How do you cook?

[Tina]

I was just curious about this. I tend to review several recipes and then concoct a dish that is a combination of what I've read. Drives my husband crazy

[JoJo404]

yes, recipes are a starting point for me, not an end product.

I post recipes on my site, but in reality my style of cooking is much more like kippy's "suggestions" (saute some X and add some Y....)

My strength is coming up with something edible from whatever's available.

That means that BAKING is not my strong suit. There, the proportions of ingredients really do matter. No wonder I "lurve me some" Core!

[Pattinic]

Rarely do I follow recipes exactly. I tend to gather about 5 or 6 recipes and pick out the best aspects. Sometimes it works and other times it fails miserably, but hey doesn't hurt to try. There are other things for which I have a base to work with and change it up almost every time I make it, such as chili. I always find it a challenge to come up with something based on whats in the fridge. It certainly makes life interesting!
patti

[becky]

I can count on one hand the times I followed a recipe exactly, and those were less than successes...

[akansan]

When I use a recipe, I'll make modifications to it. But I normally don't use recipes.

If I'm looking to recreate something that sounded wonderful, I'll look up a bunch of recipes and make my own version, combining what sounds good from all of them.

[Kippy]

I think recipes are guidelines.

As you can tell from the main site, I don't measure anything unless absolutely critical. A little of this, some of that, a bit of the other thing and voila!

[jt&me109]

I usually take a recipe and then modify it to my liking. Creativity and cooking aren't my strengths so I generally follow a recipe fairly closely.

[sue4dmkj]

depends~~ If its baking, follow recipe. Anything else, mix & match. Little of this, little of that.

I used to call my mom to ask "How do I make your ___" . The above were the answers I got.

[pat5031]

Sue, that is funny ;D DD calls me for recipes and that is what I always tell her. I made core chile while visiting over the holidays. she pulled out a recipe that she said was mine. no way! she doubted me and my core chile when I made it not using canned chile beans, rather reg beans and lots of spices. everyone loved my core chile! ;D

[jeannethequeen]

I have a funny story along these lines....

Last spring my DH invited his family to our new place for Passover (they are Jewish, I am not) so I called a girlfriend for her brisket recipe. It was a hit, there weren't even tasty leftovers.

So this December I hosted a "Chriskwanznakuh" Potluck Party (don't ask... i have crazy friends) and my brisket was requested. So I called my girlfriend on the phone again, but when she read me the recipe over the phone, it clearly was not what I had served.

She swears it is the only brisket recipe she has and according to DH, when I took the recipe from her last time I said, "Oooh, this doesn't sound right, let me substitute X,Y,Z"

I had no idea. I really thought it was to the letter what she had given me

So I guess I am more creative than I thought. But I did spend 5 minutes arguing with her on the phone.

[farmgirl601]

I like to follow recipes, but many times I just open cans and dump in a pot!

[vita77]

I often look up 10 or 12 recipes for the same thing, in cookbooks or on the web. I use those to put together a combo I like. Risky for baked goods, but then again, I don't bake nearly as much on Core.

[kwvane]

I used to be a follow the recipe-only person. Think I've moved up now that I can make minor adjustments. I'm not too creative in the kitchen, consider myself a "functional" cook, so making any kind of changes on my own is venturing into new territory.

[sandir71]

I make up stuff according to what is in the frig or cabinets.

DH calls it my "surprise" meals. Oregano = Italian Surprise, etc

Sandi

[CoreIsCool]

I like to follow a recipe exactly the first time I make it. I will then make minor modifications after that.