"Charles Gifford" > wrote in message
link.net...
>
> "aem" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Made beef stroganoff last night, without consulting a recipe. After
>> doing onions, the beef, mushrooms, a bit of broth and a splash of
>> worcestershire, I remembered that I had once added some tomato paste
>> to it, so I squeezed a bit of that from a tube before stirring in the
>> sour cream. Eventually we ate, and I then also remembered that I
>> hadn't *liked* the addition of tomato. Anyway, details about
>> stroganoff don't matter. The questions I am getting to are, 1.) In
>> everday cooking when making something you've made before, how often do
>> you consult a recipe?, and 2.) When you vary from a recipe, do you
>> make a note of it, and if so, how?
>>
>> -aem
>
> I always follow a recipe unless I am making it up on the fly. I may vary the
> ingredients or process, in which case I try to write it down --- I say try
> because I often forget to do it. If I am making Beef Stroganoff I would
> certainly follow the recipe as exactly as possible because it is a very
> specific dish. I don't cook real Beef Stroganoff as I prefer my
> stroganoff-like dish. So.....the first time I follow the recipe exactly. Any
> changes I make following that, I note on the recipe (if I remember <sigh>).
> I always follow a recipe, either as found or as adjusted by me. I don't even
> make Kraft macaroni and cheese without reading the recipe on the box! I have
> a tendency toward air-headedness and find it better to check each step as I
> go.
>
> Charlie
>
I'm like you Charlie. First time through, I follow the recipe (which I've
printed). If we like it, I move it from my Mastercook "try" cookbook to my
"winners" cookbook and make appropriate notes. Next time I make it, I've got
all the info I need. I've been cooking for 40+ years and still can't remember
even our most favorite recipes. I guess you could call it air-headedness but I
prefer to think I've got better use for my memory than memorizing recipes.

Gigi