate his feedback even if it is very blunt.
Heres to feedback

Happy cooking and baking:p
:D

[NOCHEF&JUSTLOVESFOOD.YUM]

I’m a recipe kind of guy. I enjoy hunting down weird and unique recipes and trying them out. I cut them out of magazines and scan them in my computer to try at a later date. I’d rather try out a new recipe than experiment on my own. I’m sure I’m not the only one but I get a lot of flack for it.

Do you like experimenting or do you prefer to use recipes?
If I am unfamiliar with the process or the ingredients, I will usualy start out with a recipe and modify it. I was lucky, as a boy my Grandmother lived with us and she had me by her side in the kitchen. She taught me how to balance and exchange food, basically the "chemistry". No vinegar, use lemon etc. She was raised in the depression and living on the farm we learned to eat what we couldn't sell.

[pilgrim30]

Hello Liketobake, again! :D

Yes, here's to feedback! It causes us to be better cooks.