I am just curious. I have been answering cooking questions for awhile?

Question

I notice that lots of members ask for recipes. Why? There are millions of recipes on the internet, in cookbooks, magazines, etc. I understand them asking for ideas or maybe definitions and instructions but not recipes when the options are endless.

Answer 1

One other way to look at it. There is a magazine out there called Cook's. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with their website as well (even though I haven't been there myself). One of the items that makes that magazine famous is the fact that they take a recipe, and try to make it the best they can possibly make. In fact, they will make the same recipe 100s of times just to get it right. I would pay money (which I do by buying the magazine) for THEM to make those 100s of times recipes, just so they can print the one that turns out the best (for me to write down and try).

I believe people who are after recipes can be inexperienced people who were never taught how to cook or just aren't very good at it but want to learn by doing and want a recipe that works the first time instead of a failure because they didn't understand inferred instructions.

I know there are children on this website who want to cook and don't have experience. We see that in the questions they ask (like "What does creamed mean?"). There are also people from other countries who are trying to learn how to cook "American" or "Chinese" or other foods that are totally foreign to them so they wouldn't know if it was a good recipe or a dud. If they weren't taught any cooking skills to that point in time, their knowledge base is blank and total explanation is needed. Also, if their first language isn't the same as what is in the recipe, then they may have questions about the terminology being used.

I have a tendency to over-explain how to do something and it probably bores an experienced cook to tears. But it will help the unknowledgeable ones out there see how easy the process of cooking and baking can be.

I believe that's also the reason why I collect very old cookbooks - to understand how and why our ancestors did things without control of a fire, without electricity and without refrigeration. Learning is what we are all here for - whatever the subject matter.

One more thing I've noticed on this website. Not all people asking questions are familiar with the fact that they can do a search of the question they are about to ask to see if it has already been asked and answered.

Answer 2

When I give a recipe I give one of my own. When someone asks for a recipe I assume either they weren't able to find one or by implication of asking it here, she wants a recipe someone has actually tried. I know a lot of people here claim, "Oh, I can't be bothered to look my own recipe up" and they post (most often without acknowledgment) something from the web. But I figure the person asking could do that and is here asking for the nuances of a tried and true recipe. And if they don't go looking for themselves, so what? This IS the web and it IS a resource. They aren't being lazy, they are starting here.

Answer 3

People aren't lazy when they ask a Q here, if they where they'd be ordering a Pizza to be delivered. I've answered a couple questions and there is a common thread, a basic recipe. Most people have the option to choose the recipe that "fits" closest to the ingredients that they are familiar with and have on hand, they can compare it to something that they've tasted before by the previous use of those ingredients, they know the outcome will be good.

Answer 4

asking for recipes in this forum is more personal..less sterile...a magazine won't print a lousy recipe now would they? Asking here is something that has been tried and tested if you will by regular folks who know what they like. I have recipes in my files that have been handed down for generations and I love to share them. My taste may not be the same as yours but if you are looking for a good Say "shrimp recipe" I know I have one and it won't cost an arm a leg or exotic ingredients. Just a thought.

Answer 5

I have asked for recipes. Sometimes I am looking for something that other people have tried and liked. Or something simple to make that people have made before, i am not the best at cooking so I figure that I should take all the help I can get. Hahaha.

Answer 6

Teflon is a brand name. But here is the truth. As long as you do not get your cookware smoking hot (375 degree F. so that smoke fills the house) your bird will be okay. I ONLY cook w non stick cookware and I have 10 yes I said 10 birds. 4 parakeets, a lovebird, 2 paroletts, 2 sun conures, and a major mitchells cockatoo (the pink belly one) and I am considering a Congo Grey. He wont die if you cook like a normal human being it in. And THIS is the truth Unlike the lady above me I do use air freshers. I went from using the glad plug in oils (fan) to using the Airwick Freshmatic ones. However I do not have them near their cages. Birds in general do not smell however like most ppl I want a nice smelling home. I also have Cinnamon brooms (decorative brooms that are soaked in natural oils) and I even use the foaming carpet fresh and I clean with pin sol and lemon scented cleaners. And all my birds are healthy and have been for yrs! (I do not however clean w bleach or any form of cleaner that bothers my lungs and this includes Ammonia)

Answer 7

Personally, I like to look for recipies on here because people tend to tweak them and make them their own. Or if I am just looking for some simple information such as how long to bake chicken, I can find it very easily on here just typing it in the search field.
For some reason I can't always find what I'm looking for on recipe sites...or the versions of the recipes I want are just too complicated or expensive (ie: lots of new ingredients I have to buy). Not so much the case on here.

Answer 8

Who knows maybe they can't figure out how to find them or they are lazy. now I might ask for a recipe that I couldn't find but I would look first in one of my 100s of cookbooks and all over the net.
I actually would like a recipe for the Persian candy that is like a nougat taffy that has pistachio in it. It is white. I haven't found it. Do you have that one?

Answer 9

Most questions that I answer about food/cooking/recipes are from people who want to try recipes that I've personally made.....Sometimes folks that ask a Q on here about recipes, they want one that has been tried and true........and I've gotten a LOT of traffic on my 360 Profile asking "how to" and "what to" do in the case of need in a recipe that someone doesn't understand......Enjoy!!!

Christopher

Answer 10

I haven't asked for a recipe myself--my guess would be they are looking for tried & true recipes that don't take a lot of the ingredients that one usually doesn't keep in the house.