ChattyCathy wrote:

>> Who measures EXACTLY 1/2 cup of onions for example.
>
> My Dad. I kid you not. If the recipe says "15ml of XXX" he'll take a
> measuring spoon and use exactly that amount. Drives me nuts, but hey,
> his food always tastes good (except his 'special cabbage', of course -
> blech, gag, etc.)
>
> And another thing... how big is a 'large onion' or a 'medium potato' -
> or a 'handful of olives'? IMWTK.


My wife's (late) best friend and her husband (still alive) were very
meticulous. I don't think they would be so anal as to measure a 1/2 cup
of onion, but tended to follow tried and tested recipes very closely. he
was the BBQ cook and did roasts, leg of lamb etc. He used a paper
chimney to light briquettes, and any leftover briquettes were put into
an old paint can and the top put on to extinguish them. Then the next
time his coals were dying down and he needed more briquettes he would
put some of the old ones on so as not to get the starter fuel taste. He
had to put the roast on the spit and have it turn a certain way. He was
much fussier about that than I was, and as much as they both raved about
my freer and more adventurous style of cooking, I have to say that
everything he did on the BBQ was excellent.


>
>> I use what I
>> think is a 1/2 cup size onion. Is the tweaking?
>
>
> IMHO? No. That's following the recipe <g>

I view recipes as guidelines. a half cup of onion is not always the
same. They vary in taste and moisture content. I tend to go more for a
small, medium or large onion. I vary the amount og garlic depending on
how strong they are, using more if it is old and less if they are fresh.