Do you stick to the recipe?

[Slim]

I've learned the hard way that it's best for me to follow directions the first time that I attempt to make something.  Whether it be something for dinner, sewing a pattern or brewing up some home grown crystal meth, I've found that I need to know what the thing I'm attempting to make is supposed to turn-out like at first.  The second time around I allow myself to get creative.

Are you brave when it comes to straying from the instructions?

[Goldilocks46]

Yes I do, Slim, and for the same reason!

I stick pretty close to the recipe when baking, have found through experience that there isn't much leeway there.  :-D

[Baia]

I'm a lot like you that way, Slim.  I follow the recipe the first time and then, if I liked how it turned out, I'll probably continue preparing it that way in the future, but I can be pretty adventurous as well. 

I enjoy just reading recipes sometimes.  I have enough eating experience that I have developed a kind of taste memory.  Sometimes it is enough just to read about some new way of putting ingredients together.

Yesterday I told my daughter about an idea I had for putting some ingredients together and she agreed that it sounded tasty to her, too.  I think I'll probably prepare it for dinner tonight.

Sometimes my ideas don't turn out the way I imaginel, but then I remember that old Weight Watcher adage: "Every meal need not be a lifetime experience."  ;o)

[Snagg]

On the other hand....

According to legend, Dump Cake was invented by a four-year-old who didn't give two squats about "The Recipe".

Of course, luck like that is the exception to the rule. But it's fun to keep that kind of spirit of heedless experimentalism handy, when fixing food or doing anything that requires a spark of creativity.

[Bob Stepp]

Wait........"four-year-old" and "Dump Cake" used in the same sentence is pretty scary.

[Aggie]

I generally do not follow recipe or measure ingredents unless I am baking.

[Joella]

I read through the recipe and give it a good think. I usually alter it cause that's how I roll.

[Faye Greener]

I like 'tried and true' stuff.  My friends and I have enough good recipes between us that we've developed a 'no surprises please' attitude.  Sometimes someone will show up at our potlucks with something adventurous.  It is usually eyed suspiciouly and only tasted by a few to be polite.

I think our tastebuds have evolved and become very selective.

[Stir Young]

I follow the recipes pretty closely....except that I usually add a generous amount of cayenne pepper to 'most everything.

[TeeBubbaDee]

I will read a recipe, but almost ALWAYS end up tweaking it. Of course when I make it again, I don't remember exactly how much tweak I used, so my stuff ends a tad different most of the time. If it's not quite right, I'll just use more tweak. I'd say 95% of the time it's good, 4% of the time it's edible, and 1% of the time I end up tweaking till all I taste is tweak and give up and pitch it. 

Oh, and I practically never bake.

[Bob Stepp]

I am a novice cook....not sure if I can really be called a 'cook', but I can folllow a recipe and therefore I can bake cookies, cakes BISQUITS, and have them come out pretty darn good. Especially chocolate chip cookies and bisquits, but I am not at the 'tweakin''' stage yet.

I have gotten some some rave reviews from Jaylee on a couple of dishes......meat balls and mac & cheese.

[TeeBubbaDee]

If you make it, and it gets eaten, you can call yourself a cook.

[Slim]

We all cook...even if we just zap it.