When you are in the kitchen and you are making your featured dish, do you follow a recipe or do you just wing it?
I remember a time, actually I just had this conversation, this past weekend at the ThatsSoYummy’s Food and Wine Mixer, and one of the main discussions that went on that night was when cooking “Do you follow a recipe?“
Some said that Yes they do folow a recipe, BUT the majority of cooks said No they don’t. Some guests said that they use the recipe as a skeleton to start off the dish but then go on their own and add their own little twist to it.
I started to think of when I am in the kitchen “do I go by recipes” and the answer is I use the recipe as a starter but then eventually always add my own thing…. I guess to make it my own just an adapted version.
I find myself improvising while I am cooking as I grow older, however, when I was younger I would follow a recipe to the exact measurement and detailed directions. Cooking to me is definitely inspiration and technique. I definitely believe that one of the best things a cook can do when starting in the kitchen is throw themselves in it and just experiment and learn about ingredients and the different flavors of each ingredient.
For Beginner cooks definitely first start off by following a recipe. I remember when I first started cooking I couldn’t. 🙂 But after practice and learning and making mistakes I finally learned.
A cookbook that I would recommend for beginners that give detailed recipes and gives you also an understanding of measurements in the kitchen is “The Fannie Farmer Cookbook” which features over 2,000 recipes.
Experiment is definitely on of the main advices I can give to up and coming cook. Learn how to substitute different ingredients, and example chicken can be used in place of pork when needed.
The last advice I could give a starter cook is never be afraid to make mistakes. They are bound to happen over and over again. No dish will come out perfect when initially started but after a few tries and tweaks it will become the perfect dish.
So let me ask you again, “Do you follow a recipe or do you just wing it?”
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