Does anyone here on Y/A do any cooking?

Question

People come to Y/A and ask for a recipe and get a web site, often without any comment at all. A lot of people are kind enough at least to cut and paste a recipe -- albeit from the web. When I ask, I'm usually looking for a recipe someone's tried or maybe a family recipe or something. Now, answering from the web is fine but it makes me think: did anyone's mother give them a recipe? Does anyone actually cook the recipes they're giving? I like people who make comments about the food, give a home recipe, offer options because they've modified the dish to their tastes, and so forth. When I give one I try to do that.

So, does anyone here pull out a recipe from a file box, or look up the recipe they use in their own cookbooks? Is this all web work? 'Cause I can do the web work myself!!!

Answer 1

I haven't posted recipes here for quite long because I didn't have much time to cook recently.

I usually post what I have tried or I'm familiar with and I modify my recipes whenever I re-post them here when I found typo or errors. Sometimes I remind the askers to adjust the taste of the dish.

I'm not good at baking, I seldom post cakes recipes + I also don't trust recipes from most web-sites especially those Chinese food recipes written in English.

I learned cooking from my aunts, my dad, ... from eating experiences in different places and sometimes from TV shows or cook books, I practise and I enjoy cooking.

Good question!

Answer 2

Hi!
Yes I cook :) and I'd never give a recipe if it wasn't one that I use often... I know what it's like to end up with a recipe that flops and or tastes terrible, But I also post links to the website where I got the recipe too, because in my opinion, just because I've tried it and like it doesn't mean I can call it my own :) I usually leave a comment in regards to how I liked it and how often I've used it. All of the recipes that i've collected over the years remain on my hard drive in a file with a comment on how I liked it. The recipe does not make it to that file until I've tried it and liked it.

I too find it frustrating to ask a question on here and be answered by some smart a**ed kid that's trying to get a easy two points and who's every other word is "duh" :) and or with a posted web link...

Hope this helps,
E.

Answer 3

Although I am not a professional cook, I love to cook and more importantly I love to eat. I'm new to Y/A, and I think this is a great forum for many things food. Whether you need help, or are willing to give it, this is a great place to converge!

On the cooking aspect, I do hit the web, but I also go to local bookstores and pick up cookbooks that interest me. Tyler Florence has a couple of great books that I would recommend. It's not too difficult cooking and not to stuffy or fancy.

I also like to be creative and come up with many different dishes, using recipes as guides. I don't think I ever have followed a recipe to it's full letter. tastes differ from person to person and every cook or chef prepares dishes just slightly different when doing it for fun and not at a restaurant. I also get a lot of ideas from magazines like Bon Appetit and Gourmet, and just by talking to friends who love to cook and maybe they know a few tricks to make it easier to prepare a meal

Most importantly, have fun with it. If you don't follow a recipe, and screw something up, don't worry about it (unless it's a $15 cut of tuna or something :)). cooking is all about enjoying the process and ultimately enjoying the meal!

~Enjoy!

Answer 4

I do, but it's so much easier to do a cut & paste job than it is to copy recipes from your own personal files (esp if they are handwritten). Besides, I dont feel 100% comfortable passing out my family recipes & secrets!

The top contributers are able to find many recipes that I havent seen on the web, they do get them from personal knowledge, cookbooks or contacts. That extra work deserves acknowledgement.

There are alot of people who are too lazy to do a simple Google/Yahoo search, the worst is these kids who expect others to do their homework projects!

The other group of people repeatedly ask the SAME questions, that have been posted and answered in the past.
That's also a waste of time, when you post your question similar questions are automatically revealed but many just chose to ignore them.

I also hate stupid, irrelevant and racist questions. These need to be reported & deleted. This is meant to be fun and learn a little something along the way.

BTW, you have come up with some terrific answers on your own!

Answer 5

Gene, Most of my recipes are
in my head.
Tonight we are having pot roast. I learned how to make my mom's pot roast by watching her 60 years ago. Writing out the recipe would take me longer than it will take to actually prepare the meal. And I would probably forgett a critical element .... like in order for this recipe to be perfect ... it must be cooked in a cast iron skillet with lid... called a "chicken frier"

My spaghetti recipe came from a cookbook 50 years ago. That recipe has been
modified several times
and passed on to my sons in the kitchen as we made it together... They would not recognize the original recipe.

I gave my cookbooks to a daughter-in-law that collected cookbooks. I have decluttered my life: My recipe file contains only old favorites that I make less than once a year. Christmas cookies and holiday breads ... that sort of thing.

My hubby had a big change in his eating regimen a year ago. So many of our favorite meals have been adapted to low fat and low salt. I 've been cooking so long, yesterday I threw a bunch of veggies and some chicken breasts in the crock-pot along with herbs and spices... we had a delicious soup. I do not know or care if I ever replicate it exactly.

For dessert I modified a recipe that I had read on line in one of the diet columns. We also always have fruit for dessert . the recipe was simple "Melt semi sweet chocolate morsels and use as a dip for fruit." We are not much for dipping and I had a box of Bakers German Chocolate. I zapped an ounce and drizzled it over our strawberry banana slices.
MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. heaven!


I have 2 cookbooks ... one is packed away in a trunk... My mom's old favorite. And a CD with gajillion recipes. The world she is a changing. I read recipes on line and in magazine all the time but I rarely down load one and never clip any more .... they give me ideas ... that I sometimes pull out of my head in the kitchen... or occasionally I add and ingredient to the shopping list.

Answer 6

I always use my own and long standing family recipes. I cook 3 times a day, so I have to. Everyone in my house is extremely picky, except my step-son. On the weekends I experiment with new recipes given by friends, newspaper and occasionally from the web.

Answer 7

I began cooking when I was 8 years old and my mom was pregnant with my brother, I love to cook!
Yep, sure give out tried and true recipes AND recipes from Recipezaar that are very similar to mine. I also own over 300 cookbooks and use something out of almost everyone. I cook from scratch because I'm allergic to soybean and milk products. Yes, you can get the 'real thing' from me so if you want a tried and true recipe just let me know, I'll accommodate you gladly.

Answer 8

Everyday! 90% of the time I post a known recipe I have tried, but if I took time to go find the actual recipe, my answer would be on the bottom of the page and never seen. So I scramble to find one online to copy & paste. Then go back and adjust it like mine. Sometimes I spend hours or even days on a question, not only recipes. I actually try to help.

Answer 9

I often cook - and my late wife and her mother (she's from the Kentucky) taught me most of it - plus a bit I learned working as a cook as a kid. Battered fish and chips, homemade pasta and sauces, steak, bangers and mash, fresh lasagna, pizza (from scratch!), meatloaf, meatballs, gravlax...and I have a bunch of books for new ideas.

I never cook from a recipe without making changes to it, even if it's my first attempt at a particular dish. It's more fun that way - and it's never been bad. But I never really learned anything from my mother - she's a terrible cook!

Good luck!

PS: For some interesting - and easy cooking tips and recipes, watch "Good Eats" on the Food Network. It gives great advice for beginners and experienced cooks alike. And most of it isn't real difficult.

Answer 10

Coming from someone who cook i think its best that you find a recipe you really like and comfortable with and make it yours. Change the ratio of the spices add more or less of a ingredient. See a recipe as a guideline rather than a rule that has to be stuck to with the exception of baked goods. I don't know about you but that is how i feel.