It's all in my head... - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

World's King · 01-07-2008, 12:07 AM

I've been a cook my entire life. Both professionally and not.

But I don't have a single recipe written down. And I only own one cookbook (The Joy of Cooking).

I can make anything. And I mean anything. But I'll never make it the same way twice.

Anyone else like me? Do you enjoy experimental cooking more then making the same thing over and over again?

onesnowyowl · 01-07-2008, 08:34 AM

I tend to write my recipes down after a few times of making the same thing successfully, after I've figured out what about the recipe works best. Usually I only write them down upon request.

I frequently look at my pantry, see what I have, and go from there. I made a taco soup a couple weeks ago on the fly.

vanblah · 01-07-2008, 09:10 AM

I only follow a recipe when baking ... which I hate to do. Besides I have "hot" hands and my dough never turns out right.

I think of cooking the same way I do about art and music; sure I can paint by numbers or read sheet music--but I would find that exceptionally boring after a while. I prefer to improvise and see what happens. It doesn't always turn out the way I want ... but as I get older and gain experience that happens less (with both cooking and music).

jewels · 01-07-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by World's King

But I don't have a single recipe written down. And I only own one cookbook (The Joy of Cooking).

Anyone else like me? Do you enjoy experimental cooking more then making the same thing over and over again?

Definitely not a pro. But I own the same cookbook and the NY Times Cookbook (probably 1970something edition).

But I love playing with food and I've made some awesome renditions of other dishes, guessing from other dishes I've had or creating flavors that sound like they might work. Of course, there have been some failures, too.

The only time I will print out or use a recipe is for baking. I've tried eyeballing quantities but it hasn't worked for me.

mixedmedia · 01-07-2008, 11:07 AM

I never write recipes down, either.

I have a few cookbooks, but the only one I ever use is the Vegetarian Times cookbook and I only use it for ideas. Can't remember the last time I followed a recipe line for line to make something.

World's King · 01-07-2008, 12:53 PM

I'm thinking I should start writing things down. At least have something to pass on to my kids.

"Cooking with the King"

Willravel · 01-07-2008, 01:12 PM

I don't really write stuff down either. I only read cookbooks for ideas.

spindles · 01-07-2008, 03:16 PM

I have a fair few cookbooks, but am starting to get to the position where I don't use them as much as I used to. I'm unlikely to write recipes down though, because I rarely measure anything when I'm cooking unless I'm baking (when I am more likely to be following a recipe anyway).

Of the cookbooks I do, the most used are:
1. Stephanie Alexanders "Cooks Companion"
2. a book called "Risottos of the World". I loooveee risotto...

Charlatan · 01-07-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by World's King

I'm thinking I should start writing things down. At least have something to pass on to my kids.

"Cooking with the King"

definitely do this.

maleficent · 01-07-2008, 03:33 PM

Cookbooks are kind of like my porn - I collect them because I like them but when I cook -- unless I'm baking - I rarely follow a recipe and things rarely turn out the same way twice...

bmadison · 01-07-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by World's King

But I don't have a single recipe written down. And I only own one cookbook (The Joy of Cooking).

I can't cook to save my life, but DAMN... Everyone I know has The Joy of Cooking!!

robot_parade · 01-07-2008, 09:03 PM

Hey, The Joy of Cooking is a pretty good book.

I do this a lot too. But I think I've improved A Lot after starting to pay more attention to specific techniques, and, as another thread suggested, Heat.

Alton Brown's book (I'm Just Here For The Food) is really good for this. I also want to get Harold McGee's book.

Cook's Illustrated seems to be a good magazine for technique, so I just started a subscription.

Any other suggestions for learning Technique?

01-07-2008, 12:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
World's King V.I.P. Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denver City Denver	It's all in my head... I've been a cook my entire life. Both professionally and not. But I don't have a single recipe written down. And I only own one cookbook (The Joy of Cooking). I can make anything. And I mean anything. But I'll never make it the same way twice. Anyone else like me? Do you enjoy experimental cooking more then making the same thing over and over again? __________________ Stacks on deck. Patron on ice. We can pop bottles all night Baby you can have whatever you like I said you can have whatever you like.

01-07-2008, 08:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
onesnowyowl feeling evil Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Corvallis, Oregon	I tend to write my recipes down after a few times of making the same thing successfully, after I've figured out what about the recipe works best. Usually I only write them down upon request. I frequently look at my pantry, see what I have, and go from there. I made a taco soup a couple weeks ago on the fly. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

01-07-2008, 11:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
mixedmedia loves you Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida	I never write recipes down, either. I have a few cookbooks, but the only one I ever use is the Vegetarian Times cookbook and I only use it for ideas. Can't remember the last time I followed a recipe line for line to make something. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus

01-07-2008, 12:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
World's King V.I.P. Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denver City Denver	I'm thinking I should start writing things down. At least have something to pass on to my kids. "Cooking with the King" __________________ Stacks on deck. Patron on ice. We can pop bottles all night Baby you can have whatever you like I said you can have whatever you like.

01-07-2008, 01:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Willravel [wil-ruh-VEL] Join Date: Aug 2004	I don't really write stuff down either. I only read cookbooks for ideas. __________________ ɯǝɥʇ ǝʌlos uɐɔ ǝʍ ʇɐɥʇ ǝɔuɐɹouƃı ɥƃnoɹɥʇ ʇou sı ʇı 'sɯǝlqoɹd ǝʇɐǝɹɔ uɐɔ ǝƃpǝlʍouʞ ɟı

01-07-2008, 09:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
vanblah 6 foot pianist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Memphis	I only follow a recipe when baking ... which I hate to do. Besides I have "hot" hands and my dough never turns out right. I think of cooking the same way I do about art and music; sure I can paint by numbers or read sheet music--but I would find that exceptionally boring after a while. I prefer to improvise and see what happens. It doesn't always turn out the way I want ... but as I get older and gain experience that happens less (with both cooking and music).

01-07-2008, 03:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia	I have a fair few cookbooks, but am starting to get to the position where I don't use them as much as I used to. I'm unlikely to write recipes down though, because I rarely measure anything when I'm cooking unless I'm baking (when I am more likely to be following a recipe anyway). Of the cookbooks I do, the most used are: 1. Stephanie Alexanders "Cooks Companion" 2. a book called "Risottos of the World". I loooveee risotto... __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

01-07-2008, 03:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago	Cookbooks are kind of like my porn - I collect them because I like them but when I cook -- unless I'm baking - I rarely follow a recipe and things rarely turn out the same way twice... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

01-07-2008, 09:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
robot_parade Addict Join Date: Apr 2003	Hey, The Joy of Cooking is a pretty good book. I do this a lot too. But I think I've improved A Lot after starting to pay more attention to specific techniques, and, as another thread suggested, Heat. Alton Brown's book (I'm Just Here For The Food) is really good for this. I also want to get Harold McGee's book. Cook's Illustrated seems to be a good magazine for technique, so I just started a subscription. Any other suggestions for learning Technique?